Telegram-herald., 1891-05-18
MUSHROOMS HOMELESS
Saturdays Fire sweeps Away the
shelter OF Scores.
IMPOSSIBLE 10 GIVE TIE LOSS
Bat IL Win Foot Up Close 70 oToo. 600
eassr work of the fiamss-Ihs
fxsaeipAi sansrsrs-Ths see1s
sr " asts Described.


undated fury the entire of Pine street
from Western-av. south, twelve solid
blocks Of business and residence prop
erty valued At several hundred thous-
and dollars, On Saturday evening. The
scene is one OF desolation and disaster
which language fails utterly TO portray
with half the vividness of reality.
Hundreds of people have been rendered
homeless and are wandering about
among the smoking debris eagerly look
ing for household effects only to find
them partially or wholly destroyed.
The best of order prevails and thous-
ands OF Mu.kegon citizens, as we'll rs
many from the outside towns, including
Grand Haven, Spring Lake and the
rural inhabitants Of the county have
tramped up and down Pine street from
daylight viewing the scenes OF wreck
and ruin wrought in a single night by
the ire fiend. Elegant mansions and
humble houses, Libraries and treasured
relics. the result Of years of toll and ac-
eumulatlon were licked up with appsr-
ent relish by the flames, which no power
but actual exhaustion could stay.
Curious Work OF the FIames-
As far as the eye could see, every
thing in the path of the fire was con-
sumed 10 the very earth, except on the
north side OF the street, where nearly q
dozen large ice houses stood, filled with
ice for summer use. To illustrate how
rapidly the ire did its work: The huge
buildings in which the ice was stored,
a. well as the surrounding buildings,
were all swept quickly away. leaving
huge towers of ice as nlgn as the tops
unharmed. while great vaults and hun
dreds of safes were burned and twisted
beyond use or identification. The Mus
kegon fire department, as well as our
own, did all in their power to check
the flames, but the strong wind from
the lake rendered their efforts unavail-
ing. The court house, which - located
IN the center of large square, was not
saved. but fire caught III the roof and
quickly consumed the entire structure,
but it ls Impossible at this writing to
know what condition the records are in,
as the fire is still burning about the
buildings. The valuable law library of
stroyed, and it is feared the court rec
ords. abstract books, ETC.. are also
burned.
Progress OF theoFiames.
The Muskegon Chronicle describes
the spread of the fire thus:
.Cone's blacksmith shop, corner Of
Pine and Webster, went like bonfire,
and the shops and saloons along to the
south followed in short order. People
were able TO get out most of their goods.
The large feed store corner of Pine and
Muskegon burned like wild fire and it
was a short Jump for the flames to get
10 work on the large frame building
across Muskegon-a to the south, oc-
cupied by saloon. The flames spread
IN rapid order along TO W. 4. Wood s
office, Eckermann's drug store and the
buildings along there. In less than fif-
teen minutes buildings IN more than a
dozen widely different places were
aolaze and at O'Clock the flames were
spreading beyond control. Herman
Langkawell ordered all his horses
brought out and with numerous drays
tenants in the various blocks and
houses began tumbling out their goods
and cartsng them Away. The fire de-
psrtment turned out IN full force and
attacked houses in every available
quarter, aud had partly succeeded in
saving some houses north of the fire
which were about TO catch. Hamblin's 8
blacksmith shop and barn was the first
To be consumed. The Langkawell barns
went aoout the same time. Ready
hands had all they could do TO get out
the horses and cattle confined IN these.
Gets Into the sawdust.
Approaching the sawdust numerous
little snsut:es were blazing. Among
them was Jennie Morgan's aud west of
hers were those owned by Henry
Luders, one being an ice house. The
inmates were fleeing "a if for life.
Other dwellings were those occupied by
Mate sharp, Frank Howard and others
not learned. BY O'Clock the fire was
still spreading rapidly and the wind
was stiff night out of the north. All
the buildings between Clay and Mus
kegon east of and along Pine were
sblaxe. The small house occupied by
Mrs. Bowen and next east of VI. Will
sons was badly afire. bat by hard work
and the use OF the chemical engine IL
was got under control. II was thought
at this time that NJ. Wilson'S house
could be saved. The frame building at
the southwest corner of Pine and Nus
kegon burned ike tinder box. The
cinders blew to neighboring buildings
to the south, spreading the flames as
they went. The heat was intense and
the huge flames rolled away to the
south. IL looked at 3:l5 as though all
the buildings between VI. Wilson ;
house and the court house on both sides
OF Pine we're doomed.
Pespae Pssle stricken.
IN was thought the fire could be kept
from crossing Clsy-ave. to the nortn.
wh,Ie the buildings were not costly
they were still fairy good and were
stored with valuable goods. The work
az fighting the fire by the ire depart
meut was being confined mostly 20 the
houses along Pine. IL some large
frame buildings could have been torn
ar blown down N time there might
have been hone OF stopping the work
of destruction at Webster or MuskegOu-
ave. Every condition vas IN favor OF a
tremendous fire. The buildings mostly
frame and as dry "a powder, tile wind
s.,tf ost OF the north. and the flames
ga,uinr a tremendous start ~ large
barn, All worked together 20 spread the
s~esp Of destruction The IRE depart
rens vas utterly unable to check The
ADVANCE. We can not sse rat tiist the
Department wss well handled and
ev~rv man DID bis work toe best ne
could. Fate vas against them. iAtfir
could b. dore bat work 30 check snd
delay the fsnles.
Express snd drsy vasons from Al