Telegram-herald., 1890-02-03
FIRE AND WATER
Get n Their Devastating Work on
ths Wicdlccmb Block.
TIE alSOSIC TEMPLE CSHlRAED
wiIg4m Ufaalsoasb snd tas BF0skiass
L4nssF CssaB2ag ths Frtaei pa sat
fsrsrs-.uauer Losses CSasea
~ NatsEs

Grand Rapids ASS ri lght had narrow
escape from what mig4t lave been
4 DISASTROUS coufauston. For a ume
it Iooked a. x one of is handsomeI
business blocks vas doomed % destruc-
t.on ~ tie flames 0f tns hre nena.
HAD the gat been dry and windy .
frzatfll devastation would nave en-
.aed. and probably accompanied by a
large loss Oh aumAa denzens OF the
closely packed adjoining blocks.
The W&d.comb building, Monroe
ID greatest beauty. gas the scene OF
tre threatened hfe. and bat for the
character OF the night and effective
a0sS By the department would now
4ave been mass OF smolderng RUNS.
L. h. WazhbuFne, the lantor OF the
building, states that At 20 minutes
PAST 8 o'clock, 10 the evening, as
hs vas leaving MS room MS nose was
saluted with a strong smell OF smoke.
lie lust then saw Attorney Drurys who
Las an Office in the building. The latter
also noticed the smoky smell and
Immediately telephoned police head
quarters. An OflCer WAS quickly on tie
scene and 40 once cai.. g Ou the cneml-
rtl company The re-p9nse was quick.
but they could d. eu9iuIug as they could
u0t reach Ihe lre au1 al alarm VS.
then turned lu % SO. 4 engine house.
THIS was responded 90 with -r tL
promplarss, and u tllrty minutes tle
hames were sltd 1ed.
The exact cause of the fre is not As
vet known. though t = thought that
r started ln the closet or wash-ro0m
of the dentistry hrm OF ~ayder
IL Palm on the Attn fOOr. Strange
% say. the fre did not penetrate 10 the
dentists pariors nor get into their .aoor-
at0ry. winch were very Little inIured.
Had 70 done SD, very prouau.y whole
SIDE ot tae building would have been
blown out. as in tne laboratory IS placed
tae arge gtsOmctcr used by the nrm.
Instead az DONG Ga tue flames took q
~Outherly direction and completely
destroyed the office az.ures, furniture
aud carpets Of the HrouS.ng. Lumber
Company, cutaiauc loss Oi probably
500, fully insured with II. r. BurtCn.
Il
any other time, out being sunday all
valuable papers Sere stored in tine safe,
which, except as to Is outside paint
vas unharmed.
The greatest loss W.il De- sustained by
VIM W.ddicOmb, f.a owner OF the
building. The ceilings OF some of
the Offices on tire third floor
were totally destroyed by the
water coming through and VIII all
lave to cous down. fhe beautiful
corridor walls present tGc appearance
ot panorama OF the artlc regions, so
begrimed aud vareglted are they WITH
water and smoke. They are ruined
and viii for the most part nave % come
down The handsome Masonic Com
maudery room 0n the htth floor.
fortunately escaped any further
INJURY than that inflicted by the
penetrating smoke. had the flames
reached 10 $4,000 would not
have covered tbe loss Mr. Wddicomb
estimates ls loss wl.. reach fully 5000
lt uol more. This loss is amply COW
cred hv Insurance.
Tue offices OF Daniel Mccoy. the
Union Credit comp r ard Drurv &
Noic0tt were cons t.t.tf.F damaged uy
water but Iuat huv mucI could nor bee
estimated .ast night.
Fireman Jar.. EIlv. Of the Ia
grtve-strcet engine a1Hsr bad narrow
t--aae from ser.ogs INJURY and perhaps
from ie1tn. Inr rlawrai ru-uc
dashed up M fr1r. @. tl" orldmc. aad
ElI jumped 1t au began to uur.el
tar bose. NH 'ar bose wa- nearly
unrce rd D.. r1r.. aai GU. to1uI ,-grt. u
uuT.- tI. -eI. U.H rII. J.. - Hl1. .ie