Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-06-15
BAD BLAZE AT DETROIT
est Business Structures in
Michigan Metropolis.

Detroit, Mich, June 11.-Fire early to-
day destroyed the Case Power building
on Congress street (Wes) with all its
contents, and imminently threatened and
in some cases damaged some of the finest
business structures in this city. The total
damage viii be upward of 100000. 1t
is not believed that the insurance will
exceed two-thirds of the loss.
Six fremen were severely burned and
cut by glass. They are: Lieut.. NJ. J..
Sheehan OF Engine company No. 6, and
Henry Fisher, Joseph Hockaday, Thomas
Kennedy, James T. Kenyon and Edward
w. Simmons, hremen. All will recover.
The fire was discovered at 3 O'Clock,
having originated on the fourth floor in
the drying room Of the Davidson Pipe
and Novelty company, around some ovens
used tor enameling purposes. 1t spread
with extraordinary rapldlty and at ;
O'Clock the structure was in ruins. The
anterior structure Of the seven-stOry
building was almost entirely of wood and
furnished easy food for the flames. The
buildings across the alley in the rear On
the opposite side of Congress street were
for a time endangered, but by rapid work
were saved. excepting that the spire Of
Old st. Paufs Episcopal church at Con-
gress and Shelby streets was partially
burned and the front of the Wayne
County Savings Bank building slightly
lamaged.
Buildings to the eastward of the burn
ing structure were threatened still as the
prevailing wind caused them to be en-
yelOped in a steady shower of sparks and
fre-brands. Numerous awnings on the
cieven-story Union Trust building the ten
story Hammond building and elsewhere
kept burning. Finally some woodwork on
the sixth and seventh floors OF the Trust
building caught fire, but it was soon eX-
tinguished. The Bull building, situated
nearer to the Case building, suffered worst.
It's four-story and basement annex, which
faces Congress street, got afre from burn
ing debris waited upon the roof. The
upper stories of this building were burned
out and the lower ones flooded. Various
old buildings west Of the Case building OF,
Congress and Shelby streets suffered COM
paratively.
The main part of the Case building was
new, but adjoining, separated by a fire
wall, was four-story annex. Several
people were asleep in that side of the
building, but all were gotten out quickly
and safely.
George f. Case valued his building at
500. GOO. 1t is insured for something
over half that. The loss on machinery
and contents owned by tenants is estimat-
ed at about 100000, the largest being
the Wheeler Bicycle Saddle company,
$4,000. The occupants were the follow
ing: Morrison Printing company; Nor
gan & Whateley, shirt works and manu-
facturers; Babbitt & Graham, hosiery;
Davidson Pipe & Novelty company; Par
ISL & Bro; Turner & Ralston Printing
company; George II. Hall 4 Son. spong-
ing works; Michigan Farmer Printing
office; John f. Eby Printing company;
Wing & Staub, printers; Burpee Manu-
factory company; Pearl Button Manufac-
turing company, and the American Cash
Register company.
III the Case building annex were Parish
Bros, electrical supplies: Frank Walsh,
Plumbers Novelty Manufacturing COM
pany; William Sperry company, railroad
supplies, and several small offices, besides
a number of roomers.
L. D. Bull estimates the loss OF his an
mex building at $4,000; we'll insured.
The main Bull building was damaged
to the extent of $4,000. Occupants Of the
Bull Offices sustained some losses by wa