THE WAUPACA COUNTY REPUBLICAN

April 23, 1880

 

Another Waupaca Fire

 

            At a quarter past 4 o’clock last Sunday morning, those of our citizens who had not been previously awakened by the sharp lightning and heavy rolling thunder, were startled by the cry of fire and the clanging of bells. Four times had the lightning struck inside the city limits during the previous half hour, and so great was the blaze when the fire alarm sounded, that it was evidently the work of lightning.  The suddenness of the fire, its location, the condition of the telephone line between the post office and Postmaster Thompson’s house and other facts indicated it to be the work of lightning, but the observations of Mrs. Woodnorth settle it beyond dispute.  Her window opens toward the burned block, and feeling unwell as well as timid during the storm, had a light burning and was looking out of the window when the flood of burning electricity descended, which she describes as a blinding sheet of fire.  The current went down the south wall of the building occupied by the post office, and unfortunately in the immediate vicinity of where Chady & Thompson kept their tank of kerosene oil.  Undoubtedly the oil was immediately set on fire and consequently the sheds in the rear, in a few minutes.  The block burned was a two-story brick front immediately south of the courthouse and east of the Vosburg House.  The west store was occupied by the post office and Chady & Thompson’s jewelry store, and up-stairs was the Dane’s Home Hall.  This part of the block was owned by Mr. Thompson, who had $800 insurance on building and $200 on stock.  The Danes had no insurance.  The middle store was owned by Dwight Ware and occupied by Hanson’s saloon and billiard room, and the rear a portion of the second story by his family. Mr. Ware’s loss is total, as he had no insurance.  The east one-third of the block was owned by Mr. H. C. Mead and occupied by Mrs. Richmond as a millinery store below and household goods above.  There was no insurance on building or contents.  The only insurance there was on either building or contents was that held by Chady & Thompson, and that covers but a portion of their loss. In ordinary fires the loss by hasty removal of goods is exasperating, but in this case it was intensified by the steady falling rain, which wet everything as it came out.  The Vosburg House, courthouse and stores along the street opened to house the goods removed, but they were generally pretty well soaked in transit.  As the building burned very slow and for a long time the fire was confined mostly to the structures in the rear, the contents of the stores were nearly all removed but of course very much damaged.  The contents of the post office we believe were all saved.  Chady & Thompson lost a $275 soda fountain and some goods. The Danes’ Home saved very little from their hall.  Mr. Hanson saved his two billiards tables and saloon fixtures, but when he became aware of the fire his living rooms were so full of smoke that he was obliged to leave them with only his shirt, pants and stockings on, and Mrs. Hanson was carried out.  Mrs. Richmond’s stock was all saved from fire but much of it fearfully damaged by the rain.  The fire was a disastrous one, not only to those who occupied the block, but to the city.  The total loss is variously estimated at from $5,000 to $10,000.  The city loses a fine block from among its business houses, and which leaves an ugly looking vacant space.  When or how it will be rebuilt, if at all, only the future can determine.

            Our fire department was promptly on the ground and worked efficiently.  With the facilities to work with, the fire was splendidly managed, and great credit is due to Chief Engineer Woodnorth and all hands.  The wind blew strong from the southeast and the east side of Mr. Perkins’ building and the outhouses of the Vosburg House were several times on fire.  Great credit is due to Frank Vosburg for the work done along that alley.  While he superintended the flow of water from his well to the fire in buckets, he kept his little Babcock extinguisher at work and did efficient service.  It is well that it was a wet night, for if the roof of Mr. Perkins’ building had been dry it would have been very difficult to keep it from igniting, and if that structure had gone the flames would most likely have entered the windows of the Vosburg House and that fine hotel would have been in ruins.