The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1881-10-14

The fire which occurred here on Thursday
evening of last week was, for a short time
an exceedingly warm one, and there was
considerable danger that not only the barns
of the Clifton House and Union Hotel would
be burned, but the hotels themselves and the
entire block of stores on the south side of
Main street would also be consumed. IL oc-
curing at an hour about 10 p. M before
many OF the people had retired, and the
wind, what little there was that evening,
blowing from the southeast, were favorable
circumstances which rendered the saving of
a large amount of property possible. Had
night, when men would have had to be
aroused from their beds to get there, or the
wind been blowing from the south or south
west. the Clifton House and some of the
stores would have shared the fate of the
barns. There were three barns burned, two
of which belonged to the Clifton House and
the other to the Union House. The fire
originated in the largest barn which stood
between the others and was occupied by A.
Z. Stevenson as livery stable. 1t being the
week of the county fair, the barns were all
crowded full of horses. The one in which
the fire originated contained twenty horses,
and the flames spread so rapidly that only
one was gotten out. Nineteen valuable
horses were burned. This barn also
contained two carriages besides the entire
equipment of robes, blankets, whips, har-
nesses, etc., belonging to Stevenson's livery.
The horses and carriages contained in the
other barns were all safely removed. The
Dodge house, occupied by William n. John
son, caught on fire and quite portion of
the roof burned OF, but was subdued by
passing water up to persons on the roof in
pals. NJ. Johnson's furniture and goods
were all removed and considerably damaged.
There was no insurance on them.
HORSES LOST.
The following is list of those who lost
horses, and the value of them as estimated by
the owner in each case, except those from Por-
tage, Schoolcraft and Alegan:
Mr. McDuff of Ailegan, fine span, carriage
and harnesses, the whole rig said to be worth
$500; Thos. Brownbridge of Decatur, span
of horses, harnesses, blankets, etc., $500 A.
L. Stevenson. five horses, one carriage and
all of his harnesses and livery equipments,
81 POO; A. Wildey, horse and harness, $165;
Walter Wilson, horse and harness, $175; j.
Cohn of Decatur, horse and harness, 500
Jerome Coleman of Decatur, horse and har-
ness, 5000 Geo. w. Bush of Waverly, horse
and harness, 5000: Nelson Webster of Pine
Grove, horse, $500; Z. j. Lane of Bloom
ingdale, horse and harness, $500; w. w. l..
Cline, horse, harness and sulky, $3.50 HI.
A. Hills of Lawrence, lost sulky; horse
from Portage, the owner and value unknown.
LOSS ON BUILDINGS.
Clifton House, $300-fully insured. Fur
niture in Clifton House belonging to Dansby
g. Sage, damaged $500 to S6O0-insured for
$1,000. Clifton House barns, $1,000-in-
sured for $500. Stevenson's livery stock
was insured for $500. Union House barn,
$20O-no insurance. Dodge house was dam
aged about S50-fully insured.
The firemen were quickly on hand with
the steamer, and in an incredible short time
they had two streams playing on the fire
with telling effect. Our fremen handled the
engine and managed the fire in very
creditable manner, and are deserving of much
praise for their GOODNESS and bravery, thus
saving a large amount OF property which
would have otherwise been destroyed.