Morning journal and courier., 1886-01-02

In the evening the new military staff was entertained at dinner by the Governor at the executive mansion. Many congratulatory despatches were received by Governor Hill from all parts of the country.
 A BIG BLAZE IN DETROIT.
 The New Year Opens With a Fire Causing a Loss of a Million and a Half.
 DETROIT, Jan. About 9 o'clock this morning fire was discovered in the immense seed warehouses of D. M. Ferry & Go. on Brush street The building is four-story brick structure covering half block. The flames sprea: so rapidly that soon a general alarm was sent out. By the time that all the force had arrived the fire had spread through the inflammable stock consisting of seeds. dried grasses, boxes and all the other ele- ments of an immense stock. The building and the whole place was de- stroyed. Just across the alley and occupying the other half of the block is Whites Grand Theater, an i'm mense brick structure, with seating capaci- ty of 5000 people The building could not be protected from the flames which spread across a 20-foot alley, ingress to which was impossible on account of the intensity of the flames The flames spread to restaurant on the corner and to two large dry goods stores under the theater, all of which are de- stroyed, together with the offices of the Thompson estate. owners of the property. From the burning block the flames formed by slight breeze, spread southeast to the corner of Lafayette and Brush streets where a three-story brick building occupied by the Detroit Stamping company, an institu- ouantit, of tinware, lock and bronze house trimmings, and the box fac tory of Ferry SS Go. were situated and con sumed At il o'clock the roof of Whites Theater fell in, assuring the destruction of the entire building The fire spread across Groghon street and in ten minutes the whole block of houses, several of them places of disrepute, were on fire.
 Whites theater was built in 1880 as a music hall by a syndicate at cost of ESQ.,, coo and was inaugurated by the Northwest ern Saengerbund at their annual feast. The building was turned into thsater subse quently at 8 large expense. The Ferry building cost $S0,000 to build and had stock of seeds variously estimated at from
 
 ry was worth S25, 1000, and the Stamping company's place like amount. The stores of s. Kirchner and Day, Campbell 6 Co.,, dry goods dealers, the latter running the store as assignee of bankrupt former pro prietor, will lose $30,000. A fireman named Richard Tilborn was killed by fall ing wall, and several others were badly injured
 The cause of the fire, which was got under control at p. m, is still 8 mystery. The building was not only supposed to be fire proof, but there was no fire except the gas used for illumination in the building. The total losses as footed up are not less than lose s1 ,0OO, ,OOO; the Whites Theater prop erty furnishes $200, ,000 more and the other losses are distributed between the following: Ernest Kern, dry goods; Theo. Hoenning hausen, teas; s. Heyn, tobacco factory; Key holds Bros, billiard hall Gersting & Co.,, vinegar works; J. Bentler, saloon and hotel. A number of residences were also badly burned. The insurance the structures will foot up close on s1,00O,000, of which $550, 900 is on the seed warehouse, which was filled with goods The seed com pany are already looking for accommo- dations to start up at once and it is reported that White will engage a skating rink to carry out his engagements. White is doing the heaviest business of the town, having been the pioneer in low prices and having stood for months alone in the war against fancy theatrical prices. Captain Richard Filbun, the victim of the accident at the fire, was twenty-eight years of age, unmarried, and the sole support of a widowed mother. He had an excellent record for bravery in the department and had been promoted to captaincy for gal lantry. Besides Filbun, Bremen McGinni- ty and McCreery, Assistant Chief McCreary, Asst 4ant Chief Elliott and W. H. Hughes, editor of.the Michigan Catholic, had narrow escapes from death. Filbun's death was in stantaneous.
 Inn hlfn i'm a KzIaze Nf U.fVht