Burning of the Newhall House by Herman Bleyer, Julius Bleyer - 1883

Burning of the Newhall House, Herman Bleyer, Julius Bleyer. Published by Bleyer Brothers; Cramer, Aikens & Cramer Printers, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 1883. First Edition/Signed. 12mo up to 7½" tall,. 60 pages. Signed versus free endpaper: "With compliments, Jules and Herman". (The Bleyer Brothers). Brown buckskin boards, gilt titles, brown endpapers. All edges red. Sewn binding. Inside front hinge is cracked. Toning to title page; light toning to remainder of text block; no tears, folds or marks. Boards are lightly rubbed, gilt remains bright. Describes the tragic fire which claimed the lives of 71 people. Includes a History of the Newhall House Hotel, a summary of the subsequent inquest, and a listing of the fire companies and fire fighters who fought the fire.

Excerpt from Burning of the Newhall House: " Shortly after four o clock on the morning of the 10th day of January, 1883, an alarm from Box No. 15 startled Milwaukee s Fire Department and awoke many of her citizens to witness a fire unequaled in the horror of its results by any in the history of the city. Those who were acquainted with the location of the box from which the alarm was sounded made all possible haste to reach the scene, where confirmatory flashes of light were already visible, and from whence came floating on the morning air a faint roaring sound, intermingled with cries of terror. Others went to their windows, and, looking for a moment at the first tongues of flame that shot skyward, shiveringly retired to their seductive couches, satisfied that Milwaukee s trusty firemen could cope with any conflagration that might arise within the jurisdiction of their vigilance. Had they known that the alarm was the death-knell of scores of people who were fated to be consumed with the Newhall House in the brief space of one hour, it is safe to say that no inclination to rest would have kept them from the awful spectacle. Many were so deeply wrapped in slumber that they remained in utter ignorance of the fire: a merciful Providence had spared them the horrors of the night. When they awoke at daybreak they found sorrow enough. The smoking ruins and the crowded morgue were indisputable evidence that the hour of the fire was filled with woe unutterable. "