Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1885-07-08


warehouse doors. Outside the build
ing the hose leading to tho different
pipes were wreathed about like gi-
gantic serpents. When the fire was
subdued in one place, it had protrud-
ed its fiery tongues in others. Hun
dreds of spectators were watching
the fire; the bridge was covered with
spectators; the post piles on
the opposite side of the river
were appropriated us reserve seats,
and in the immediate vicinity of the
fire was gathered large crowd.
Many of the business men, mill
owners and citizens gave the fire boys
helping hand number of other
spectators also helped-with their ad-
vice. One volunteer fremen, James
Reed, was struck in the eye with a
stream of water, at short range, and
the eyesight damaged. The port
bow of the Ralph was somewhat bis
tered by the heat, and a small hose
was used to keep her from catching
fire. For half an hour there was an
exciting time. AT last the fire fiend
was conquered, but not until several
thousand dollars worth of property
had been destroyed. Inside the ware
house was doleful sight. The entire
inside was charred, and confusion
reigned supreme. Two barrels of
hams, well roasted, were scattered
about the floor; 10 barrels of pork
and beef had well cooked and well
smoked appearance, the upper ends
of the barrels had burned, leaving in
some n small piece of the head laying
on the meat. Close by were the re-
mains of 100 boxes of soap, and mix
ed up with the soap were the contents
of 10i chests of tea, 40 boxes of her.
ring, canned goods, groceries, bottles
and various other articles, all in one
mournful heap of ruin. In another
place were six bales of hops partly
burned and somewhat scattered |
about. Another group was made up
If the household furniture of John
brought that morning by
he steamer City of Alpena. In an
'ther place were the remains of sever
II wagons and sleighs, belonging to
J. l.. johnson. Pangburn & Co. had
hirty-three cases of collins, some of
which came through the fire all right.
A safe owned by p. Culligan had the
exterior appearance spoiled. A
luantitv of feed belonging to Joseph |
Kurtz and hay owned G. Richardson
vas somewhat damaged. The losers
by the fire, in addition to those al
ready mentioned, were f. o. Avery,
IL barrels of pork, beef and hams.
and 100 sacks of oats; Parmaloo, 100
boxes of soap; Johnrowo & Grant,
l0l chests of tea and 20 boxes Of
herring; b. Desjardin, % boxes of
herrings Alex. McDougall, hard
ware; Bewick, Comstock & Co.,
groceries and hardware; Potter Bros,
hardware; Harrington & Pratt, groc-
cries; White theatrical troupe had
their stage trunks much burned, but
the contents were not all destroyed.
The above are all the losers we
could learn of. The steamboat office
was but very little injured except by |
water, although fire had travelled up
one side, then over the ceiling, and
hen down the other side. The loss
IS between three and four thousand
dollars at least, and on the building
here was an insurance of 81 900 in
American company, of which b. f.
Luce & Son are the agents.
No one can tell for certain how the
ire started, but the general belief is
hat it was caused by n fire-cracker.
others express the belief that it was
,aused by heat generated by nets and
ishing apparatus stored over the Of
ice part. One thing is certain, the
inside of the warehouse was mostly on
ire when the alarm was given.
About the time the fire was raging,
he steamer Flora left port OH her ex-
,ursion out into the bay. She had
many excursionists, and would doubt
ess have had many more but for the
ire.
During the afternoon the two base
'all clubs--the Mystics and the Pick
upon contest for a
'all and bat. The game was spir-
ted one, and was won by the Pickups
" score of 80, while the Mystics
lad to be contented with 10.
From four to six in the afternoon,
n exhibition of fancy roller skating
ras given by the Indian boy Petoskey.
After supper there was concert
.ivcn by the well known McGibeny
amily at the Opera House, an exhi-
'ition of roller skating by Petoskey,
nd another fusilade of fre-crackers,
rockets, Roman candles,
ire balloon and other amusemsnts, and