Rensselaer Republican, Volume 25, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 January 1893 — FURIOUS FLAMES. [ARTICLE]

FURIOUS FLAMES.

Destruction and P«-ath at Milwaukee—llurulug of the Conrad aud Becker Tanneries. The William Boclcer Leather Company’s tannery, together with that of Conrad Bros., burned, Tuesday, and were a total loss. Like all the big fires of late, this was attended With fatality. One fireman is dead, another is missing and two men are lying badly injured at the Emergency t-HOS'pltah 1 - •. • • Tne p ant of the William Becker Company is valued at about #509.000. and that of Con rad Brothers, as stated by the senior member of the firm, at>. 4 >O,OOO. Both are partially insured. Two minutes before G o'clock Gustav TroeteW of tho Troatel taniCry, adjoining the burned buildings, saw .lie flames bursting from the second story of one of the Becker Leather Company's tannery buildings and turned in an alarm. When tho companies arrived the main milding of the Becker plant was envcliped in flames, and a general alarm was urned in. and iu a short, time all of tho ipparatus of thocitj was on hand. Fanned >y the fresh southwest wind, the fire burned briskly. The flame- leaped to tho buildings o f bo Conrad Brothers’plant. The building was (Bled with firemen Working on the Becker buildings. So quickly didltspread the hose at work in the upper story were cut off. Many of the firemen jumped front tho windows. Beyond a few who vere bruised none, was severely Injured. Thomas Sullivan attempted to find his .■ay through the dense smoke to tho entrance but was obliged to retreat. Reaching tho window he was overcome by smoke but managed to draw himself up ind fell to the ground outside. Ho died almost immediately. Tho source of tho fire is a mystery.