The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1891-05-20
FLAME-SVE
The City Of MuskegOn, Mich, tho
Scene Of a
TERRIBLE CONFEDERATION.
Twenty Business Blocks and $50 Dwell
Gngs Destroyed.
AIDED BY STRONG WIND

The Fire Sweeps Through the Business
Center Of the City-Losses About $500,
O0o-Many Buildings Uninsured.
MUSHROOM, Mich, May 1S.-This city
suffered a second visitation from the
flames Saturday evening. Fire started
at $3.50 o'clock in the Laukowell hotel
barns, from some unknown cause, and
aided by strong wind, with lightning
like rapidity, swept ten blocks up Pine
street, one Of the chief business streets
of the city. Then by sudden shift in
the wind, the flames were driven to-
ward Terrace avenue, one of the finest
residence streets in the city, where they
swept unchecked and burned with un-
abated fury towards the southern edge
of the city. Twenty-Five blocks were
devastated as II swept by hurricane Of
fire. Pine street business houses for
ten blocks are entirely wiped out.
Among the more valuable blocks
were the Pine Street house, the Phila-
bourn block, Reckerman's drug store,
Matthew Wilson's residence, Sedg-
wick's Wholesale store, McMichaers s
shoe store, the Laukowell hotel. The
residences of S. +. 0uthwaite, |. A.
Miller, occupied by VANITY and Man
ming, OF the Morning News; Peter p.
Steketee, Alexander Van camden, the
elegant Fleming residence, and others
were reduced to ashes. The Sl00,0
court house was gutted, but its public
documents were saved
Prisoners in the county Jail which
occupied the basement of the court
house were liberated. Several cows
and horses were burned, and n little
child, who was stopping at the Laulo-
well, is missing. The loss cannot be
accurately stated, but will probably
reach half a million dollars. BY
o'clock the fire reached the southern
district Of the city, where there is more
space between the houses, and the fire.
men succeeded In reducing further pro.
gress Of the flames. As the high build.
ings burned there was great danger from
flying firebrands, and the firemen were
obliged TO continually shift their posi-
tions. Two Grand Rapids engines were
put to work as soon as they arrived.
Twenty blocks Of business houses and
dwellings are in ruins. The total num-
Der Of dwellings burned may safely be
put at $50. A conservative estimate
places the total loss at S5OO,OOO. Total
insurance unobtainable. Many of the
burned places had no insurance. Hun
dreds of families are thrust upon their
friends for accommodations. Many fine
dwellings but recently completed are
gone. Judge Dickerman lost nearly his
entire law library in the court house.
Britton Bros. lost n machine shop and
half dozen houses; no insurance on
them. Dynamite was used in some in
stances to clear buildings.
Among the sad instances 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 IL
necessary 10 remove him to place Of
safety. He died amid the crash Of fall
ing houses while being removed.
Hundreds of people are rendered
homeless and destitute with their all
swallowed up in the cruel flames. Wo-
men and children wandered homeless
along the streets, moaning and weep
ing over their losses.