Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1873-07-19
THE LAST GREAT FIRE.
Two Awful COnAagratiOns that Came
Near Destroying the City Of Grand
Rapids, Michigan.
Full Partlculars-PrOgress Of the Flames
Efforts Of the PeOple-WOrk Of
the AuthOrities-Out at Last.

From The Grand Rapids CNich.) Democrat
SUNDAY, July 13.-TO-day, about four
o'clock in the evening, c. H. Keyes,
hOstler at the Bridge street house barn,
discovered straw between the hotel and
barn on IRE, and Immediately gave the
alarm. Despite the efforts of those first
on the spot, the flames communicated
with the barn building, and, before the
fire engine could reach the spot the barn
was wrapped in fiery sheet The long
dry, hot weather had rendered the build
ings 10 this locality dry as a tinder- box,
and before the department could get
fairly 10 work the flames had jumped
Kent street, and were rapidly spreading
in a northeast direction, aided BY a brisk
southwest wind. Fifteen minutes after
the alarm sounded about fifty buildings
were on fire, and the flames were taking
large and rapid leaps UP Kent and OF
tawa streets on the north, and Hastings
street on the east.
PEOPLE STAND AGHAsT.
The fire-fiend seemed to laugh at all
eXeTtiOns made TO stop its progress.
Thick volumes Of smoke filled the air.
from out Of which would shoot, at rapid
intervals, forks OF flames, lurid red
then the wind would whirl burning
boards and shingles hundreds OF feet,
carrying the flames far beyond the reach
Of the steamers. CONSERVATION ran
through the vast crowd like an electric
shock. It seemed imp ossible to check
the flood OF fire that poured through al
ieys and streets, driving before it all
who sought to stay its progress, and
leaving the engines far behind, effect
lively barring their attempts to get
S8ad Of the flames. Along Ottawa and
iOnia streets, as far north as Taylor
street, people were busy packing and NOV !
ing their household goods. The.water- |
works Of c. c. COmstock, under the di- |
rection of Messrs. Goldsmith & Konkle, |
were brought into play, and hose run /
down Kent and Ottawa streets, through 1
which water was forced upon buildings /
and lumber piles. The new Champion /
FIRE extinguisheT took up its position 1
ahead of the flames, and to the efforts of
Henry Springs and others who had it in
charge is due the credit of stopping the
fire at T'rOwbridge street. This new fire
machine worked wonders, and those op-
Grating it did brave and fearless work.
The hair on the horses drawing it was
singed and the mems clothes scorched,
50 near did they fight the flames.
HELP.
kilograms were sent by the mayor TO
Charlotte, Kalamazoo, Grand Haven.
MuskegOn, and Ionia. The lines being
burnt on the Detroit and Milwaukee
line, no answer could be received. Grand
Haven and Muskegon responded with
and Kalamazoo, having no en-
gines, offered to send all the hose that
would be required; Charlotte did not re-
Spond, probably owing to not getting
the telegram.
DOOMED.
At five o'clock, it seemed as If that /
portion Of the city from Bridge street on
he south to the northern limits was .
doomed. The wind still held in the {
southwest, and was gaining in force /
ire was so hot that it could not be ap- a
preached from the north near enough {
.or water to do much good. The flames
had reached Ionia street on the east; 3
hat part Of the city lying on the brow i
II the hills was in danger. The fire O
truck in just north of Henry Breemer's I
rouse on IOnia street, and burned every- @
hing clean to Trowbridge street. The Z
look and ladder company, having sue ;
eeded in getting to the nOrthWard OF q
be fire, commenced to do work that L
old. Buildings were torn down; lad e
ers were placed so as to afford means of o
eaching roofs 70 place wet blankets, or d
0 wet down with buckets of water II
'hrist's brewery and malt-house were Z
.ow IN flames, and it was an impossi- d
lllty TO reach them, as they We're sur
ounded by burning buildings. The +,
oil a -.
nc flaming wrecks of buildings. v
DESPERATE WORK. a.
Meanwhile the hydraulic works from d
'OmstOck's kept drenched with water u
be lumber-yards and buildings north of y
rOwbridge street. Pals were furnished y
D all from COmstOck's pail works, and
7tlrOBtptU fire. bTigades organized. All OF
7Orked desperately, and under the lead fo
rship Of few cool heads, order was in el
reduced into portion of the excited 81
lrong, and good results accomplished. el
Il about seven O'Clock, the wind hav- nj
lg hauled to the west, the flames were III
OF under control, and those on Ottawa il
nd IOnia streets, north of Trowbridge 81
rect, breathed easier and began to con- tf
themselves on their narrow es- ly
ape. As we go TO press the flames are CT
)ncerning the spread of the fire. W
LOSSES. De
It is an impOssibility now (eiRht O'Clock n,
the EVENING" to ascertain the loss or -
mount insured. As near as can be now -,
about twenty-five acres Of K
-Ound has beer burned over, destroying do
Early two hundred dwellings and build -
gs. The cash loss is variously esti- ~
ated at from three to five hundred -.
ousand dollars. 1t is impossible at -
is time TO get at the origin Of the fire, M,
e truth Of the many rumOrs OF lives IN,
81, or horses burned 10 death. All sorts fo'
stories are aiiOat, each cOntradicting ~,
e other. -Four men are reported killed, ~,
rec women and six children burned TO ~
ath, and any number of horses burned, ~,
e could trace the rum0rs Of loss of life W W
q reliable source in Gle IL stance only, a.,
at Of an old lady on Ottawa street. M
SCENES ON THE STREETS. ear
soon after the breaking out Of the fire the
ierce gale of wind arose, blowing from
3 southwest. 1t now became evident :. ;
Al the flames would extend north and ~, ~
It for a considerable distance, and -
Dple living even as far away as Ionia ~
eet began 20 move their household ~
niture into the streets. Unfortunately cIs
many this procedure availed but lit he
as the fire spread with such rapidity GOV
TO consume everything placed in its fha
y. Here and there about heat-trav- 49,
cd streets, anxious mothers with their IL
'es ia their arms were hurriedly seek Pn,
a place OF shelter Fathers and No. No.
thers were dashing, in the lull Of the &c, ~
nes, into their rapidly disappearing not
mes, in the hope OF recovering some mir
ed relic OF valuable piece Of property. ms
many cases the latter returned from me-
In errand only to fall senseless in the neo
set. nos
Vigilance COMMITTEES in Nebraska. me ~
)MAHA, July 1.-THE committee an il enl'
nted Al the meeting Of railroad men Iie NC
terday, reported at an adjourned az, SIe
ejng that the citizens committee Ia 20
been organized for the purpose of nho ate
istiBg the authorities in case Of in 49, 49,
lily or neglect To act. All good eiti- ~
Is are 70 be protected in life and prop &c &c
Y. 1t Is the earnest wish that they A.
y not be called upon to act, bat if eTe ,-e
led will do it prOmply; that whereas, mi
city is Infested with robbers and I,b
nblers, and the city authorities hav- ne
failed thus far TO arrest the parties, : !