Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1905-02-07

AS Miss Marie Anderson, an operator
in the exchange of the Wausau Tele-
phone Co., was returning 70 her home,
at 1907 Fourth street, at about nine
O'Clock Wednesday evening, she dis
covered fire in the basement of the
Kiefer building, located at the south
west corner of Third and Grant streets,
That she made the discovery at that
time probably resulted il saving the
whole block and perhaps some lives.
She FASTENED to the Stark candy store
and sent il a telephone alarm to the
east side engine house, when gener-
al alarm was sounded and both COM
panies were soon at the scene.
At about the same time Geo.
Andrews, who with his wife occupied
rooms on the second story of the build
ing, also discovered the building to be
on fire. The first intimation he had
was when terrific explosion occurred,
which shook the building. He looked
out of the window and saw that the
street was filled with dense black
smoke. He went to a door leading
outside, which he opened but the
smoke almost blinded him and he was
forced to Immediately close it and
return to his wife, who was confined TO
her bed from illness which she has suf
fered for several weeks. He informed
nd, IS fro onh chn
desired to dress and prepare to leave
the place, hrt there was no time for
this as with every minute that elapsed
the rooms were being rapidly filled
with smoke. He wrapped her up in
bed clothes and proceeded to leave the
building. In the hallway they were
met by DIR. L. johnson, whose dental
parlors were on the same floor, and the
two men assisted Mrs. Andrews to the
Oswald bakery near by.
When the firemen arrived it was not
long before six streams Of water were
playing on the building. Because of
the origin Of the flames, the construc
ton of the building and the inham-
able stock it contained it was very
hard to fight the fire. The whole base
ment was then one mass of flames,
which were not long in reaching the
upper floor and eat their way up the
walls between the brick and plastering
The weather was further handicap
to the fremen, for the night was the
coolest of the year and the mercury
was rapidly going lower, and they
suffered greatly.
At several stages it looked very much
as if the flames would lick up the whole
block, but by very persistent work, for
which the tiremen must be given due
credit, they were held well in control
although it was evident from the start
that little, if anything, of the building
and its contents could be saved.
The firemen worked hard all night
long in freezing temperature, and it
was not until eleven hours afterward
that water was turned off. They suf
fered much from exposure and sicken-
ing, binding, suffocating smoke.
Several of the firemen were taken sick
but remained at their post. Chief
Miller was the most affected and finally
was persuaded to go home and 60 to
bed Their clothes were frozen stiff
and the chiefs hands were frost bitten.
During the night some of our citizens
rendered the tiremen valuable assist
ance by carrying to them hot coffee,
sandwiches, etc. Among these were
Rev B. B Gibbs, j F Oswald, John
Curtis, Dave Kirkwood and E. M
James.
The basement, first floor and part of
the second story was occupied by the
Littleiohn-E sch Co as furniture store.
The balance of the upper rooms were
occupied by MIR. and Mrs. John Kiefer,
Jr., Mr.. and Mrs. Geo. Andrews and
DR.. T. johnson. Mr.. and Mrs. Kiefer
were attending party at the home of
Dave Kirkwood at the time. Mr..
Littleiohn was also at a party and Mr..
Esch was at his home on East hill.
Mr.. and Mrs. Andrews lost every