THE WAUPACA REPUBLICAN

March 10, 1905

 

Smashed Knapps Stock and Josslyn & Caughell’s General Stock of Dry Goods –

Fire Department Caught It in the Nick of Time.

 

            About ten o’clock Wednesday night he fire alarm sounded and a bright light arreared in the rear of Yorkson & Larson’s Clothing and Furnishing goods store. Our reporter hurried downtown and the fire department were just laying the hose to fight a red hot scorcher issuing from the north side window of the R. Pinkerton block occupied by Josslyn and Caughell’s general stock of dry goods and Knapps Furniture, draperies, mattresses, crockery, lamps, etc.  The firemen were soon playing water on the blaze from two streams one through the window and another from the back door to the building and soon had it subdued.  But it was a hard fire to fight as it had gotten inside of mattresses, bedding and various articles and even in between the joist and ceiling, making an immense amount of hot flame and smoke to contend with.

            Mr. and Mrs. Talford Penny who have front rooms over the store heard the fire bell but were not conscious at first that the fire was in the block until suddenly the smoke nearly overcame them.  They had just time to grab their clothing and shoes and in their stocking feet skipped across the damp and frozen street to the Kline Store where they dressed.  But they were unable to enter the rooms until after the fire was quenched and the building rid of the smoke.

            The plate glass windows were badly cracked and broken and the interior ceilings and woodwork except floors and some of the shelving were about ruined.

            The goods presented a sorry plight, the heat and smoke had badly damaged everything in sight and as the firemen were obliged to keep two streams going for over an hour it is easy to imagine how the things looked.

            Mr. and Mrs. Penny’s carpets, curtains, bedding, chairs and bric-a-brac was about ruined and what is worse they have not a cent of insurance on them.

            The Stars were holding a meeting at Masonic Hall and had just finished a banquet in the dining hall.  All at once great volumes of smoke poured into the room which issued from a crack where part of the Pinkerton block south wall joins on the wall of Masonic block.  That was the first intimation members of the O.E.S. realized the fire was so near.  From the same crevice Laabs Bros. grocery store just south of the Pinkerton block, was filled with smoke which was not only annoying but damaging to goods.

            The only wonder is that the fire was no worse, but thanks to the alertness of the fire department and the ample amount of water on tap from the city hydrants Pinkerton’s and no doubt other buildings were saved.

            The losses and insurance are about as follows:

            Robert Pinkerton’s building was damaged probably $1500 fully insured in the agencies of Alfred Johnson, Chas. Churchill, I. P. Lord and B. W. Hermann.

            Josslyn & Caughell say their goods inventoried nearly $30,000 and they carried $12,000 insurance in Alfred Johnson and C. Churchill agencies.

            E. B Knapp Jan inventory showed a stock of $5,250.  His insurance is $2,700 in the agencies of I. P. Lord and Alfred Johnson.

            It does not look as if there was much good in either stock of goods but the value can be determined later when the insurance adjusters come.

            Robert Pinkerton who is now in Cuba had a quantity of household goods stored in the center room upstairs which is no doubt pretty badly damaged, but are probably insured.  His brother John Pinkerton will look after his interests.