The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1908-09-03
Buildings on Great Stock Farm ia
the Town of Pleasant Prairie
Devastated by Fire
LOSS ESTIMATED AT $4,000
Fire Started in Cupolas of the Cow
Barns and Spread Rapidly to Sur
rounding Buildings Hundreds
Watch the Flames

One of the most disastrous fires
known in Kenosha county in many
years occurred between eight and nine
o clock Tuesday evening on the big
stock farm of G. D. Holt and Son, in
the town OF Pleasant Prairie, when a
blaze which started in the COW barns
ON the farm devastated all of the build
ings save the dwelling house and left
them mass of smouldering ruins. The
loss from the fire is estimated at $4,000
while the insurance is considerably less
than $4,000 leaving a net loss of more
than $4,000
The fire was one of the most 8pectac-
ular ever seen in this part of the coun-
try. The great barns covering several
acres of land and all of them stored
full of feed and hay offered no resis-
lance to the flames and the hundreds of
people who gathered to watch the burn
ing buildings were powerless to prevent
the spread Of the flames except to tho
big dwelling house which was not in
any way damaged by the flames
The origin of the fire is a mystery.
Frank Holt who is in charge of the
farm had worked until after dark be-
fore he went to the house to eat his
supper and just after eight o'clock ne
looked out Of one of the windows of
the house and noticed that the cupolas
on the top of the big cow barns were
in flames. He ran out to the barn and
as he entered the door of the building
he noticed that big bunch of burning
hay had been thrown down from the
hay mows above. He hurried to the
other buildings to save any cattle that
might have been left there, but it is
said that all Of the horses-and the
Holt horses are famous throughout the
country-had been turned out for the
night as had the COWS and other ami
mails with the exception of number
Of young calves which are supposed to
have been burned with the buildings.
The flames spread with lightning rapid
ty to the various buildings about the
farm and there was no chance to even
make an effort to save the buildings.
They were so filled with dry hay and
grain that even a spark from the great
burning barn was enough to start a
fire that it was impossible to quench.
The chicken houses were caught by the
flames and more than 400 hens and a
large number Of young chickens were
roasted on their roosts.
The news of the great fire was
brought to Kenosha by telephone few
minutes after the blaze had been dis
covered and hundreds of people went
out in automobiles and watched the
flames At the time the fire was at it's
heighth more than fifty autos were in
the roads about the farm watching the
progress of the fire.
The origin Of the fire is a complete
mystery, but it is thought that some
one must have gone into the big mows
in the cow barn and set fire to them.
1t seems possible that the person might
have been burned to death, but nothing
has been found to warrant such a
statement. Examination Of the ruins
OF the building was made today with
view of finding the exact cause of
the fire.
The buildings on the Holt farm were
among the best farm buildings in the
county. Some Of them were built fifty
to sixty years ago, but most of them
had been built in recent years and they
were valued st $4,000.
In addition to the loss on the build
ings there was the loss on contents
which was exceedingly heavy.
Mr. Holt stated this morning that
the insurance amounted to $4,000, but
Of this amount $1,000 was carried or
the house.
$4,000 Of the insurance was carried in
the Pleasant Prairie Mutual Insurance
Company, while $4,000 was carried in
the French agencies.