Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-10-02
RAVAGED BY FIRE.
Grand Haven, Mich, Swept by
the Fire Fiend.
FIVE HUNDRED HOMELESS PEOPLE

Four Principal Blocks, Including Forty
Buildings, the Finest In the Town, Left
Waste OF Ashes-The Loss In Money
Nearly Million DoiIars-Origin and
Progress of the Destroyer and Names Of
Losers-The Alarum At Midnight.
GRAND HAVEN, Mich, Oct About
1890 yesterday morning fire was discovered
in the rear of Mrs n. Slayton's store, on
Washington street Four hours later the
blaze had burned itself out, after destroying
from 1914, 900 to $500, 900 worth of property,
represented Monday night by four of the
principal business blocks in the city. The
disastrous confiagration started in some un-
known manner, and mad it been seen in time
could easily have been extinguished Nearly
every one in town was asleep, however, and
before the fire department had reached the
spot the fire had obtained firm hold on the
entire store From there it soon extended to
Henry Baar's drug store aud to Irie Mulrs
meat market The flames shot SO high as
TO reach the cornice of the Cutler house
on the east siie of Mulrs store. The roof
was a mansard. and soon became ignited at
the lower portion
The Guests Had to yacate.
The alarm was Immediately given to the
sounily sleeping guests and they were quick
ly aroused, but several Of them had narrow
escapes with little OF their clothing and bag
gage. The flames rapidly spread to the two
stores occupied by y l. Beaudry, which
formed portion OF thu first floor in the Cut
Der block and contain Il s 20. 90 worth of
Try goods, insured FOR $1,000. The fire
soon destroyed these goods The insurance
office of John Pfaff followed, and then the
flames reached the FIRST National bank. stu
ated in the center of the block, passing rap
idly through the bank and spacious hotel Of
flee, dining rooms and parlors of the first
floor, ami ascending the elevator and wide
stair way. the long corridors were soon
densely filled with smoke, rendering the re-
moval OF furniture. mirrors, etc. impos-
sible.
The Tiremen Reinforced.
While the fire was thus extending its raw
| ages, the local fire department, aud soon
| after fire engines from Spring Lake, Muske :
gon and Grand Rapids, commenced TO oper-
ate, but made only little progress in bring
| ing the flames under control The roof of
| the Cutler house was covered with iufiam-
| mabie roofing paper, and this soon arose in
| flying pieces. The wind, which was blowing
| stiff gale from the lake, spread these fise-
| brands over Third and Washington streets,
| igniting the residence of Dwight Cutler On
| the southeast corner. and the FIRST r.
| formed church on the northeast corner.
Both were subs tantial frame structures and
burned 80 rapidly that only very little of
| the valuable furniture OF Mr. Cutters resi-
| deuce was saved
Swept Both Sides of the Street
The IRE continued up both sides Of Wash
ington street., taxing tbs resiieloe Of Mrs
| n. Slayton, aud then the brick Unitarian
chui ch and the Gothic cottage residence Of
| Thomas A Parish on the northeast corner OF
| Fourth and Washington The county Jail
| and court house IN the next block were
saved. On the north side of Washing ton
street the flames extended still further, TAX
ing the beautiful parsonage occupied by
| Rev. A WormSer, the residences of John
| 7. Davis, Y. W. Seeley, city attorney: Mr.
| Moody, and Hiram Potts, editor Of The
| Courier-Journal The flames also extended
to the block immed ately opposite the Cut
| Ter house, destroying the residence Of Mrs
| Squires and the store OF W. {. Sheldon, oc-
| cupied 10y Mrs Jones, milliner
More Residences Destroyed.
| The cordagration, still extending, de-
| stroyed the residences OF George D. Sanford,
postmaster Of Grand Haven; Capt McCul-
lunl, Of the lake steamer J. G Ford, Of the
Escanaba line, Mr.. Kedzie, e,iitor Of The
Grand Haven Herald; Mr. Van Lopick
| grocer; Mr.. Nerlccker, Richard Council.
jacob Nemire, and Charley Conger. PRO
| prietor Of The Grand Haven Tribune. who
| lost two houses Mrs Leland also lost tw G
houses, ami Jacob Van Derver one hous e.
Il ! y. r.
establishment connected with the Cutler
house was also destroyed. but fortunately
| the horses were rescued Mr. Monrue's harr
and that of Mrs Siayton were entirely con.
| sumed
The Work of Four Hours
| In four hours from the time the fire was
first discovered about forty buildings on
four Of the principal blocks Of the city were
| burned 10 the ground, and nothing remained
| but a few bare walls ami chimneys The Cut
Ter house had long been the pride Of western
| Michigan. Ii was erected in 1872 by D. Cut
Ter, at a cost of S250.OOO Ii was a handsom,
structure OF four stories The insurance or
| the hotel and furniture was only $50 OOl
The residence of Mr.. Cutler was built il
| lsS1 at a cost Of about $40. oo0 Ii was fur
| nlshed in costly manner and contained ,
well selected library. very extensive col
lection Of pictures and bric-a-brac. the &C
cumulation OF years Of travel by the va
rious members OF the family. The greatel
portion Of this valuable collection was de
| stroyed
An ApPe al to the Public.
The city council held special meetin,
| yesterday morning. presided over by May O
| Kirby, and adopted resolutions setting fortl
| that 500 r<-rp!s had been burned O
| house and home at a cost Of nearly s.. GO
| oo1 Ii Is pointed out that these sufferer
| are among thoss least able to bear the loss
| and that immediate aid is therefore nesNi
ed The mayor was directed to iSsus an ap
peal TO the public, which he did shortly
after. The appeal is chiefly for money t,
aid IN rebuilding burned homes. HIS honor
| will receive contributions
| The Socialists at Chicago.
| CHICAGO, Oct 2-The Socialist Labor
party convention yesterday voted to make
Chicago the seat for the executive, and a.