The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1900-04-26
WAS SWEPT BY FIRE.
Industrial Portion of the Town OF
WiImot Wiped Out by Flames
Friday Afternoon.
LOSS IS ESTIMATED AT $4,000

The Fire Broke Out Shortly After Three
o,clock in the Mills of voak Bros and
sread Rapidly to the Surrounding
Buildings Blacksmith Shop,
schmitt's Wagon Factory and Episcopal
Church Were Destroyed.
The most disastrous fire which has
occurred in Kenosha county in many
years occurred Friday afternoon, when
the little village of Wi1mot, in the
western part, was visited with hre
which wiped out nearly every indus
trial plant in the village. The loss IS
estimated at $50, 900 and the insurance
is Only small fraction of the amount.
The heaviest losers are
Voak Brothers, ni11ers, with partial
insurance.
sch1ax's blacksmith shop. Total
loss; $1,000
schmitt's wagon works, Total loss;
10000.
Episcopal church. Total loss; $500
The fire broke out shortly after three
O'Clock and was first discovered IN the
roof of the large mill owned by Voak
Brothers. The village has no fire en-
CINE and the only protection came from
a bucket brigade. The ringing sot the
bells in all parts of the village called
the people together, but when they ar
rived it was evident that the mill was
doomed and the main efforts we're ex-
pended to save the contents and the
surrounding buildings. The Hames'
however gained a rapid Roadway over
the fighters and soon spread to the
Sch1ax blacksmith shop, which was
soon a mass of ruins.
From this building the flames went
to the Schmitt Wagon works and the
fury of the flames was so great that 1t
looked for awhile as if the entire town
would be wiped out. The buildings
were largely of inflammable material
and the efforts of the bucket brigade to
save them were entirely useless.
After the wagon works had been de-
stroved the flames 1eaped over a NUM-
Der of buildings and the old historic
Episcopal church was the next victim.
It was soon destroyed together w1th1ts
contents.
AS soon as the flames had been ex-
tinguished it was announced that all
the buildings destroyed with the ex-
ception of the church will be rebuilt at
once. The only insurance on any OF
the buildings was held by Voak Broth
ers and this will only cover a small
part Of the loss from the fire.
Many incidents are reported IN con-
nection with the fire and the efforts to
save the property in the burning
buildings. Charles Voak, one OF the
managers of the mill, had placed
purse containing 500 in bills IN his
coat which Wa hanging in the office,
and in the rush of the fire he ordered
the people to take out the flour and
leave the office to the flames. In the
cash drawer was $40 and this also with
the coat and the bills was offered at
the altar of the fire god.
The fire will be a great setback to
the business interests of the little Ke-
nosha county village and a number OF
men will be thrown out of employment
until the buildings are rebuilt.
For some time the Town Board and
owners of the mill had been planning
to put in a fire engine for the protec.
ton of the mill and town, but they
waited one day too long 3and the towr
has suffered a great loss on account
their delay.
The heroic action of the men Of the
little town is well worthy of commen
dation, and had itA2not been for the
work of the bucketI brigade the entire
town would have been wiped out.
The origin of the Sire is unknown
but it is supposed that it originated IN
some of the machinery of the mills.