Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1905-01-27
ADANGEROUS FIRE
The Four Store Buildings Owned
by Mr.. and Mrs. W. j. Shea
Destroyed by Fire, Wednesday
Morning.

destroyed DJ rlTe, VcuucSudy
Morning.
A little after 2 O'Clock Wednesday
morning, January %, the alarm of
fire was sounded, locating the fire by
mistake in the first ward. 1t after
ward proved to be the four buildings
owned by Mr.. and Mrs. W. J. Shea and
located on Water street, just north
east of Spafford, Cole & Company's
general establishment in the third
ward. When discovered the lire was
located in the rear part of Silverman
Brothers liquor store, from which
clouds of smoke were breaking forth
through the roof. The iremen res
pended promptly to the call and soon
had five or six streams of water play
ing upon the burning buildings. The
night was cold and strong wind was
blowing from the north, which famed
the flames, spreading them to the
four store buildings and rapidly con-
Sumed them. Had it not been for
the excellent work in Subduing the
flames by the fire company no telling
what would have been the results of
this fire. The Spafford, Cole s. Com
pany's brick block served to stay the
progress of the flames on the west,
but in spite Of the efforts of the fire
company the block caught fire several
different times. Link s. Werle's
meat market building was only saved
by the excellent work and good judg
meut in the use of water by the fire
company. Jacob LutZ, chief of
the fire company, and one of the first
to discover the fire, was on the grounds
from the beginning to the close of
the burning and directed the move
ments of the tiremen. There was
constant danger of Jacob Lutz's, A. J..
HaSbrouck'S and Weeks & Weeks
properties burning across the way and
and in fact the roof of MI. Lutz's
building was on fire at one time.
Even better and more efficient work
would have been accomplished had it
not been for the hydrant in front of
Hasbrouck'S livery stable being frozen
and out of use. The Fire company was
obliged to go long distance to con-
meet with hydranJs that were not
frozen.
The loss of buildings to w. J. Shea
will reach about $4,000 with an in
surance of only $500, Mr.. Shea having
allowed one policy of $500 to elapse
some time last fall.
Eugene Miller who operated a
bicycle repair shop carried no in
surance. He saved most of his stock.
His loss will not exceed 800. Dessaint
& ArndJ who operated a carpenter
and paint shop suffered loss Of about
$500 with an insurance of $500. A. j..
HaSbrouck and Others had buggies
stored with this firm and suffered the
loss Of them. Mr.. Hasbrouck thinks
his loss will reach at least $3.50.
Silverman Bros. carried $4,000 in
surance, $4,000 in the Gilkey Agency
and $4,000 iii Taylor & Scott Agency
The amount Of loss is not yet known.
They saved nothing out of their stock.
Spafford, Cole & Company's block was
somewhat damaged, but to what ex-
tent is not known as at this time an
estimate has not been made. Take
it all together the results of this fire
are not nearly as bad as what might
have been had it not been for the
excellent service rendered by our local
fire company. Their efficient service
and the reliability of the waterworks
have already proven of great value to
this community.