The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1898-03-10

FIRE broke out in the hotel and saloon
of Theodore Willert on South Eighth
street II O'Clock Tuesday night. 1t came
near being repetition of the Newhall
House fire on small scale. There were
eleven persons 10 the second story OF The
building, all sound asleep when the fire
broke out and they were awakened with
difficulty, the windows having to be
smashed. They made their escape N
Their night clothes and through win
down onto the roof of httleIbulldIng ad-
joining from which they descended to the
street. 1t was narrow escape and not
until census was taken would the spec
tators believe there was not loss OF life.
At ~ O'Clock, or near that time, Carl
Hansen. WHO sleeps 10 the rear OF his office
which is in little building adjolnlog
that which was destroyed, noticed flick
ering light close to his window. 1t coon
burst into a fame. Mr., Hanson leaped
out OF bed and went out 10 his night
clothes, but having only one leg was un-
able to get out Oh the street He shout
ed "6re" and beat upon the door, but could
arouse no one III the building. He notl-
GEO a man on the south side OF the street
and shouted to him, but the fellow bur
ried on and paid no heed. John Herzog
who Ives near, heard the shouts and bur
ried out. He managed to arouse the
boarders by smashing the windows IN
the second story with stones.
There were five boarders IN the house,
two OF them sailors. Without their assis-
lance there would unquestionably be loss
of life. They slipped on their undergar-
ments and were gathering up their clothes
to throw them out of the window when
they heard the cries of the women for
help in an adjoining room. They at once
dropped their clothes and went to the
women's assistance. Mrs. WIllert had a
babe in her arms and she begged that the
child be taken, but the two sailors took
charge OF the three women and the babe,
got them out on the roof through WIN
saving bit of their belongings. 1t was
a manly piece OF work and the two were
heroes of the hour. They are w. A
Philips of Algonsc, Mich, and Gus
Sporting of Chicago. They were furnish
ed clothes by trends.
Keys to the alarm boxes could not be
so,oJ ~ ho po,pbhnrboo5 onS IL took
some time before the department was
notified. When the fire laddies reached
the scene of action they made short work
of the fire though there was bitter com
plant of insufficient force in the streams
of water. MIR. Willert bad left $50 IN his
room. The tiremen made dash for it
and secured it. 1t is all he saved. Every
thing else was destroyed, about S6OO
worth and not cent insurance.
The building belonged to William
Lueps and was insured for $1,000. There
is not much doubt that the building was
set on fire as it started from the outside
near the side stairway. The loss of prop
erty Is comparatively light though ser-
GUS to Mr.. Wlllert, but the danger incur
red by the occupants OF the buildings and
their narrow escape give interest TO the
event Besides, the building was one OF
a number in the same block which it
would be difficult to save if the fire had
not been promptly extingulshed. The
members Of the fire department claim
they are handicapped by insuficiency of
appliances and that is likewise the YER
dict of those present. The water pres
sure was not sufficient, To begin with, to
throw a stream on the fire OF an ordinary
story and half building. There Is too
much work thrown upon the persons
having charge of the waterworks here, 1t
is said. The Pilot knows nothing OF these
things of its own knowledge. But there
certainly should be some investigation
mad, with view to make protection
against loss 10y fire more thorough than 1t
appears to be at present.