The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1903-06-04
KENosHA, WISCONSIN. JUNE A. 1908.
RACINE sUsTAINs FIRE LOSS
Fire In Factory District of NeighbOring
City Does Much Damage.

City Does Much Damage.
Sunday will always be historic day
in the city of Racine as the most de-
structive confagration known in many
years in Southern Wisconsin occurred
in the neighboring city on Sunday
afternoon when FIRE swept the factory
district of the city, completely destroy
ing the factory of the Racine Boat
company and doing great damage to
the plants of the ]. I. Case company,
the Roberts Manufacturing company
and the ]. I. Case Piow works. The
great oil tanks of TIE Standard Oil
company in the city we're also de-
stroyed. The insurance amounts TO
about $25O,0O0.
The FIRE was one of the most sensa-
tional ones that ever occurred in this
part of the state and hundreds of peo-
pie went from Kenosha to watch the
progress of the flames. The FIRE broke
out just after one O'Clock aud the Ra-
cine fremen fearing that the entire
city would be swept by the flames,
driven by the wind, called on Kenosha
for aid. The chief of the FIRE depart
ment and the men at the different sta
tons at once organized volunteer re-
lief department. and the steamer and
hose cart were loaded on fiat car and
the party was ready to leave for the
scene of the FIRE when telegram came
from Racine that the fremen of the
city had secured control of the fire and
that the services of the Kenosha fire.
men we're not needed.
The .sre started in the rowboat de-
partment of the Racine Boat company.
Three men were in the building. One
was in the boiler. All had narrow es-
capes, being compelled to jump into
the river. All were picked up by men
IN boat.
A gale blowing from the northeast
carried the flames to surrounding
frame buildings. In half an hour the
boat works were destroyed, as we're 200
launches, rowboats, books, papers and
drawings.
The flames spread to the Standard
Oil company's ware house and explo,
sion followed explosion. Ten thous-
and gallons of gasoline and 5000 gal
Ions Of naphtha made food for the
flames. The explosions we're terrific
and threatened the Case Plow works.
All feared that the burning gasoline
would fow into the river and set fire
to the dock and vessels.
The warehouses of the Case Thresh.
ing Machine company, containing 4OC
separators and engines, were threat
ened. One building was saved by the
heroic work of the fremen and volun
teers. The other building with sepa,
rators VS. destroyed, causing loss OF
$50, 900. The John Roberts Stone
works were partly destroyed, as were
buildings of the Case pillow works,
freight cars and lumber yards. The
loss is divided as follows:
Racine Boat company, loss $150,O00;
insurance, 100000.
Case Threshing Machine company,
loss $50. 900; fully insured.
Case Plow Works, loss $4,000; fully
insured.
Standard Oil company, loss $4,000;
no insurance.
Lumber yards, freight cars and Rob
erts' Stone works, loss $4,000; partly
insured
The destruction of the boat works
throws 200 men out of employment.
The fire will be terrible blow to the
industrial interests of Racine, as it is
probable that the boat works will
never be rebuilt. For some time the
company had been planning to remove
from their present location and it is
thought that this fire will cause them
to take this action.