Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1888-07-18

were unable to be at all the places at
once. Residence after residence he
came wrapped in flames, and then the
citizens were forced to behold a great
confiagration and see large part of
the city doomed to destruction, and
that the fires onward course could
not be checked until the bay was
reached. The demon Of fire was in
its elements, and as it wrapped its
lurid arms about the dwellings, they
melted from sight in torrents of roar
ing and writhing flames. In less than
an hour the fire had burned every
house from Pine street to the bay, and
from Oldfeld street to Clark street,
excepting those houses on that part of
Oldfield street between Merchant and
Pine streets, and few along Pine
street, and the residence of Henry
Bolton, VIM. Hazel's meat market,
and the greater portion of the foun-
dry of Warren & Macdonald. In
fact all the residences left on fifteen
blocks numbered but twenty. The
march of the fire to the bay, after it
got under full Roadway, took but
few minutes. Sparks and blazing
shingles were carried by the fierce
gale for blocks, and new fires would
start up, then work backward and
sidewise. Such tornado of fire
sweeping over their houses could not
fail to cause confusion, yet des-
perate efforts were made to save at
least part of their household effects.
In the center of the fire belt, houses
were emptied of goods, which were
piled on the street, but so quick came
down the red fiery fends of destruc-
ton, that their owners were forced to
fly for their lives, before they could
remove their goods to n safe place.
Very few of those who lived along
Miller or Lake streets saved anything,
except the clothes on their backs.
Those persons who lived near the edge
of the fire, on Oldfeld and Clark
streets, were more fortunate, and as
there was plenty of assistance. their
household goods were removed, but
of course considerably damaged, to a
place safety. The scene along Old
field street was an exciteable one.
Scores of men were at work bringing
household goods from the houses.
The south side of the street was dotted
with tables, chairs, beds, organs,
stoves and other household goods.
Women and children were running
about, some crying, some half crazed
Mothers had lost children, husbands
were separated from wives. and many
were tormented with fears that loved
ones had persisted in the flames.
Numerous teams were on hand and
soon loaded with effects saved from
houses, and goods of different families
were often mixed up and carted to
different places. Beyond Oldfeld
street was a sea of flame that was
weaving about the windows and roofs
in all sorts of fantastic shapes. All
this time the fire department was
working nobly. They were determin-
ed, if possible, to prevent the flames
crossing Oldfeld street and thus en-
dangering all the mills along the
mouth Of the river. At that task
they were nobly supported by citizen
volunteers. At two places the fire
fiend was met and conquered. The
first was at the foundry of Warren
& Macdonald. Fire had worked
down Miller street, then spread to
Oldfeld, and was rapidly eating up
the residences occupied by z. M.
Knight, It. White and G.. w. John
son. These three residences fronted
on Oldfeld street. Fire also caught
in the rear of the foundry, and the
residence of G.. G. Perkins, two
story wooden building was also mass
of flames, and was only separated
from the rear end of the foundry by
n narrow alley. Undaunted by the
desperate charge of the flames, the
fremcn and their assistants. together
with the hose and men from the foun-
dry, set To work to save the foundry,
and so well did they work that the
greater part of the foundry was saw
ed Besides attending to the foundry,
the men had to prevent fire north Of
Commercial street from working its
way to the buildings on Old6eld street,
between Commercial and Pine. A
terrible fire ragged for some time on
one side and the end of the foundry.
On Dock street another desperate
fight was made to save Hazel's meat
market and the residence of Henry
Bolton, and after fierce and noble
fight, the fremen and citizens were
successful. Fire then worked its way
by Mr.. Bottoms residence and eat up
the residences on Oldfeld street to
the bay.
BY the time the fight on Old6eld
street was decided in favor of the
| citizens the hu ruf diet riot voc a uoes