Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1901-07-22
Madison, July II.

Fire Tuesday afternoon completely
destroyed the handsome livery barn
of Kentzler Bros. on East Doty street;
damaged considerably the adjoining
buildings, the Fess hotel and the Riley
& Son livery barn and for time
threatened many neighboring houses.
The fire was first discovered by Pat
rick Crowley, an employe of the Kent
zler stable, who was on his way to the
rear of the barn to get horse he had
been grooming there. Flames were
already bursting from the haymow.
He called to the other men and to
Andrew Kentzler who was in
the front part of the barn and the
work of getting out the 81 horses be-
gan. The halter straps were cut and
most of the animals, already frantic
with terror, were driven in a herd out
of the rear door and through the drive
way to South Pinckney street. Some
of them ran around to the DOty street
entrance and tried to get back through
the front door but were blocked by the
vehicles which were being taken out
there. The work of saving the horses
was remarkably well executed. Out
of the 81 horses in the barn at the
time of the alarm, AZ were rescued.
At ten minutes past 8 o'clock the
Kentzler building was mass of flames
and ten minutes later OILY the walls
were standing. Shortly after the
flames started the most serious acct
dent of the fire. occurred when Will
lam Haak, Jr., fell from the top of the
building to the granolithic walk be-
low. It was at first thought that he
was killed. He was taken home and
found to have leg, wrist and nose
broken and to be otherwise badly
bruised.
pathetic feature of the accident
was the weeping of Haak's ten-year-
old son who saw his father fail and
cried, 80, my poor papa"
Haak is about 35 years of age and
weighs 1876 pounds. He conducts a
prosperous windmill business at 119
South Webster street over which place
he resides. He is a son of Mr.. and
Mrs William Haak Sol East Washing
ton avenue, and a trustee of the Ger
man Presbyterian church.
When the fire was burning most
fierceIy, about 10 minutes after it's dis
covery, the Fess house and the small
Riley barn were both burning in the
roof but were saved from total de-
struction by prompt and heroic work
on the part of the firemen.
Total Loss So. 500.
AS nearly as can be computed at
this time the losses will approximate
$21,5 500. Messrs. Kentzler estimate
their loss at $4,000. Some insurance
is carried but the exact amount can
not be learned as the policies are in
the safe which is buried in the ruins.
Their loss includes five valuable
horses, about 10 tons of hay and a
large quantity of feed. All the We
hicles on the ground floor were got
ten out as well as the harnesses and
Office furniture. The most valuable
rolling stock and all the winter robes
and blankets were in the second and
third floors. None of this property
was saved. 1t was ascertafned that
there was an insurance of $4,000 on
the Kentzler property divided into six
classes; $4,000 was placed on the
front and rear buildings and the bal
ance was divided between vehicles,
harness, feed and live stock. The
building was valued at $4,000.
Riley & Son sustained loss of
about $1,000. Their smaller building
which adjoins the Kent2ler barn, was
badly burned and their stock of
sleighs, robes and vehicles stored
there was ruined Their large cor
'ner barn was not damaged. Mr.. Riley
carries about $4,000 insurance.
The Tess house was damaged in the
neighborhood of $4,000. The side
next the Kentzler building was burned
badly, the rear of the hotel was prac-
.tically entirely destroyed and the en-
tire building and contents thoroughly
soaked with water Ed Fess, the pro-
prietor, carries $4,000 insurance, am
ply sufficient to cover his loss. There
were thirty people stopping at the
hotel, most of whom had to find other
quarters. The Tess people carry their
insurance in the Royal company of
England.
Theory as to Origin,