Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1905-05-17
BOY KILLED IN 4 FIRE.
Loss Of Over $4,000 Sustained
in Heart of K0nosha.
POSTAL CLERK OVERCOME.
Government Supplies, However, Are
Saved-Explosion While Lad Fills
Bucket with Paint

Kenosha, Wis, May 15.-[Special. !
Fire at 1870 o'clock this morning Quilted
the Calkins block in the heart of the
business district of the city, costing the
loss of one life and entaiing a property
loss of more than $4,000.
One Dead; Clerk Overcome.
John Smith, a 16-year-old boy, en-
ployed by the Joseph A. Pitts company,
who was in the basement when the fire
broke out, lost his life. His body was
found later.
Charles Gonnerman, a clerk in the Ke-
noSha postoffice, was overcome by smoke
While attempting to save the pOstotice
supplies.
The large building is occupied by the
United States postoffice and by the Jo-
seph A. Pitts company, dealers in paints
and OIL
Boys Dash Is Futile
Just before the fire broke out John
Smith had gone to the basement of the
building to measure out a bucket of
paint and a minute later an explosion
occurred. The boy was seen to take a
dash for the steps, but he fell back on
the floor of the basement and is sup
posed to have been smothered by the
smoke and flames.
Postofice Supplies Safe.
In a second after the explosion the eel
lar, which was filled with infiamma BILE
materials, was a perfect wall Of smoke
and flame and the smoke was carried to
the remainder Of the building. POstmas-
ter John 3. Maloney at once began the
removal of the supplies Of the office, and
III short time nearly all of the valu-
ables of the Office were carried to sur
rounding buildings.
Notwithstanding the great excitement
it is thought that all government mail
matter and the records of the office were
saved.
Mad Fight to Rescue Boy.
The fremen of the city fought like
mad in their efforts to penetrate the
cellar in hopes of rescuing young Smith,
and time and again members of the de-
partment were pulled out of the base
ment overcome by the smoke. They re-
turned to the task at once, but it was
then impossible for them to find any
trace of the boy OF his dead body.
Danger from explosions imperiled the
lives of thousands of people who crowd
ed the streets watching the fire.
Building Worth $4,000.
The building was valued at $4,000
and was owned by 0. NJ. Calkins of this
city. 1t was insured for $4,000 in the
following companies:
Hartford of Hartford, $4,000; Phoenix of
Hartford, $4,000; Northwestern National of
New York, $1,000.
List of Insurance Carried.
The furniture and fixtures of the post
Office were insured for $1,000 in the
Royal Insurance company of Liverpool.
A partial list of the insurance on the
Pitts store, which was valued at $780,
600, follows:
Fire Association Of Philadelphia, $1,000:
London and Lancashire of London, $500;
German-American of Freeport, ILL.,, $1,000;
Prussian American of New York $1,000;
American of Rochester, $1,000; Security Of
New Haven, 5000; Niagara of New York,
$500; Queen of America, $1,000; New Hamp-
shire Of Manchester, $4,000; Mechanics of
Hartford, $1,000.
Bank Used for Postoffice.
The First National bank has offered
to the postmaster the use of a portion
of the bank building until other arrange
ments can be made. The business Of
the office is now being transacted at the
bank