The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1915-06-29
Bulk of Loss Sustained by
Barker Lumber and
Fuel Company.
New Method Laundry is
Partially Burned-Ma-
chinery Damaged.
Thought of an Incendiary
Origin-Barker Co. is
to Rebuild Soon.

At an early hour this morning fire
occurred in which the Barker Lumber
and Fuel company sustained loss es-
timated at $4,000 and it is probable
that it will be found that the loss is
even greater, but Mr.. Barker this morn
ing gave the figure named as conser-
yatiye estimate.
Deter Il Ullrich of the New Method
laundry, sustained considerable of loss.
The roof over the rear half of the build
ing was burned away and the boiler
and machinery beneath were badly dam
aged by water and fire. The prOprie-
tors OF the laundry were fortunate in
having their loss partially covered by
insurance. Deter & Ullrich wills take
care of their laundry business just as
if nothing had happened. In fact the
wagons were out this morning making
the usual collections.
The origin of the fire is somewhat of
mystery. There appears to be a belief,
however, that it was of an incendiary
origin The first general alarm was
turned in by Patrolmsn Arthur Doerr at
$40 o'clock this morning. Mr.. DOerr
was making his usual rounds and was
at point near the fountain on the west
side when he observed bright reflec-
tion and at first was little bewilder-
ed as to the exact location of the fire.
Fastening to the Main street bridge, he
observed the rear of the lumber and coal
was lost in turning in the alarm, a
second alarm having been turned in
short time after.
One hour before the fire, Patrolman
Lucius Bruegger passed the office and
lumber and coal sheds on First street
and at that hour, as far es he could OBJ
serve, conditions about the premises
were normal. Several have stated that
when they first observed the fire, they
detected the smell of burning kerosene
oil. This fact, together with the rapidity
with which the flames spread, strength
ems the belief in the minds of many that
the fire was of an incendiary origin.
the smell of the oil is said to have been
detected by west side people.
1t was a fierce fire~and it is lucky that
the loss was not greater. The fact that
the laundry building was not complete
ly DESTROYED, is due to the fact that when
the Barker company built four years ago
they lined the north side of their build
ing with asbestos as protection
against fire from the north, a fact that
proved blessing to the owners of the
laundry building. Several buildings ad-
joining caught fire and it was with
much difficulty that they were saved.
The Oliver Casey building, across the
river, caught fire. The firemen did he
h0ic work and at late hour this morn
ing several streams of water were still
playing Oh the smouldering fire, kept
alive by the many tons of hard coal and
the thousands of feet of lumber in pile.
The Barker Lumber and Fuel COM
pany carried an insurance of eighty per
cent. Their loss consisted Of retail Of
fee, lumber and coal sheds, 800 to 1000
tons of hard coal. $4,000 to 100000 feet
of lumber, three cars or 600 barrels of
cement, together with large quantity
Of sash, doors and moulding.
The Barkers take their loss philosoph-
ically and are not discouraged by their
heavy loss. They announced this morn.
ing that just as soon as adjustments can
be made with the insurance companies,
they will begin rebuilding, and better