The most appalling fire in the history of Fond du Lac city broke out in the Crescent Auto and Machine company’s garage between 11 and 12 o’clock Friday night, and within three hours a loss of approximately a quarter of a million dollars were incurred. The section of the city located north of the seat of the fire was in dire peril for two hours and people by the hundreds fled from their homes carrying as much of their house effects as they could.

Starts in Garage.

The flames burst forth in mighty fury at the rear end of the garage, and, fanned by a stiff breeze from the south, they soon communicated with St. Joseph’s Catholic church, corner of Marr and Second streets, and this handsome edifice erected about 20 years ago at a cost of approximately $60,000 is today a mass of smoldering ruins.

Mayham Residence in Ashes

The Crescent garage was a roaring furnace in almost less time than it takes to tell it. The flames burst out from the elevated portion of the building in the rear and enveloped the Mayham residence with fury but through heroic work the fire was prevented from spreading to the east.

The Mayham home burned like timber.

As soon as the roof of St. Joseph’s church caught the fire spread with lightning rapidity, showers of sparks floating before the breeze.

Congregational Church Burns

Within a very short time the spire of the Congregational church, located two blocks to the north, and directly in the path of the fire, was a mass of seething fire. The building was apparently doomed. This morning the fine church was smoldering in ashes like St. Joseph’s with the brick walls standing as silent monuments of the catastrophe.

School Fired

The intense hear of the burning garage swept toward Grant school building. Tongues of fire leaped up from the floor but this building was partly saved.

Steeple Burns Off

The steeple of St. Peter’s Lutheran church was completely burned off, but willing hands and courageous hearts saved the building from total destruction.

The damage done to this church by fire and water will amount to thousands of dollars.

Parish House in Ruins

The flames burst forth from St. Joseph’s church with increased vigor when the roof fell in. Wicked spears of fire shot out from the windows and communicated with the parochial residence occupied by Rev. M. J. Taugher. The roof was burned off and the interior of the house is a mass of wreckage. Part of the household effects were saved.

Plead for Aid

The fire burned with such fury that Chief Cleveland realized the danger and communicated with Mayor Banderob, of Oshkosh and asked beseechingly for aid. The answer came back in a short time that a detachment of the Oshkosh department was on the way and about 2 o’clock a special train bearing one hose cart, a steam propeller engine and about fifty volunteer firemen arrived in the city. At the depot the order was countermanded, as the local department then had the fire under control.

Spreads Like Magic

The first tap of the fire bells sounded at 11:15 o’clock. Lieutenant Governor W. D. Connor’s Locomobile was driven into the garage at about 11 o’clock and within ten minutes after the doors had been closed for the night the fire was discovered.

Smoke Blinding

Long before the fire made its appearance, the smoke rolled out of the garage in great clouds. People gathered at the front doors of the building but were forced back on account of the presence of gasoline in front of the building.

It is apparent that the fire had its origin in the rear end of the building. With a crackling roar the flames burst through the roof of the building and through the windows in the rear.

When Mayor Clark saw the leaning walls of what remains of St. Joseph’s church, he instructed Chief of Police Nolan to establish danger lines about the building and before 3 o’clock the curious crowds were hemmed out by strong ropes stretched around the building.

First to be Leveled

The garage was the first building to be leveled. Before three o’clock the building was reduced to blazing embers and ashes were strewn upon the ground. Two streams were retained at the seat of the origin of the fire, while the rest of the department devoted their attention to combating the flames in the other burning buildings.

Priests Move Furniture

Rev. J. M. Taugher and Rev. Leo F. Gabriel were active in moving the furniture from the church parsonage. Most of the household effects were taken across the street and piled in St. Peter’s school yard.