Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-05-17
NUSKEGON IN FLAMES
A Disastrous Conhagration Visits
the City
DESTROYING ACRES OF PROPERTY
II Il Bsiisvsa That the Losses win Az
Srsxsss Nearly Thess-1aArtsrs OF
3lAiioa Doiiass-Ths vsracisas
Dprssa of the Fire.

MusKEeox. Mich, May IA most
DISASTROUS conhagration started on
Pins-st-, At little past O'Clock this
afternoon. and &C clock this evening
over hAlf-mllllon dollars worth OF
property was in ashes. At the hour
named little puff OF smoke Was seen to
burst from an Old barn back of the old
Cummings House, At the corner OF
ClAy-ave. and Plne-st. A moment later
a curling tonguel of fame shot up into
the ar and II an incredibly snort space
OF time the old rookery was mass Oh
roaring flames. The wind from the
lake blew apgrliy across the southern
peninsula. separating the clty from the
sn0rc, and rose Ia velocity as the naines
spread, until II became veritabie bur-
ricane- The IRE department was called
out. but before length OF hose could be
laid the furious wind had borne the
hungry flames across the intervening
spaces separating the adjacent build
ings and enyeloped them IN a mad.
writing chaos of tirey destruction. The
awful scope Of the holocaust appalled,
the firemen and they were unable TO
cope with It's terrible power. Assistance
was demanded and two eng mes with
200 feet of hose were summoned from
Grand Rapids They arrived just alter
o'clock, but could render little aid.
spread OF the Planes
The spread of the flames WAS appal-
lngly rapid From the barn and notel
the forked tongues leaped To adjoining
buildings and soon had communicated
IN demoniacal fiendishness with over
$50 business blocks and residences.
The sheet of fire extended like huge
serpent down the east side OF Pine-st
for eight full blocks, colling, twisting,
darting. seething and hissing-)umplng
high into the air and then descending
with irresistible impetGoslty, licking up
palatial residences ana devouring ex-
penslve blocks. as il the work were one
of helhsh enjoyment and glee. Tnir-
teen squares of improved property, oc-
cupied by all kinds of buildings was
transformed from security and beauty
TO destruction and black ruins. The
beautiful new court house, costing up
wards Of 500 600, is = mass OF broken
stone and charred timbers. The mod
ern residence palaces of the Wilson's.
McLaughiins and Langs are confused
heaps OF bricks. cinders and ashes. In
the track of the awful fire lies waste
$500, 900 to S700. 900 in valuable proper
ty while the insurance is about 5000, 900.
burned Itself Out.
The Are ragged until il could no longer
find food for Its rapacious nav and
burned itself out because 1t could pro-
ceed no further IN Its course of de-
structiou. The sight was In no sense
awe-inspiring but rather terribly dis
tracing and confusing. The excite
ment during the reign of the FIRE when
at its heigth was unrestrained and men,
women and children we're frenzIed with
fear that the whole town was doomed
e. destruction. Ii is impossible ut this
hour to give q compile list of the losses
or detailed account OF the progress of
the fire, The immediate cause of the
fire is veiled in mystery. Before IL
O'Clock tonight and while vet the ruins
were lighted up by the fitful blaze of oc-
caslonai bursts of fame more than
four-fifths of the owners had annouced
their intention of rebuilding at once
Work will be commenced bright and
early Monday morning. 1t is expected
that the court house Will be rebuilt at
OuCe