The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1917-01-11
From Thursdays Daily

NIIuu hLA oNAeSy 1)NAAJ
Fer the first time in the history Of
labor troubles in Kenosha county the
torch was applied by disgruntled labor
ers at Twin Lakes late Wednesday
night when the great ice house Of the
Harry Lawler Company was completely
destroyed entailing loss on the build
ing Of $4,000 and the further loss of
the uncovering of more than $4,000
tons Of ice which had been stored in
the house during the opening days Of
the ice harvest Two men, J. J. Stein
bach, who claims that his home is at
Evanston, ILL.,, and William Janke,
claiming Milwaukee as his home, are in
the county Jail charged with arson in
connection with the fire. District At
torney Peter Fisher, Jr., began search
ing investigation into the conditions
surrounding the fire this afternoon and
the men will not eb brought into court
to answer the charges against them
until after this investigation is over.
They were sullen and refused to make
asny statement more than to declare
that they were not members of the
Industrial Workers of the World
whose presence at the Lawler plant at
Twin Lakes had been blamed for the
tabor troubles of the last few days.
Excitement But No Rioting.
The burning of the great ice house
caused great excitement in the ice
camps along the chain Of lakes in Ke-
nosha county but there was no rioting
at any of the camps either last night or
this morning and it is declared today
thaS the ice harvest is proceeding at
the lakes without serious interruption
and with no sign Of trouble. Sheriff
Jacob Hermann has deputies at Twin
Lakes working on the investigation of
the fire and they are serving as a guard
for other property.
Men Rescue Horses.
1t was just after seven 0 'clock wed
nesday night when four men cleaning
the slush ice from the ways at the
big Lawler houses discovered the blaze.
Tt had been started at the second door
leading to the house. That the build
ing had been kefosened was made evil
dent by the rapid spread of the fire.
Tt swept up the great wooden walls of
the ice house like forest fire and
within ten minutes after the blaze was
discovered the great house covering
several acres of ground was a seething
rlss of flames. There was no serious
effort made to arrest the progress of the
Flames. The men who were employed
by the company risked their own lives
in order to 60 into the burning build
ing and rescue horses and equipment be-
longing to the company and the horses
were taken blindfolded from the burn
ing building with the great walls fall
ing about them Not one of the ami
mails were injured.
/, Surrounding Buildings Unframed.
The blaze did not extend to any of
the buildings in the surrounding terri
tory. For more than two hours the
fire continued to eat its way through
the great pile of lumber making up the
twelve-room house and the hundreds of
people who gathered about to watch the
fire were powerless to aid.
Sheriff Hermann was notified of the
fire just before eight o'clock and with
in half an hour he had left for Twin
Lakes taking with him Former Sheriff
Andrew f. Stahl, Undersheriff John
Haag and Deputies Delahoyd, Ward and
Ludwig. They reached the lake shortly
after ten o'clock and when they ar
rived all that was left of the big build.
ing was pile of smouldering ruins
and a great iceberg of ice which had
been covered by the roof
Confine Men at Office.
The two men under arrest were con.
fined at the offices of the Lawler com,
pany under heavy guard of men con.
nected with the management of the
company in charge of Charles Rider, the
superintendent of the Lawler plant
They had been arrested while they were
standing about watching the fire
Frantic appeals were sent for officials
on account of the fact that it was fear
I'd that an effort would be made to
rescue the two prisoners but the men a