Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1905-02-08
FIRE AFTERMATH.
The Glen Haven Fire and It's Dire
Consequences.


of the most disastrous fires which
ever happened in this vicinity oc-
Cured in this village Friday morn.
ing, when three barns and an ice
house, together with most OF the
contents, went up in smoke, and
thirteen extra good horses lost their
lives. Postmaster Joseph Orr, who
had been afflicted with heart
trouble. died from excitement and
exertiOn.
The fire originated in Frank Barr's
livery barn, and was discovered by
Mr.. Orr, who lives in the vicinity,
about 4 a. m. Mr.. Orr gave the
alarm, and soon there was large
number of people fighting the fire.
They tore down the buggy shed
and tried hard to check the flames,
but the fires spread to Mr.. Orr's
barn and to Martin SeippeFs barn
and ice house, and it was confined
to the four buildings.
Mr.. Barr had one of the best
liveries in Grant county, and he
was proud of his horses, and on the
day before the fire he had placed a
stove in the barn for the greater
comfort of the animals. Besides his
nine good horses, there was good
team Of drivers belonging to Lewis
Wildman, who had placed them in
the barn over night for their great
or comfort, having Just moved to
town two days before; fine team
of drivers belonging to A. c. Smith,
the travelling agent from Lancaster,
all the harnesses for all these
animals; two good cows, a car load
of baled hay, ETC., all OF which was
consumed in the flames. the fire
claimed the entire interior OF the
barn when discovered, anu the
stock had already expired MI. Barr
had his hands and face badly burn
ed in trying to get the door open,
but had to give it up. His wounds
are painful, but they are healing.
The Orr and Seippel barns and
ice house are in close proximity to
the livery, and they could not be
saved.
Mr.. Barr figures his loss at about
So, 500, with only $3.50 insurance in
the Grant County Fire Insurance
company. The Orr and Seippel
losses were probably about $500
each.
The tragic death Of Mr.. Orr oc
urred shortly after he gave the
alarm. He earned some valuable
papers from the postoffice, which
was in dangerous proximity to the
fire to the residence of Eddie Barr,
and then went to his house, going
down cellar to look after the fire.
He barely assembled the cellar stairs
when he fell to the floor, and in a
few minutes he was dead. He had
been troubled with heart affection,
and the excitement and exertion
are thought to have brought on the
attack.
Louis Wildman Jr. breathed so
much of the exceedingly cold air
that he contracted pneumonia, and
he is now critically i'll.
A subscription paper is being
circulated for Landlord Barr, who
is known as a whole souled fellow.
The paper finds many signers in q
half dozen West Grant towns. 1t is
probable that over $1,000 will be
subscribed. He has been presented
with two fair teams, and was
rendered the use of half the horses
on Blakes Prairie until crop time
in the spring. No doubt Mr.. Barr is
pleased to find out how popular he
is with the community, which is
not slow in helping out an honest
mortal in bad luck. With this help
no doubt he will get along all right.
The sudden and unexpected death
of Postmaster Joseph Orr at the
fire, has cast heavy shadow over
this community which will remain
for many day. Mr.. Orr was one
of the prominent tgures in the
affairs of our town, having been
identified with its business and
social life for many years.
He was a son OF the late James
Orr, who with his family settled on
Blakes Prairie in an early day, west
of the well-known J. G. Orr farm,
but subsequently went west. Joseph
was about fifty years of age and
leaves widow nee Ahrens) and
four children.
Mr.. Orr was possessed of ex-
ceptionally good business and
general qualifications, and was more
or less engaged in business enter