New Lisbon, WI fire, Jun 1903

FIRE SWEEPS NEW LISBON, WISCONSIN

Business Section of the Town Wiped Out, and Money Loss Will Be $100,000.

LA CROSSE, Wis., June 5. - The business portion of the town of New Lisbon was almost entirely destroyed by fire early this morning, and the loss is approximately $100,000. Two blocks of buidlings were entirely destroyed.

The fire started in the back end of Stinson Bros. & Co.'s store about midnight from an unknown cause. The city fire department, with only 200 feet of hose and a small chemical engine, was entirely unable to cope with the flames, and Mauston and Tomah, nearby towns, were called upon for aid.

The Mauston company responded and reached the city about 5:30, too late to be of any material service as the fury of the fire was by this time nearly spent.

The buildings destroyed were Cash Department store and the opera house blocks, the two largest in town. The largest losses that were incurred are Stinson Bros. & Co., $11,500; Cash Department store, $5,000; F. E. Hurd, $2,500; A. G. Anderlie, $6,000; Moore's opera house block, $6,000; Wolf Mercantile Company $14,000; B. D. Curtis, $6,000; O. B. Chesteer, 1,000.

The entire loss, which is in the neighborhood of $100,000, is only about one half covered by insurance.

During the fire, F. E. Hurd, while attempting to remove the effects from the postoffice, narrowly escaped being killed by the large printing press located in the Argus office above, falling through the burning floor.

The fire is a severe blow to New Lisbon, as it is doubtful if several of the buildings will be rebuilt.

The Duluth News Tribune, Duluth, MN 6 Jun 1903
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Transcribed by Tim Taugher. Thanks, Tim!