“The Milwaukee Fire”
Description
The "oft-condemned" Newhall House catches fire; passers-by watch in horror as the residents die in the flames. In particular, a servant girl leaps to her death, and a mother watches her son trapped in the fire
Notes
John W. Kelley (who also produced such pieces as "The Bowery Grenadiers") wrote a piece called "The Milwaukee Fire" in 1884, and some sources equate this song with that item. The fire, however, was the subject of a great deal of press coverage, and doubtless produced several pierces. None of the folk sources I have consulted equate the traditional song with the Kelley piece, and so I am holding off until I see better evidence. - RBW
Historical references
- Jan 1883 - Fire at the Newhall House. At least 63 people die
Recordings
- Warde Ford, "Milwaukee Fire" (AFS 4198 B1, 4198 B2, 1938; tr.; in AMMEM/Cowell)
- Robert Walker, "The Milwaukee Fire" (AFS, 1941; on LC55)
References
- Laws G15, "The Milwaukee Fire"
- LPound-ABS, 62, pp. 138-140, "The Milwaukee Fire" (1 text)
- DT 682, MILWAUKF
- Roud #3255
- BI, LG15