The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1916-02-22

Another of the series of disastrous
fires which has visited Watertown
within the last year originated from
an unknown cause in the Masonic
temple, Friday evening about 6:30
o'clock, which entailed an estimated
total loss of $60,700.
The fire was discovered in the rear
of the basement under the Ryan book
store by John Lange, who ran to the
city hall and reported to the fire de-
partment Robert Donner rushed to
the building with extinguishers, but
the basement was filled with smoke
SO dense that his efforts to reach the
blaze were of no avail, and it did not
require a second look to convince
those present that the fire department
was necessary
Firemen were guarding the elevator
shaft, and did not permit the fire to
gain a start at that point, but about
7:30 o'clock a blaze broke through
the roof, which convinced all that the
building was doomed.
The theory expressec(f is that the fire
gained the ceiling of the third floor
through partitions. While the fire
men fought manfully to quench the
flames, their efforts were rewarded
only by keeping the fire within the
walls of the Masonic temple and pre-
venting a spread to adjoining build
ings, which at one time was threat
ened
The fire had gained such proper
ton at one time that the fire de-
partments of both Milwaukee and
OconOmowoc were appealed to for
help. Milwaukee responded with
fire engine and hose cart in command
OF Assistant Chief Larry Hanlon, ac-
companied by nine men.
When the train bearing the Milwau-
kee firemen passed through Ocono-
mOwoc they stopped and took aboard
the fire chief of that city and a force
of men.
The special which brought the fire
men to Watertown was pulled by
low wheeled freight engine, and made
the run of fifty miles in fifty-eight
minutes, which time included the stop
at Oconomowoc, besides two other
stops at railroad crossings When the
train arrived in this city the apparatus
was not un1oaded, but the nremen in
spected the scene of the cOnfiagration.
Some of the freaks of the fire
can be appreciated when it is known
that part OF the basement occupied by
the Times was not touched by fire
The Zabler confectionery store was
saved from flames, as was other por-
tions of the building, including the
auditorium on the second floor, which
is scarcely damaged, while the third
floor and the roof are total loss.
Naturally, the Masonic Temple as
sOciation is the greatest loser.
Another heavy loser is John T.
Ryan, the book dealer and undertaken,
whose stock is a total loss from wa
ter
Mr.. Ryan sayts that his undertaking
business will be re-established with
in two or three days, while his book
and stationery business will be ready
for his trade within two weeks.
The Daily Times will lose about
$4,000. The linotype, their most valu-
able machine, is water-soaked. many
of the parts at this writing coIVoding.
Their presses are also water-soaked
and rusty, and nothing short of put
ting all machinery through an over
hauling will make it useful. The busi-
ness office furniture is damaged by
water, while the. loss to paper stock,
work in hand and completed job work
ready for delivery are total loss The
heaviest single stock item is four tons
of print paper which had but a few
days ago been delivered to them
The Masonic lodge and the Elks
/ lodge are possibly the next heaviest
losers. Their fine paraphernalia was
burned, but both lodges possibly feel
more keenly the destruction of their
records and charters
| kading & Kading, lawyers, estimate
their loss at $1,500, instead of $1,000.
as was at first reported. Mr.. Kading
says that all papers which were of
actual monetary value were in the
safe, which was not damaged. Their
law library was all in book cases, and
was we'll protected from water, ex-
cepting where two or three of the
glass doors were broken, which per-
mitted the water to strike the backs
OF the books, preserving practically
intact the leaves. They did, however.
suffer loss by water, of copies of cases
and briefs which were highly valued
by them, but which would be no prac-
teal value to anyone else. 1t will re-
Quire considerable time and much re-