Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-02-06

ming from Nekoosa to Marshfeld. The
Nekoosa Paper company, ,o have l their PfqiiP
| thriving institution and a promising village
The citizens of Nekoosa were
greatly surprised Friday evening last
at about o'clock at the alarm Of fire.
and to learn that the S. L. Stevens
block was on fire as the result of
gasoline lamp explosion in the bank Of
NekooSa. 1t appears that G. L.
| Stephens, the banker was in the habit
of leaving a gasoline lamp burning all
night SO that the night-watch, or any
one passing by, could have a clear
view within. This was done as pre-
caution against burglarizing. Upon
this night, it is presumed that the
lamp exploded and set fire to the
interior of the building. The first
| person to give the alarm of fire was
Samuel Weiniger, who stood in front
of the Grand View House when sud-
denly he heard noise and saw the
| flames bursting out through the front
of the bank building, indicating that
an explosion had taken place. He
Immediately gave the alarm and men,
bers of the Fire Company were soon
l dU UIIC SCGIlt. uC oUU L CllOWS 1OuSC
| was in session in the second floor OF
this building, and were initiating
| MeSSrs. II. e. Fitch and George
Gillette into the mysteries OF that
order. They were about half through
| their work when the alarm "Fire!'
was given, and all members lmmed-
| lately left the room, wearing their
regalia. One Of the candidates, who
| is considerable of ''joiner" thought
this TO be part of the inltiatory
ceremony and remained standing in
his place until everybody had for
Saken him, and as d consequence was
the last man out OF the building. The
ground floor of the Stevens block was
occupied by the bank Of NekOoSa,
where the fire originated and the
balance was used as warehouse and
SaleSroom where Mr.. Stevens kept a
display of buggies, farm implements,
bicycles, etc. The second floor was
occupied by II. E. Fitch's law office
and the Odd Fellows lodge room.
The Bank of NekOoSa's loss is $3.50.
Insured for $500. S. L. Stevens loss
$500, insured for 81, 500, II. E. Fitch's
loss $3.50, insured for $3.50. The Odd
Fellows, Rebeccas, Equitable Frater-
nal Union, Mystic Workers all lost
their books, records, and regalia with
no insurance. The city records, police
court records and H. E. Fitch's papers,
books and personal effects were all
consumed by the fire. From the
lodge room Mr.. Fitch entered his
private office, saved his type writer,
insurance books and a few other little
things and was obliged to leave the
building through window by lad
der He had a narrow escape of fall
ing through the floor into the raging
fire below, as the floor of his bedroom
haG already fallen in. The loss of
this block is not only a great loss to S.
l.. Stevens, the owner, but to the
village as well.
CARD OF THANKS.
| desire to express my sincere thanks
to all those who aided in Subdueing
the recent fire, and especially the
Nekoosa Fire company, for the valu-
able service they rendered in saving
my livery barn, farm machinery,
buggies, etc. and fully appreciate
their efforts in &hiS respect. While
my loss is great it would have been
much greater but for their laboricus
and efficient service.
Yours Respectfully,
S. L. STEVENS.
Chas. Gould, NekoOsa'S well-known
weather prophet, who is always pre-
dieting conditions of weather that
never come true, the past week pre-
dicted that NekooSa would experience
a spell of warm rainy weather that
would flood it's streets. The night of
the fire hydrant burst and the flow
of water that came from it did flood
The streets of Nekoosa, in the vicinity
of the Herrick House block. This is
the first prediction he ever made that
has come true for which we believe
he should be entitled to full credit
Mr.. and Mrs. Beppler take this
method of expressing their sincere
thanks to members of the Fire Com
pany, and all others who assisted them
in removing their household goods
from their house on the night of the
fire. Had it not been for the prompt
and efficient service of the Fire Com
pany, their home and the entire block
would have been consumed by fire.
Lovers of dancing are cordially
invited to attend the second annual
L
NekOOSa Fire DEPARTMENT.. Saturday,
Feb. s, in Brooks Bros hall. The
music will be furnished by Herrick's
orchestra.
r. J. Mcintyre of Chicago, repre-
sentative of the Fire Fund Insurance
Company, who had policy upon the
Nekcosa bank property, was here
Tuesday and adjusted the loss by
paying $3.50. The policy was for $500.
James Withers sold his three houses
and lands in Woods addition to
NekOOsa for twenty-five hundred
dollars to parties in Camp Douglas,
Wis.
GuStava kOsS a new back tender in
the paper mill moved his family to
this village and is occupying the John
Gurdy residence.
Mr.. and Mrs. Albert Laergel of the
| town OF Saratoga are rejoicing over
the arrival of son born Saturday,
Feb. LIST.
! J. r. Chapman, the jeweler from
! Grand Rapids was here Tuesday fixing
a valuable clock for Andrew Zurf1uh.
Three more of George PreSton's
| children. in the town of Saratoga are
down sick with the smallpox.
Mrs. B. Bay returned Monday from
her visit home at Rockford, Illinois,
with her parents.
Mrs. G.. c. Hyde departed Saturday
| for st. Paul, Mimi, on a short visit
to her parents.