The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1904-12-29
Fire Follows Burglary at The
Residence of 0. E. Strauss
and Serious Loss Results.
TAKE CONTROL OF HOUSE.
First Rob the House and Then Match
Dropped in Clothes Closet Caused
the Fire.-Other Christmas
Fires Fo1low.

The residence of O. e. Strauss on
South Exchange street was entered
by burglars on Saturday evening, and
before the men left the house match
dropped in clothes closet started a
fire which Quilted the entire upper
part of the house, causing a loss of
of more than $1,000. The house was
owned by Fl. S. Brown, the photog-
rapher, and the loss on the building
| is covered by insurance. There was
no insurance on the furniture and the
Strauss family will have to bear a
loss of something like 81, 900.
The fire occurred just after 10
O'Clock, and when the department was
called to the house the entire upper
portion of it was in flames. For
nearly an hour the fremen continued
in their fight against the fire and
managed to save a small portion of
the lower story of the house.
The loss on the furniture and fit
tings of the house is a large one, as
| Mr.. and Mrs. Strauss hadsspent large
sums to have the house fitted up in a
most modern manner.
The burglary had taken place early
in the evening. The men had entered
one of the rear windows of the house
with the aid of a jimmy and had
spent several hours there. They had
evidently known that Mr.. and Mrs.
Strauss were in Chicago, and from
their actions it is evident that they
| did not fear detection. They did not
even take the precaution of pulling
down the blinds and people in the
neighborhood saw the men in the
mouse several times during the even
ing. These people weresnot aware OF
the fact that Mr.. Strauss was out OF
the city, and the daring manner in
which the men went at their work put
the neighbors entire1y.off their guard
The men went into dining room and
prepared a supper, and portion OF
this was still on the table when the
fremen arrived After the supper
was over they had lighted lamps in
other parts of the house and had
robbed the place in a systematic
manner. Amidst the ruins of the fire
/ it is easy to see that the burglars
made a thorough search of the
house.
It is supposed that they were just
completing this search when the
dropped match caused the fire.
The police are making a di1igent
search for several suspects and it is
thought that the guilty men will be
behind the bars within twenty-four
hours.
Fire at Metten Home.
The department was called out
again on Monday afternoon to the
home of Henry Metten on Grant
street, where an explosion of i11umin-
ating gas threatened to cause dan
gerous fire. The gas pipes had been
leaking and the cellar was filled with
it. One of the members of the house
hold went into the cellar with lamp
and the explosion followed. The
damage done was inconsiderab1e.
Santa Claus Starts Fire.
A fire which might have been a
very serious one, had it not been for
quick work, occurred at the home of
r. H. We11es on Monday. Candles on
a Christmas tree ignited it, and the
tree was mass of flames in 1ess.time
than it took to tell it. Mr.. We11es
with great presence of mind seized a
blanket and maraged to carry the
tree from the room. The loss was
small, and the department was not
called out.