WAUPACA REPUBLICAN POST

December 14, 1916

 

DRIVEN OUT BY WATER

 

Printing Plant is Drenched When Fire Destroys Second Story of Ware Building

 

            At a little before five o’clock Thursday afternoon, Dec. 7, Mrs. Alfred Johnson detected a small blaze in the rear flat of the J.M. Ware building and came to the Post Printing office on the first floor and gave the alarm.  Ellsworth Barrington took the fire extinguisher and breaking into the flat by the rear door quenched the blaze on the floor but was driven out of the apartment by the heat.  George Landahl ran to the city hall and rang the fire bell and when the company arrived two streams were poured into the building until six o’clock when the fire was apparently out and the building thoroughly drenched.

            Mr. J.M. Ware and daughter Frances, who occupied the flat facing Main Street, lost all of their household effects, upon which there was no insurance.  Mr. Ware had insurance on the building to the amount of $3,000.

            The adjoining flat occupied by H. Bessinger was badly damaged by heat and smoke.  Leather upholstering on chairs was ruined and varnish on expensive furniture was ruined.  The rugs and clothing were soiled and damaged and the decoration of the rooms so spoiled that the insurance adjuster allowed a sufficient sum to have the flat redecorated, or about $60.  The damage to Mr. Bessinger’s property has not yet been adjusted.

            The large stock of print paper in the basement and all stock on the shelves in the printing office is ruined and the machinery and equipment are damaged in amounts not yet determined as an expert of the Mergenthaler Linotype Company has been at work on the linotype to determine what parts must be replaced before it can again be used.  At the invitation of Mr. Payne, the Republican-Post force is using the Record-Leader office to issue this number of the paper and it is probable that this will be necessary for another issue.  The workmen of both offices have shown remarkable ability to turn out a large amount of work under unusual conditions.

            The Post Printing plant was insured for $5,000 which is ample to cover the loss.