Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1885-11-27
CALAMITOUS FIRE.
Galveston, Texas, the Scene of Il
Disastrous COnflagratiOn.
Many Persons Homeless.

a destructive fire broke out IN the eastern
part OF Galveston. Texas, on the morning OF
Nov. 18TH between sixteenth and Seventeenth
streets About O'Clock the fire began 10
spread to the east and 10 the west of Sixteenth
and Seventeenth streets, the wind rose 10 a
gale and pandemOnium reigncd. For time
II seemed as though the entire eastern half of
the city was doomed. The fire spread rapidly
10 the southwark, licking up the blocks OF
elegant residences hastily abandoned BY their
inmates. By . O'Clock ii had reached Broad
way, which treads the center Of the island,
running east and west, and by 5 O'Clock the
fire had eaten It's way 10 avenue o, where at
& o'clock it seemed 10 exhaust itself and the
fireman coming up checked further rayage at
this point, or within two. blocks OF the
gulf. The burned district covers 80 blocks,
seven OF which are not swept entirely clean.
IL is 10 blocks In depth, and averages width
of three blocks. From the housetops the
smoking burned district resembles huge black
half-opened fan lying across the island from
the bay nearly 10 the gulf. The island at that
point Is 10 blocks, or one mile and quarter
wide. The fire started on the north side of the
avenue a, better known as the strand, which
is one blobk from the bay and it stopped
within two blocks OF the gulf. From avenue
10 avenue i, for four squares, the burned
dwellings were occupied almost entirely by the
poorer classes, and several families were
crowded in a single house ia this strip
From avenue {, however, the burned
district includes the wealth iest
and most fashionable portion OF
the city. One hundred elegantly furnished
mansions are In ruins. Many Of these resi-
dences had beautiful gardens attached, and the
moncycd loss does not represent over half
their value All manner of estimates are TO
be heard at this time. The city assessor says
the taxable value OF the dwellings, burned Is
SG50,OO0. This makes the actual value Of the
property sl,5O00V0, which perhaps represents
the loss i'm money. The insurance Is cstimat-
ed at S6OO,OUO, although some insurance men
who have walked over the district, place the
insurance al $>OO,C0). So far as can bc learn
ed not a single accident occurred. The scene
during the progress of the ire was simply
frightiul, 50 hlled with misery and terror
that whoever witnessed il must be-
its vivid impress for a lifetime. The
wind rose 10 a screaming gale in the vicinity
% the fire and swept through the burning belt
IN terrific whirs carrying millions OF live Gin
drrs high up in the air and raining them down
a mile distant over the wooden city and its
panic stricken inhabitants The entire east
end of the city scarcely contains dozen brick
dwellings. All il wood-TeXas pine-and it
burns with an Undesirable fury. Five min
utes after a house had caught IL would be
wrapped in one mighty flame The alleyways
and streets for 10 squares on either side OF the
burning belt were filed with the bianched
faces OF helpless men, women and children
who could do nothing In such gale but crouch
down Tor shelter and watch the flames lick up
the fruits OF a lifetime
Although the VICTIMS NUMBER many OF tuc
wealthiest residents of the city, whose
individual wealth runs Up near the
millions, yet the great major
ity of those burned out lost the better por-
tions OF their fortunes and their little all.
Some families saved Il good deal Of furniture;
Others wera left with only the clothes on their
backs, so confident were they that the fire
would not reach them The loss in personal
and household property can never be cstimat
ed, and Is not included IN the previous esti-
mate.
Already the rich men OF the city and the
well-to-dO even those who have lost their eIe-
giant mansions, have determined to look alter
and provide for the poorer people and Gal
weston will probably make no appeal TO the
outside world.
Following close on the heels OF the great
strike, which inflicted moneycd loss on the
business men Of Galveston OF fully 100000
this calamity j. the climax to the woes and
sore Affections Of the city. With the exception
OF half dozen grocery stores and the iron
and car-Iepalrlng foundry, where the fire
started, no places OF business were destroyed