Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1925-12-31
Rhinelander is Again
Hit by 100000 Fire
SIX BUSINESS PLACES DESTROY
ED IN SECOND DISASTROUS
BLAZE WITHIN WEEK

Fire, the second disastrous confiag.
alton to hit Rhinelander's business dis
trict within a week, early Sunday
morning destroyed three buildings on
Brown street with loss estimated
by insurance agents at approximately
100000. The fire brought the total
fire loss since December 81 to ap.
proximately 100000
The flames completely RACED the
buildings housing the Reardon drug
store, the Vlahakis pool room, shoe
shining parlor, the Gem barber SHOP,
Hoffman's jewelry store and the
Schooley-Forbes hardware store, in
addition to office and residential
quarters
The fire broke out shortly after
midnight Saturday and at first was
thought to be confined to the pool
room and drug store, but despite the
efforts OF firemen, assisted ny scores
Of volunteers who braved the sting Of
a rs degree below zero wind, the
flames spread rapidly and consumed
half of the block before being check
ed.
Even today the fire was still smould
ering, but with all danger of further
spread believed to be removed.
The fire was spectacular, with
flames caused by the explosion of
ether and alcohol shooting high into
the air, lighting up the sky for a con
siderable distance. Chemicals, too,
added brilliant touch of color to the
fire, as they burned and were thrown
into the air by explosions, only to
float gracefully down, casting multi
hued light over the affected area.
Volunteer workers helped Harry
Hoffman, jeweler, save much Of his
valuables, such as silverware, clocks
and other more costly stock, but eff
forts to enter the drug store and save
stock there met with failure, as
smoke and flames drove persons into
the street. Equipments from the bar
Der shop also were saved
Danger of the wall between Hoff-
man and Schooley-Forbes falling
made attempts to rescue stock in the
hardware stoFS very hazal 5ous, while
persons occupying living quarters
over the jewelry store were able to
save but little Of their possessions.
The fire was said today by Fire
Chief Cole to have started either in
the basement of the pool room or in
the drug store.
1t was the second disastrous fire to
hit the city's business district within
a week, flames having razed the Mer-
chants State Bank building, housing
the bank, Isackson's dry goods store,
the Rhinelander Telephone Co., and
numerous offices a week ago Monday
morning with a loss estimated at
100000.
The intense cold of early Sunday
morning made work exceedingly diff.
ficult for the firemen, who were fur
Their handicapped by the heavy pail
of smoke which hung over the drug
store and pool room building, making
it practically impossible to determine
accurately the source of the fire.
The drug store building, frame
structure, as was that housing the
pool room, Hoffman's, the shoe shin
ing parlor and barber shop, made an
exceptionally hot fire, the heat from
which scorched the T. G. Wood hard-
ware building across the street and
made it necessary to play hose on
that structure to prevent it from burst
ing into flames.
Easements of practically every
store building along the block were
flooded with water today after hoses
had been kept on the burning embers
for more than 36 hours.
Destruction OF the Reardon drug
store meant the temporary passing
of what is said to be the city's Oldest
business house.