Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-12-04
BURNING OF A MILL.
The Structure Once the Largest of Its
Kind In the World.

BAY CITY, MICH, Dec. 3.-At II O'Clock
last night fire broke out in the cupola of
the fire-room OF the McGraw saw-mill,
owned by Birdsall 81 Barker. The wind
was blowing lightly from the west, and
carried the fire to the main building of the
mill, which soon became a mass of seeth-
ing flames. The fremen saw that the
mill must be consumed, and directed their
attention to keeping the fire from spread
ing, succeeding by strenuous efforts in
confning the contiagration TO the mill
proper and adjacent tramways. At l
O'Clock the mill was in ruins. 1t was
located in the extreme south end OF
the city, and was the largest
on the Saginaw river. At the time of it's
erection in 1873 it was the largest con-
cern of the kind in the world, having an
annual capacity of 40, 100000 feet of lum-
ber, besides laths. slaves, heading and
shingles. Mr.. Birdsall places his loss at
$l5O,O00, on which there is insurance of
100000 distributed in various companies.
The mill furnished employment for 1850
men. 1t is not known whether or not 1t
will be rebuilt.
IRON AND STEEL WORKS DESTROYED.
DETROIT, Dec. 3.-The extensive wire
and iron works of Barnum q Co. was
almost totally destroyed by IRE this morn
ing. The works covered a whole block,
and was one of the largest establishments
OF its kind in the United States. The fire
was discovered shortly before O'Clock,
but when the fire department had arrived
the flames had gained such headway that
it was impossible to save the works. The
tiremeH concentrated their efforts IN con-
lining the fire to the works and saving sur
rounding property The loss is estimated
at $262, 200, and is partially insured. Tele-
graphic communication with the city has
been seriously interrupted by the fact that
many of the wires running into the city,
and which were strung over the works,
were melted by the intense heat. The
works were situated on the corner of
Thirteen-aud-a-hait and East Howard
streets. The structure was a iOur-stOry
brick building, and covered nearly the en-
tire block. The loss on the building is es-
timated at $4,000, and on the machinery
and stock at $l5O,000.
BLAZE AT LAGRANGE.
LAGRANGE, GA, Dec. 3.-Last night at
II O'Clock one section of Dallis g. Ed
mondson's new compartment warehouse
was burned, with about 800 bales OF cot
ton, which was mostly covered by insur-
ance. The warehouse was insured in the
Atlanta Home Insurance Company on the
section burned for $500. The cotton was
held mostly by local merchants, the prIn-
cipal losers being: j. G. Truitt g. Co, j.
@. Forbes e. Co., j. n. Cooper, Nj. l..
Fleming, r. S. McFarlin, and the Ia
Grange Banking and Trust Company, for
farmers to whom they had advanced
money. II. MuhlisOn, former proprietor
of the Lagrange hotel, had his furniture
packed for shipment to Natchez, Miss,
and had it stored in the warehouse, which
WAS alan bnrnpn His l0aa ia al 60 000
and his insurance $1,000. The fire is
thought to have been the work Of an in
cendiary. This warehouse was burned
on May 4, and a firstclass compartment
warehouse was built instead. 1t is a
great loss to the owner and people gener-
ally.
CASE SHOP BURNFD