The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1879-06-05

LEO StOt@Av ~ A@sASs
Chase Village is The Sufferer.
LOSS, NEARLY sac, 900; WITH
p z SMALL INSURANCE.
| On the afternoon of Thursday, May
Goth, fire occurred at Chase, which
resulted in the destruction Of property
to the value of nearly $40, 900. Shortly
after the mixed train west over the +.
& p. NJ. Railway had passed the vii
lage, flames were discovered In some
saw dust near large piles oflumber and
shingles close to the track Although
q email blaze when first seen, and eff.
forts were at once made to extinguish
1t, the wind was so strong, and every
thing so dry, that the flames quickly
spread beyond control. Some of those
first at the scene, state that the flames
seemed to flash and run over the lum-
ber as though 1t had been covered " ith
kerosene--so dry was 1t, and so strong
the wind. 7'fais ,f
The situation was perfect for large
fire, (large at least, for town Of the
dimensions of Chase) Piled by the
track were several thousand feet of lum-
Der, and over halfa million shingles.
Across narrow street was row of
buildings, all built of pine, and occu-
pied as dwellings, store, postoffice shoe
ol,As> Ao tra ~, xx,o ~ from tho
railroad back to Joiner's mill, and q
row of lumber piles, closely packed, ex-
tended from the immediate rear OF the
buildings to the mill. The whole
buildins, lumber and shingles was al
most like tinder; and to add to the un-
fortunate circumstances, the wind was
in just the position to sweepthe flames
from the starting point in desoiating
swath through the village.
There were no conveniences for fight
ing fire, beyond pals, and force pump
at the mill; and indeed, with an or
ganized fire company and apparatus, it
Is doubtful II the property could have
been saved. 1t Is said that not over
three-quarters of an hour elapsed from
the first alarm till the whole was mass
Of flame and the buildings fiat. The
whistle in the mill blew an alarm; and
young lady Miss Frances Charles
worthy, with cOmmendable presence of
mind, hurried to Russell's Mill, a mile
or more west of the village, and gave
Information of the fire. The MN was
at once shut down, and the men hur-
ried to the assistance of their unfortu-
nate nefghbors. AS we have intimated,
1t was soon apparent THAT all effort to
save any of the buildings embraced
within the area about the lumber yard
vas Useless, and the citizens turned
their attention to saving such property
as could be easily moved. Deltingi
saws, the edger and other articles,
amounting I'M value to about 81 200,
were got out of Joinef's mill, and con:
siderable furnitue saved from the dwell
ings. A freight car, standing on the
side track, loaded with shingles, caught
fire, and was badly charredj bat 1t was
saved by pushing 1t down the track
and extinguishing the flames. a
The heat arising from the fire was In
tense, and 1t was only with great exer-
ton that the dwellings of CIV, Alvin
and Robert Joiner, and Joiner's store
were saved; as also, barn, situated
near the mill. Blazing fragments of
wood were caught up by the breeze and
carried far over the remaining build-
ings north of the fire, and into the
woods beyond, igniting the dry brush
and stumps. Blankets were thrown
over the roofs Of the exposed buildings,
and were kept saturated with water;
the citizens working nobly. About
300, 900 feet ofsaw logs piled in the yard,
east of the mill, were added to the blaze,
and the. flames rolling up in broad
sheets until caught by the wind would
sweep many feet towards Joiner's store,
and at one time caused the workers to
almost despair of saving the structure;
which they, however, did through he-
roic exertion. Goods and furniture
were removed from the store and dwell
ings, i'm anticipation of their destruc-
ton. Some. idea Of the heat may be
had when we state that a field ofgreen
clover, east of the fire became so parch'd
that cinders falling OH 1t, flames would
catch and spread rapidly.
Most of the villagers passed a we'll
nigh sIeepless night, anticipating the
further spread Of the fire. A number
were on the watch throughout the
night, as the flames were smoldering
in the debris; but fortunately, no fur
ther disaster occurred. When we Wis
tied the place, the day following, we
found desolate waste on the spot
where had been the busiest center Of
the village; with smoke still rising from
the ruins, and the wind driving blind
ing clouds Of ashes and dust. Ia
The aggregate loss is probably not far
short of so, 900. G. w. Joiner Il Son
are the heaviest losers. The property
destroyed for them, besides the mill,
was two shingle sheds, small store
room, tramway, nearly 100000 shin
giles, 800, 900 feet oflogs and a large guam
tity Of lumber. Their loss Is probably
1900; no insurance. 's4 se
b. X. Halliday estimated his loss at
$2, 500; insured In the Phoenix, of Hart
ford, for 81, ,l75 on buildings, and $500
ON furniture, &c. Mr.. Halliday had 10
swarms of bees, together with hives de-
stroyed, besides number Of empty