Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1919-06-11
RED DEMON BURNED MANY BUSI-
NESS HOUSES SUNDAY MORN
ING.-LIVES ENDANGERED.
LOSSES AGGREGATE $4,000!
STUNNED CITIZENS HELPLESS BE.
FORE ADVANCING FLAMES.
BURNS ITSELF OUT.
INCENDIARIsM SUSPECTED?

For the third time in nineteen years
the village of Potosi has been visited
by fire. The last fire causing dam
age of thousands of dollars began
about 1870 o'clock Sunday morning.
1t ragged until dawn consuming many
buildings and their contents.
The fire took all the buildings from
the Elskamp and Wiedman hardware
store to the postoffice as follows
Elskamp e Wiedman, two story frame
20x40 with stone warehouse in rear; ;
Casper Schmitz saloon two story
frame, 25x60 Mrs Swale's restaur-
ant, 20x40 two story brick; Doctors
office, one story frame; JOS. Otis
barber shop, one story frame; Seat
on building, two story brick, with
post Office and drug store.
The first warning came when Fay
Drew, Gel Brawner and John Keehn-
er came up from the train about half
past one. The men saw the blaze
near the back of the restaurant and
at that time a we'll directed hose
might have ended it then and there
but unfortunately Potosi has no pro-
lection of this sort. The men gave
the alarm and Mrs. Kirgues, he tel
ephone operator, phoned at once to
Dubuque, Lancaster, Platteville and
Cassville, for aid which was soon
forthcoming.
The blaze spread rapidly from it's
source taking the buildings on either
side The main effort Of the fire
fighters was to confine the blaze to
the block in which it originated
Goods were carried out of the stores
tIo fnfH ;oI
except for a little furniture The
blaze was so hot and the fire eppar-
atus so limited that by $50 a. M
nothing was left of the row of build
ings but the ashes and ruins.
In addition to the citizens who were
all out aid came from the other towns.
Lancaster went down with a truck
and the men did all they could So
did Platteville and Cassville The
DUBUQUE firemen came Up with an en-
CINE but it arrived too late to be of
service. The firemen pulled down the
northeast corner of the Key & Gallo
way warehouse to prevent it's burn
ing further.
Across the street was the S. A.
Thomas store building. Mr.. Thomas
moved his entire stock to the street
where it suffered damage by water.
Water was thrown on the front of the
buildings across the street to prevent
burning. The city hall windows were
covered with wet burlap and the
scheme worked
There were a number of families
menaced by fire as they slept. Over
the saloon resided Mr. and Mrs Ed.
Flesch and family of five children.
They were taken out badly smoked.
Mr.. and Mrs. Swale lived over the
restaurant. They lost the building
and contents but emerged unframed.
Mr.. and Mrs. Wiedman lived over the
hardware store They were awakened
in time o. w. Seaton and Mr.. and
Mrs. Glen Turner lived over the drug
store and post office. They were
awakened in time to avert death by
burning.
The losses are heavy. Elskamp &
Wiedman lose a building and ware
house worth $4,000. Their stock was
valued at $8,000 Practically no sal
wage. They were partially insured
but do not know the exact amount.
Casper Schmitz loses his entire sa-
loon stock valued at $4,000 and a
building worth $4,000. His insur-
ance was $500 on stock and $1,000 on
building.
Mrs. Swales building and contents
are estimated at $4,000. These were
fully insured.
The doctors Office was owned by
Mrs. t. B. Ennors ana worth $400. No
insurance was carried 49,
Mr.. Seaton owned the frame bar
her shop and two story double brick.
His losses are $4,000 to $1,000. Insur-
ance $1,400.
The postoffice contents were entire
" saved except for little furniture.
Mr.. Kaltenbach moved the Office and
fixtures to the old Grand Army build
ing and was distributing mail as US
ual Sunday morning. He has been
through three fires but wants no
more.
Ambrose Seaton valued his stock of
drugs, oils, paints, ETC., at $4,5OOs He
carried $4,000 insurance.
The families residing over the
burned buildings saved some of their
furniture. Some of them were in
sured. Ed. Flesch carried $500 on
his furniture so the Herald was in
formed. Glenn Turner saved his fur
niture.
The Key G Galloway warehouse
corner was torn away to prevent burn
ing. This loss is $500 at least. Their
-four, tobacco, etc. were carried to
the garage across the street. Some
damage by water and smoke.
S. A. Thomas loses $1,000 on his
stock due to water Fully insured
j. H. Schroeder loses 5000 on his
meats. The Durley building occupied
by Mr.. Thomas was damaged $1,000 to
the plate glass, paint, etc. 1t was in
sured.
The Herald estimates the loss at
$4,000 and it may go higher. 1t was
freely stated at Potosi Sunday that
incendiary origin is suspected. The
matter will be fully investigated.