Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1881-06-18
ARAD FOR CHEBOYGAN
Destructive Fire-Smith Brothers Mill
Property and a Large Amount of
Lumber But ned-Loss s70,OOO-NO

Destructive Fire-Smith Brothers Mill
Property and a Large Amount of
Lumber BuK ned-LOss S75,OOO-NO
Insurance.
Last Sunday afternoon our village was
visited by one Of the most destructive
fires that ever wrought destruction in
Our town. That afternoon between three
aud four o'clock the alarm of fire was
given with the startling intelligence
that the well known mill of Smith Bros.
was the location. BY the time the fire
arrived on the ground the
saw mill. planning mill, store house,
blacksmith shop, dry kiln, boarding
house, sheds and lumber, laths sc.
around the mill was burning with
rapidity that threatened to carry des-
tructiOn before it TO all that was in the
vicinity. The wind was blowing stiff
breeze from the southwark, tanning the
flames and bearing them on to the piles
of lumber on the docks and towards the
tenement houses, store buildings sc. An
immense crowd was soon at the scene of
destruction the most of whom showed a
willingness to do battle with the destroy
ing flames that was fast eating up the
accumulation of years. The docks were
filed with lumber to their utmost capae-
ity something over &c l( y feet of ium-
ber peing piled on the yard. Everything
being dry as tinder and a stiff breeze
blowing it seemed at one time as though
all This lumber, the buildings and the
fine bridge across the river were doomed
i'm spite of all that could be done. for the
fire advanced rapidly In spiteEof the eff
forts of the large number present.
Large quantities of lumber was showed
into the river with the design of making
break in the piles SO as to be able to
save portion of it, if possible. Forum
ately about five o'clock the wind chang
ed around to the northward and this,
with the heroic eXertiOnS of willing
hands, enabled some headway to be made
in stopping the terrible destruction and
about half of the lumber, all the tene-
ment houses and store were saved, but
the battle never ceased until Monday
morning, the engine being kept on the
ground all night with force sufficient
to work it, the firemen remaining until
about 1 A. NJ. Monday when it was
thought that with the engine remaining
and men enough to work it any further
danger could be ayerted, III. A. Blake.
of the fi.e company remaining in charge.
Smith Brothers are the main Iossers
having lost their saw mill, planning mill,
sheds, suOrehOuses, for manufactured
material, such as sash, doors, &C., a large
quantity of which were stored in these
buildings. They also lost several hundred
thousand feet of dry lumber, the most
of which was of the upper grades, several
hundred dollars worth of dry black wal
nut and ash lumber, a large quantity of
manufactures. sash, doors, holdings,
flooring, &C., Sc. They place their actl-
al loss at about $4,000, but this is far
from covering the aggregate loss as they
had contracts for great deal of work,
among which was material for num-
ber of station buildings along the line
of the j., L, g. S. railroad some of which
they had out and it was consumed
Their large boarding house with its con-
tents were burned. Rust 81 Co., of Sagi-
nav owned most of the lumber on the
docks. the mill having been engaged in
saving their logs, and lost several thou
sald dollars worth. There was no in
surance, so thaG everything was total
loss. A sailor from one of the vessels in
port is credited with displaying great
Peioism and excellent Judgement in
fighting the lire and it is said that main.
" through his efforts the buildings that
were not bu; ned were saved.
The loss to our town can scarcely De
estimated, just al this time the immense
| amount of building going on made such
an establishment an imperative neceS-
sity and it had all the work itcOuld do
and its loss must necessarily retard
building matters to great extent. The
large amount of dry lumber consumed
was also very much needed. The heat
| from the fire was intense, boxes of glass
melted and run into masses, kegs OF
nails melted and run into chunks of iron
were firmly welded to each other.
Messrs. Smith Brothers have requested
us to extend their thanks to the fire de.
partment aud the citizens generally,
who so perSistently fought the advance
OF the flames and labOred SO long, so
earnestly and effectively to save tileiI
property. 1l.e=--
We understand they will rebuild their
planning mill Immediately. Alarge mum.
ber Of hands are thrown out of employ
ment and the mechanics working in the
planning mill had all their tools cOnsum.
ed. The planning mill was fitted up last
season with the latest improved machin-
ely all of which is a total loss. A new
carriage for the saw mill, with the same
style of head block and set works as
those put in the mill of Macarthur, Smith
So Co., was landed by the Lawrence
Saturday evening and is now at Donnel.
ly's dock. Had it been received afew
days sooner it would doubtless, have
been in the mill and bound.