St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-05-17
A CITY IN SORROW,
Muskegon, Mich, Suffers From
a Terrible Conflagra-
tiOn.
twenty Blocks Of Busines S
Houses and Dwellings
Raced.
Hundreds OF People Homeless
--LOss Of Half a Mill
ion.
Mayor Shakespeare Gives a
Mafia Leader Some Seri-
Gus Advice.

MUsKEGON, Mich, May 16.-A terri
bic fire visited this city early in the
afternoon, which has never been par
alleled IN its history. Hundreds of peo-
pie have been rendered homeless and
destitute, with their all swallowed up
in the cruel flames. Women and chill
dren wander homelessly along
the deserted streets, and are
moaning and weeping over their
losses. If the city authorities do not
Immediately interpose and make some
arrangements to house the homeless,
extreme suffering will certainly follow
The fire originated in an old frame barn
belonging to Luman Hamblin. The
alarm was sent in at 2 p. M, and
when the fire department arrived
upon the scene the barn was entirely
destroyed. a strong wind from the
lake swept the flames to the south, and
other dry frame structures were soon
caught upon them. The first resident
vicinity that became a victim to the fire
was that commonly called 1.-THE Saw
dust" which is inhabited by a low class
of people. This in a little while was
completely devastated. At this point
the wind shifted a little TO the west. and
the business portion of Pine street was
made accessible.
Rich Food for Flames.
The Cummings House was the first to
fall, and all the stores on the east side
of the street were swept away. The
fire crossed over Pine to Webster av-
enue and followed direct course to the
south, leaving but block be-
hind. At 4 o'clock the magnificent
residence of Matthew Wilson, a
wealthy lumberman, took fire and
was soon in ashes. The court house was
the next to follow, and only the walls
remain. The inmates of the jail were
conducted safely out and imprisoned at
the city hall. The county records were
left in the vaults. When Apple
street was reached every business
house on Pine street was in ruins,
with the exception of several
at the north end of the street. At the
court house square the path of the fire
was widened, making its western ter
minus Terrace street, with a scope of
two blocks. The immense wind made it
impossible to get the flames in check,
and as the greater part of the
buildings were wooden everything was
favorable to their awful vengeance.
Among the sad incidents connected
with the fire was the death of Harry
Stevens, assistant postmaster, and son
OF Postmaster Stevens. He was very
i'll with pneumonia and the flames made
1t necessary to remove him to a place of
safety. Headied amid the crash of
falling houses while being removed.
Tonight twenty blocks of business
houses and dwellings are in shoulder
ing ruins. Total number of dwellings
burned may safely be put at $50. Con-
seryative estimate total loss, $500, 900.
Total Insurance unobtainable.
1t was about o'clock this evening
when it could be stated that the fire
was under control. In the meantime
the fire department had been reinforced
by two steamers from Grand Rapids and
help from Grand Haven and North Mus
kegon. Several cows aud horses were
burned and little child who was Sleep
ing in the Lankwell hotel barns, where
the fire started. is missing. By 9
o'clock fire had reached the southern
district of the city, where there was
more space between the houses. and the
tremen succeeded in considerably re-
ducing further progress of the flames.
Tonight the burned districtresemb bles
simply large bonfire, and all the fire.
men are still working vigorously. On
all streets are piled furniture, clothing
and household goods. The scene is en-
tirely too graphic for description at
this time.