St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-05-17
ACRES OF FLAME.
The Greatest Lumber Oonfagration Ever
Known in Michigan Progressing
at 0sceola.
Extensive Mills and Appurtenances Being
Swept by Fire Make Thrilling
Sight.
Help Summoned From Other Points
Aid in Lessentng the Trelnen-
douS Destruction.
Forest Fires Favored by High Winds
Do Alarming Work Through
out the State.
An Extensive Fire.

An Extensive Fire.
OscEoLA, Mich, May 16.-At 2 o'clock
this afternoon fire was discovered in F. F.
Thompson & Co.'s mill. The fire was on
the lumber docks in close proximity to the
steam barge Osceola and tOw-boat, which
were loading at the time. The flames spread
rapidly, although at o'clock the fire
had been checked, bnt not until 5000, 600
feet OF lumber, at at average value of about
$40 per /, 200, had been destroyed. The
loss ON these docks will be between $50, 900
and S60,000, and falls on eight different
owners. By the time the fire on the
Thompson dock had been got under control
fire broke out on the immense docks OF the
Ausable Lumber company, quarter OF a
about 100000 feet of lumber
mile distant. On these docks are
A short distance across the bay are the
docks of ]. E. Potts Salt and Lumber
company, containing about $4,000, 600 more
feet of lumber. The river is
LINED WITH LUMBER
from its mouth to the main portion of Au
Sable, and there are grave apprehensions
as to the safety of the village. To add to
the trouble, fire broke out in tenement
house in the center of the village
db tAC S1iitC tiiliC luC lllC WOO dioSONOiSu GU
the docks, which kept the fire company en-
ployed an hour. Two engines from Alpena
are on their way and one fire tug and two
more engines from Bay City will start soon.
The fires on the lumber dock of the Au
Sable Lumber company and J. j. ThOmp-
son S Co. were under control at II o'clock,
or prrtially So At S o'clock the wind
which had been blowing a gale from the
south, veered to the west and greatly less
ened the danger toJ. E. Potts 81 Co.'s dock.
The only fire protection Au Sable has is a
hand engine. The men have been working
it for nine hours and unless soon relieved
by outside assistance, the flames
CANNOT LONG BE CONTROLLED.
However, it is thought they can be
checked until the arrival of help from AL
pena. That the wind continues to blow
from the west is the one hope of safety.
Bay City has refused to furnish help. Two
million feet of lumber was thrown into the
river from the Au Sable company's
docks, and as it passed the
burning piles it caught fire and
was carried out into the lake. which is now
covered for miles with scattered spots of
flame. This floating, burning mass, as it
was carried north by the wind, for a time
greatly endangered the docks in Osceola;
but the change in the wind stopped all
danger in this direction. So far about
1000, 900 feet of lumber has been burned
on the Au Sable company's docks The
fire has not net been put out, but the mass
of flames covering several acres light up
the surrounding country. So far as known
there was no insurance on the lumber de-
stroyed, and none reported on the Au Sable
company's docks. The portable ma
chinery has all been removed from
the Au Soble Salt & Lumber company's
mills. This is the same mill in which five
men were killed by the falling of a burner
April 13. 1t is thought the loss may be
larger than appears tonight, but nothing
more definite can yet be stated. 1t is the
biggest lumber fire which ever occurred in
Michigan.
STANTON, Mich, May 16.-Tbe entire
north side of the main street of Mcbride
burned this evening, with the exception of
one store. The fire originated in Martins
livery stable, at the west end of the street,
and was swept along by strong west wind.
The wires are down and full particulars
have not been received. The postOffice is
one of the buildings destroyed. The fire
covered two full blocks in all.
AT OLD STOMACH.
MAAfRLEE, Mich.-The water power,
saw mill, boarding hOnse, barn, store build
ing and warehouse, with 81, 900 worth of
camp equpage, belonging to the estate of
Paul Canine, situated at Old Stonact,
burned this afternoon. Loss, $50, 900; in
surance, 81, 600. The fire originated from
forest fires, which are raging in the north
ern part of Mason county. The wind has
been blowing a gale for the past forty
eight hours and everything is very dry. The
fire is threatening the obstruction of portions
of Peters logging railroad in Mason county.
AT HARRISON.
EAST SAGINAW, Mich, May 16.-It is
reported here that the woods around Harri-
son are red hot and that fires are sweeping
in every direction, burning timber and logs.
Eight hundred thousand feet of good, white
pine logs, valued at $500 were totally
destroyed.
AT LAKESIDE.
MUsKEGoN, Mich, May 16.-At 10
o'clock this forenoon fire broke out in
George E. Woods lumber yard at Lake
side. A high west wind prevailed and the
fire burned savagely, but the sawmill was
saved. About 5000. 900 feet of lumber was
burned, involving loss of about S7O GOO;
fully insured. At 8 o'clock tonight the
fire was subdued. Some of the lumber was
thrown into the lake and saved. The fire
was caused by sparks from brush pile.
Towns Threatened by Fire.
MARQUETTE, Mich, May 16.-The
woods are on fire in this vicinity along the
Detroit & Milwaukee railroad between here
and St. Ignace. The fires are threatening
many places. The railroad company sent a
train with gang of men out this afternoon
to protect its buildings. Five buildings
are reported burned at Newberry.
Fire at Eau Claire.
Special to the Globe
EAU CLAIRE, Wis, May 16.-This
morning fire broke out in the back room
of the Eau Claire Tannery company, and,
owing to the inaccessibility of water sup
ply. the building with its machinery and
contents was destroyed. The loss is esti-
mated at 800. 900, on which there is $1,000
insurance. The establishment will be re-
built.
Fatal Collision.
WILKEsBARRE, Pa, May 16.-A colli-
SiOH Oll tlo Hilduolpnid q hcdulng rail-
road, between flying engine and local
freight train, killed the engineer, Philip
Strong, and Fireman William Shank. The
other engineer was seriously injured.
Construction Boss Murdered.
KoKoMA, Ind, May 16.-Last fall a
company of eighteen Italians procured work
on the Lafayette & Burlington railroad,
four of whom it seems rented an old out
building on the farm of Mrs. Livingston,
twelve miles west of this city. When
winter set in and work was sus=