WAUPACA COUNTY REPUBLICAN EXTRA

May 17, 1872

 

 

Fire in Waupaca!

An Entire Block Consumed - Great Loss of Property - No Insurance!

Probable Loss $75,000

 

           

            About half past nine o’clock last evening, a fire broke out in the vacant barn, formerly occupied by Geo. Snyder as a livery barn.  Within five minutes it had communicated with Woodnorth’s Saloon on the north and P.A. House’s Wagon Shop on the south.  Desperate efforts were made to stop the fire, but men seemed powerless.  The distance from the river rendered the Engine unavailable.  Cisterns were pumped dry in a minute, but the water had no effect.  The hose became badly burned and leaked so fast that not one fourth of the water reached the fire. The Vosburg Stable next took fire, and a stiff breeze coming up, the fire went through it as if it were a tinder box.  By this time it became evident that the Vosburg House must go too, and the furniture was carried into the street.  The fire swept through the house, leveling it in twenty minutes.  The heat on the opposite side of the Street was intense.  The Tuttle House was scorched over its entire front; Bell’s Grocery Store had a close call, and it was only by superhuman efforts that they were saved.  R.R. Roberts’ store north from Stetson’s, was expected to fire at every minute, but fortunately it escaped.  The REPUBLICAN office is over the last named store.

            After the Vosburg House, came the block of stores east, clear through to E.L. Browne’s office, which was saved.

            The buildings burned, are P.A. House’s wagon shop, livery barn, Woodnorth’s saloon, Vosburg House and stable, Gilmore’s clothing store, Hales’ Restaurant, Perkins’ Art Gallery, Dr. Scott’s dentist office, the post office, Ware’s Saloon, Mrs. Thorn’s millinery store, and dwellings, Mead’s store, vacant, and Mead’s Bank.

            The loss cannot yet be estimated, but will probably not fall short of $75,000.00.  It would have been four times the amount, but the contents of most of the buildings were saved.

            The companies refused to take the risks.

            Mr. Vosburg had lately begun improvements on his House, and had expended about $100.  It is all gone, but Frank is pluck, and says that another - and a brick one this time - will go up.

            House lost nearly all of his stock in material, but all the manufactured stuff was carried into the street and lies there this morning, a scattered confusion.

            The Court House came very near burning.  It did take fire once or twice but was put out.

            This is a heavy blow to our village of Waupaca.  By far the hardest that ever fell upon it.  But there is grit here, and nobody thinks of sitting down to despond.  Vacant rooms in town have been engaged, and those who lost their places of business will open out again in a day or two.

            N.W. Milwaukee, traveling agent for F.F. Adams & Co.’s tobacco house, of Milwaukee, fell from the piazza roof of the hotel to the ground, breaking both bones of the leg, in a frightful manner.  He was taken to Dr. Manchester’s, and the limb was dressed, but it was found necessary to take out a piece of bone, an inch in length.  We learn that he is feeling quite comfortable this morning, considering the severity of his injuries.

            The Court House square was filled with every description of goods, and household furniture.  This was carried into the Court House after the fury of the fire had abated.

            It is the generally accepted opinion that the fire is the work of an incendiary.  It looks very strange that two fires should have taken, in an unexposed place within four days of each other.  But who were the men, and what the motive, remains as yet a mystery.

            We cannot close the hurried and very important account, without paying a tribute to the women of Waupaca.  The efforts of the men seemed to sink into the shade by the side of them. They worked carrying water, taking out goods, and one lady actually took every door and window from Mrs. Thorn’s Millinery Store.  They are heroes.  Heroines is too tame.  God Bless Them, One And All.