Telegram-herald., 1890-09-22
4 BIG CHEAP BLAZE
The @. II. Chair Factory Loses It's
Winter Slabs.
ACRES OF FIRE, But SHALL LOSS
A Fire Ia the slab piles Of the Grasd
Rapids Chair &c. Creates lst~nss
C0nsteraatisa IN the Sorthsra
suburb-Loss small

The alarm Of IRE yesterday afternoon
from the Grand Rapids Chair Factory,
simultaneously with the shooting
neayenward OF an immense column or
smoke in the northern part OF the city,
called out big crowd bearing terror
and expectation on every face. such
fire as that which had broken out. II II
was really in the chair factory, every
body knew would involve thousands
upon thousands OF dollars. But the
FIRE was not there, but in the yards OF
the c. c. Comstoek mill, occupied by
the Samuel Cupples woodenware
Company, of 81. Louis. Ii started in
the slab piles. and spread with great
rapidity, until il had endangered the
safety of large amount of property,
including the Company's mill, A. q.
Dickerman's halfway house, the
Northern Hotel, kept by William Con
mel, and large residence district lying
Just north Of the hotel.
Before the city fire apparatus reached
the scene the FIRE had attained good
headway by reason of the delay irci-
dent upon running 10 fire without the
city limits. The wind came from the
southwest aud the fire started in the
slab piles little 10 the southwest OF the
center of the yard. Its most rapid
spread was northward, although it
quickly attacked and consumed an old
ashery or soap factory on the extreme
southern limit Of the burnt district. BY
the time the firemen were prepared for
work the whole slab ward was abIaze,
and sent forth such intense heat that 1t
was difficult for spectators 10 stand on
the opposite side of the street. Yet the
fremen marched no and faced the
flames with astounding courage. with
the determination 10 prevent their I'd
vance upon the mill and the hotel. 10
living flesh and blood could stand ihe
heat without some artificial protection.
With each couple of pipcmen was a
third man whose duty il was to help
give the brave men protection against
l..
wide boards in front of the plpemen,
while Others kent their faces and cloth
INC drenched with cold water. Some
times the pipemen would lie prone on
their breasts while seeking protection
behind some ollie of slabs not yet at
tackled by the flames. 1t was n long
and desperate contest, and at times il
seemed that the buildings north ward
were doomed beyond all human power
TO save them. But the hotel and the
mill were kept well drenched. and ter
streams of water poured their floods
upon the advancing fire.
About O'Clock the region beyond the
immediate fire line had become so thor
oughly soaked that the fire fend
seemed to slacken the speed of his ad-
vance, and in another half hour IL was
apparent that the fire department had
accomplished the object of its presence;
the fire was under control. and the
building was safe as long as the firemen
held their posts. By 6 o'clock it was de-
creed safe 10 lessen the force engaged +,
and at that hour the first steamer was
released and sent back TO town.
Although the value of the property
destroyed was comparatively small, the
fire itself was one of the most exciting
that Grand Rapids has seen since the
destruction of the Oriel factory. The
crowds that occupied the lumber piles
of the chair factory on the South and
the elevated ground on the West side
of the road were like the Roman ampi-
theater. SO copious was the volume Of
water used that the entire district
seemed as if an autumn equinoxial
storm had visited il.
The losses sustained were principally
by the Grand Rapids Chair Company,
who owned most of the slabs consumed d.
They lost 500 cords Of slabs, valued at
Sl200. The ashery was owned by Peter
Lancaster, and its nominal value was
but few hundred dollars. A barn be-
longing TO c. c. Comstock was con-
sumed, worth S400. For so large and
dangerous n blaze. il twasan exceedingly
fortunate one, when the valuahle prop
erty ieopardized is compared with the
actual loss. The credit Of saving that
suburb of the city must be given to the
fremen. who worked with skill apd
heroism that could not be surpa passed d.
The fire was so hot at one time that the
faces Of the spectators, standing afar
off. were like beef-steak for redness.
vet the firemen stood their ground IN a
literal hsnd.to-hsnd conflict with the
flames
The halfway house Of 4. o. Decker
man was jeOpardized from the very
first. and preparations were made to
vacste the house on an instant's notice.
Mr.. Dickermsn. himself. who was lvlng
helpless from a runaway accident
sustained last Monday. was re-
moved to the Northern Hotel. on the
opposite side Of the street and farther
south, on tho first breaking out Of the
fire. lie endured The excitement with
excellent nerve, and will be no worse
/ for ms shaking up.