FIRE AT KEMPF’S BREWERY-1872

LKEMPF

Posted By: cheryl Locher moonen (email)
Date: 1/4/2020 at 17:39:42

Dubuque Daily Times, Thursday, May 23, 1872, Dubuque, IA, Page: 4

FIRE AT KEMPF’S BREWERY
~
Warehouse Burned-Loss Estimated at
$6,100-Insured for $3,300.
~
The two-story warehouse situated about sixty feet east from Kempf’s Brewery, on Southern Avenue, was burned to the ground and all its contents destrpoyed, between 11 and 12 o’clock Tuesday evening.

Mr. Kempf retired early in the evening, and Mrs. Kempf, who had been writing, retired about 11 o’clock, and just as she was going to bed, discovered a light, supposing at first it was a house on fire on the hill. She soon ascertained it was the ware house. The family immediately aroused, gave the alarm and the neighbors were soon on the spot, but the fire had progressed too far to allow of removing any of the contents of the building. The wind at the time was blowing the flames directly toward the brewery, and the frame addition to the brewery proper took fire, but fortunately there was a reservoir between the brewery and the warehouse, with hose and force-pump attachment, and with these the neighbors succeeded in putting out the fire on the brewery before the building was much damaged. But for the reservoir and pump it is probable that the entire property would have been swept away.

The warehouse was estimated to be worth $600. On this there was an insurance of $800 in the underwriter’s agency, of New York, Smith & Plaister agents.

The wines and liquors in the warehouse were estimated to be worth $4000. On these there was an insurance of $3000, in the same company.

There were in the warehouse, also, about $1,500 worth of hops on which there was no insurance. The total loss is estimated at $6,100. Loss above all insurance $2,500.

The origin of the fire is unknown. The only reasonable supposition is that it was set purposely, but this seems unaccountable from the fact that Mr. Kempf is not known to have an enemy in the world.