TRAMPS FIRE A WOODSHED-ATT'Y T. J. FITZPATRICK 1901

FITZPATRICK, SMITH, CARTER

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 11/19/2015 at 22:12:59

DUBUQUE DAILY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1901

TRAMPS FIRE A WOODSHED
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RESIDENCE OF ATTORNEY T. J.
FITZPATRICK THREATENED
BY FIRE
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FLAMES DISCOVERED IN TIME
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Loss to the Amount of Several
Hundred Dollars Caused – Highly
Dramatic Scene
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Tramps set fire to the woodshed in the rear of Attorney T. J. Fitzpatrick residence, 1037 locust Street yesterday morning at 4 o’clock, and if it had not been for the prompt arrival of the fire department a serious conflagration would had resulted. As it was damage to the amount of several hundred dollars was caused.

The way the fire was discovered was highly dramatic and would have finished Lincoln J. Carter with a theme for one of his many thrilling plays. Mr. and Mrs. Fitzpatrick and a family named Smith occupy a double brick building at the number above mentioned. All were wrapped in the “draperies of the couches” and were enjoying” pleasant dreams.” Suddenly Mr. Fitzpatrick heard women’s screams and the crackling noise of burning timber. Quicker then he thought he was out of bed. Looking out the window he saw a mass of angry flames leaping skyward. A glance was sufficient. A moment later night owls could have seen an excited attorney, scantily clad, turning in the alarm from Locust and Eleventh Streets. When the department arrived the flames were leaping into the dwelling house. A couple of streams were turned on and in a short time the fire was subdued. The damage was caused mostly by water. The carpets and furniture in one room was completely destroyed. A large number of books were also destroyed. The loss is fully covered by insurance.

No one knows just how the fire started the most reasonable theory advanced is that tramps were sleeping in the woodshed and had been using matches.