The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1895-08-23
MILWAUKEES Big FIRE
It Caused Great Damage in a Be-
markably Short Time.
TIE LOSSES NEARLY 100000.
In m Hour and y Half the Planes Wiped
Qua Freight Sheds Fitted with Merchau-
disc. Loaded Freight Cars, and Dwelling

disc. Loaded Freight Cars, and Dwelling
mouses--A Youthful Spectator killed.
MILWAUKEE, Aug. GA fire which
threatened TO make havoc equal to that
wrought in tho Third ward three years
ago broke out yesterday afternoon in tho
warehouse Of the Union Steamboat COM
pRny on the Menominee. A thirty mile
wind was blowing and the flames spread
with great rapldity The fire originated
on the dock OF the Union company, at the
River and Reed streets bridge, and is sup
posed to have been caused by spark from
passing steamer It gained such start
before 1t was discovered that 10 involved
the whole Of the great freight shed with
Incredible rapidity. The building was
constructed entirely Of wood, and as 1t
burned IL belched forth smoke like vol
cano.
Within few minutes the flames had
burst through the roof and caught row
OF So. Paul freight cars standing Just
north Of the building. The Union Steam
boat company's building was 800 feet In
length, and In II were thousands Of tons
Of freight, all Of which was destroyed
with the building, which was in ashes In
less than half an hour.
Within half an hour after the fire broke
out In the steamboat freight house the
Wisconsin Central freight house, just
north Of the river and 300 feet In length,
was totally destroyed. This, like the
others, was filed with freight, and
large number Of the company's cars,
standing near ct the time, were destroyed.
Within a few minutes after the freight
cars began burning FIRE broke forth from
the cupola Of the oil and grease establish
ment Of Fl. j. Delaney g. Co., on Third
street, half block from the tracks where
the burning cars stood. Following this
the plumbing establishment OF e. T.
Doyn, on Second street. was quickly de-
stroyed, and the wagon shop Of II. Trink-
ner, adjoining, took FIRE several times, but
II was put out each time, and seemed In a
fair way TO stand.
A row Of small frame dwelling houses
on Fowler street, directly opposite the st.
Paul freight house, between Second and
Third streets, took fire one after the other,
and were destroyed. The occupants were
able to get nearly all their furniture out
before the heat and smoke drove them
back.
The main freight house Of the st. Paul
company, extending from the southwest
corner of Fowler and Second to Third
street, had a very close call, but was saved.
1t Is a low brick building, and the flames
passed over 1t and took the frame struc-
lures across the street. All the movable
valuables in the freight house, however,
were hustled out at lively rate, in an
ticipation OF the burning Of the building.
The steamer New York, Of the Erie limo,
had q very narrow escape from destruo-
ton. It was moored Just west Of where
the fire originated, but fortunately 1t had
steam up, and quickly pulled out Of
harms way, the crew in the meantime
keeping tho sides and decks well wet
down with small streams from the steam
ers.
Between $50 and 500 freight cars, which
were directly in the path of the flames,
and which were at first supposed Dy Of
flcials to have been totally destroyed, were
hurriedly removed to place of safety by
the yard engines, leaving but forty or
ffty cars actually destroyed or damaged.
So quick were the flames to take the
freight house of the Wisconsin Central
company that the office employees were
unable to close their safes or rescue their
valuable records, and these were destroyed
with the building. The company also had
two loaded freight trains in the yards at
the time Of between twenty and twenty
Eve cars each, and these could not be
hauled out Of the way and were destroyed.
In an hour and half the fire was under
control, and there was no further danger
Of Its spreading. The damage amounts to
nearly 100000
The five freight warehouses burned
wero owned by the Chicago. Milwaukee
and St. Paul Railway company, as wero
tho docks, comprising 1900 square feet.
Shippers and brokers arc preparing
claims for thousands Of barrels Of -four,
sugar, oil and general merchandise,
which will probably aggregate over $3.50,
000
While the fire was in progress Joseph
| McManus, the Syear-old son of Detective
| William McManus Of the city police
force, was run over by engine No. Q at the
corner of Third ald Fowler streets and
Instantly killed. The boy had gone to see
the fire and was trying to get across the
street when the accident occurred.