Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1900-09-06
POS0SI Is
FIRE SWEPT
The Quaint, Old Town Suffers A
Severe SCorrhing SATURDAY. Night
ProDertu Destroyed Valued at 1900
and Over. Partially Insured. Stories OF
the Fire.


the scene Of disastrous contlagration
SATURDAY. night. Six brick buildings
and score of outbuildings right in
the heart of the quaint old town are
in total ruins and the consequent loss
will reach sl2 900. The fire originat-
ed in the third story of the Vogels-
burg hotel at about 10 P. M, and
made such rapid Roadway that heroic
efforts on part of the populace to
check il were futile.
The hotel building, owned and oc-
cuped by Jos. Vogelsburg, with a sa-
loon in connection was the first victim
of the flames. Every sleeping apart
ment was occupied and so rapidly did
the fire eat its way through hoors'
partitions and walls that many occu-
pants barely escaped with their lives.
But meager portion of the motel
contents was saved. Above the hrst
floor nothing was taken out and MI.
Vogelsburg's loss is the heaviest OF
ali He estimates his damage at 81
600 and holds insurance policies to
the amount of 81 800, the German OF
Freeport carrying $4,000 and the
balance in the Southwestern Mutual.
From the hotel the fire spread to
the brick building owned by L. +.
Orion IL Co., of Lancaster. This was
occupied by the above named firm as
warehouse and by j. OFT who con-
Quoted a barber shop. The latter re-
movedHhs tonsorial outfit without
damage. Stored in the warehouse
!, was large amount OF wool and con-
siderable grain. A portion OF the
Eool was saved. T. F. orion states
mat the firms loss is 81, 600 on build
ing and contents with an insurance Of
$3.50 on both.
The building adjoining the hotel
property en- the west escaped severe
scorching through the Intervention OF
double division wall. The roof was
on ire at numerous Instance. but
watchfulness and prompt action az
opportune times saved it from destruc-
ton. When the walls of the hotel
fell, however, the roof was in the di-
rect pathway and a huge hole was
made therein by falling brick. The
structure is the property Of the j. OFT
estate and is occupied by Thcs. Welsh
who conducts restaurant. The w.
H. Hunt general store. recently pur-
chased by Thomas x Orrick, stands
just to the west of the OFT building
and escaped injury.
From the Orton warehouse the hun
CRY flames leaped to the furniture
store OF Geo. Schmitt and thi. too i.
a complete loss. The stock on the
ground floor was removed to place OF
safety but a goodly portion in rooms
above was destroyed. Loss $1,000.
partially covered by insurance.
Adjoining the Schmitt building was
Andy Kaltenbach's grocery store and
postoflice This fell an easy victim
AMI pile 81 brick Is all that remains
n the establishment. Most Of the
ltents were saved. The building
: owned by John Sidley Of Erie. Pa,
I relative 81 Mr.. kaltenbach's. Loss
partially covered by insurance
The substantial brick structure.
situated on the corner Of the street.
property OF the James Deneen estate
next succum bed. VIM. Welch con-
Quoted a saloon on the lover lloor
while A A Beck operates. a photo
graph gallery above. The saloon
fixture, and stock We're taken out in
time but the photographer suffered a
complete loss. The loss on building
is placed at 81 .5QO with insurance OF
500 in the German Of Freeport. Mr.
Beck's loss j. not estimated and it is
reported that he had no insurance.
In the rear of the Deneen building
was an icehousc and this was also
consumed. Around the corner stood
a large frame barn. owned BY George
Lewis. 1t contained hay and grain To
quite a quantity and all was destroyed.
Loss placed at $500. in- ured.
This constitutes the district ever
which the flames swept and naught
but blackened walls and heaps 81
brick. iron timbers ami a demoralized
mass Of nnn-combustible material re-
mains Of one Of Potosi's principal
business th2roughfare~
ON the opposite side Of the street
ar. frame structures occupied BY e.
-. Runkel. hardware: Birch X Pink.
livery and others. The fact that they