Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1920-02-18

Had anyone said that the blasting
hand of fire could have laid in smok-
ing ruins in one hour one of Viroqua's
best and largest business houses, he
would hardly have been considered
sane, yet such is the distressing fate
which overcame the Masonic temple
building Thursday morning, rendering
homeless four fraternal bodies and ut
terly wiping out the Sauer Hardware,
Hendrickson's Shoe Store, Mrs. Norris
millinery establishment and LENS
shoe repair store.
At about $3.50 fire was discovered
at the base of the partition in the rear
of Mrs. Norris store. II developed
into a whirlwind blaze Immediately.
Mr.. Berg ran from the hardware store
into the tinshop at the rear of the mill
linery store and emptied the contents
of. q small extinguisher upon the
| flames through the windows until al
most overcome by smoke. We realize
how easy it is to show how catas-
trophy could have been averted after
it has happened, yet it is apparent
that had the fire plugs not been frozen
and hose nozzle could have been put
over this partition at this time, or a
chemical engine been on the scene in
the early stage, the fire could have
been extinguished with a compare
lively small loss,
The flames spread upward and out
ward with inconcsivable rapidity and
| in only a few moments great pillows
OF smoke and flames poured out of the
front of the building and licked up
ward to the roof like giant tongues.
The two streams of water were Of no
avail I'M stemnling the fires progress,
and it was apparent to all that the fine
structure was doomed to complete de-
struction. Almost before the thought
of saving of goods could be formulat-
ed, the flames, aided by the wooden
partitions throughout, had spread to
the adjoining stores and into the tenn
| pie above, filling the building with
binding, choking smoke and heat that
rendered recovery of contents utterly
impossible As the fire embraced the
buildings front and burst through the
roof, the heat in the street became in
tolerable Lumber was placed in front
of all display windows and the fire.
men turned their attention to saving
the opposite buildings from fry fate,
Drawing fearful heat and smoke in TIE
task. The slight breeze from the west
at times swept the flames over the
tops of the buildings to the east, and
the situation appeared most desperate.
All second story windows in the CEN
trail part of the block were broken and
several awnings burst into flames but
were extinguished. Even a brisk
breeze would have sealed the fate of
a large portion of the business section,
| but providence was merciful.
In scant half hour, the handsome
pressed brick front bulged outward,
the I-beams swung into the street and
the forward wall fell with a crash.
This had the effect of reducing the
scorching heat upon surrounding
structures and the crisis was over
One by one the floors and roof and
side walls crashed down, and in the
| incredibly short time Of one hour what
was the pride and center Of Viroqua's
business street lay "a tangled chaotic
mass Of smouldeTing ruins.
THE LOSS
The upper floor Of the building was
owned and occupied by the Masonic
lodge. built in l9t3-14 at a cost, in
Guiding the lodge paraphernalia, Of
about $4,000 Insurance Of $l3 600
was carried The Temple could not be
duplicated al present prices for 500
600, and this sweeping away of the
patient toll Of years is a RreviOus blow
TO the order A meeting was held in
the X. p. Hall Saturday evening at
which the unfortunate situation was