Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-07-26
MILLIONS IN SMOKE.
Three Hundred H0nses Burned in
Bay City, Michigan.
THOUSANDS RENDERED HOMELESS
By Flames that Defy all Efforts to Stay
Their Progress.
FIERCE FIRE IN A NEW WISCONSIN CITY.

BAY CITY, MICH, July 25.-The great
est confagration that ever visited Bay City
broke out at 2 o'clock this afternoon in the
lumber manufacturing establishment of
Miller & Turner, situated on the west side
of Water street, at the foot of Twenty y-ninth
street. A brisk southwest wind was blow
ing at the time, which famed the flames
into roaring confagration and
swept them across Water street
into the settled districts. The
east side of Water street, where the fire
crossed, was built up with stores, hotels and
restaurants. Nearly all the buildings were
constructed of wood and burned like tinder.
The wind increased as the flames progressed
and in an hour the fire had consumed Miller
& Turner's entire plant, comprising saw
mill, salt blocks, dry kilns ard a large
quantity of lumber.
The flames had also travelled through
three blocks to the eastward, cutting a
swath two blocks wide. At this point the
path Of confagration broadened and block
after block was swept over with rapidity.
The scenes which ensued beggar descrip-
tion. Thousands of men, women and chill
dren rushed about all engaged in removing
furniture and other household effects from
before the advancing flames.
Over Thirty Blocks Burned.
Every vehicle in the city adapted to the
purpose was on the ground and as is always
the case at such times the owners charged
fabulous prices for services At 8 o'clock
about 80 blocks had been burned over while
20 more were supplying fresh fuel to the
devouring element.
When the Chief of the Fire Department
first realized the extent of the danger he
telegraphed to Saginaw, Flint and Detroit
for assistance. Saginaw and Flint responded,
each city sending an engine and quantities
OF hose. Nearly all of West Bay City's
equippage came to the scene of the disaster
and lent such assistance as lay in the power
of the fremen. But with hundreds Of
streams playing on the fire, the flames pur-
sued their course, licking up house after
house.
Over Three Hundred Buildings Destroyed.
At o'clock upward of 300 buildings
had been destroyed and the confagration
was still sweeping toward the eastern
limits of the city. While the majority of
the buildings burned belonged to working
people, many fine residences have been con-
sumed. Two churches, four hotels and
about 40 stores of all varieties are included
among structures which have contributed
fuel to flames. -.
At this hour g P. ny many rumors are
afost concerning people who have perished.
So far as is positively known only one
death has occurred, that of = woman whose
name it is impossible to learn tonight. She
lay sick in one of the houses which was de-
stroyed. Before assistance could reach her
the dwelling was a seething mass of fire and
the poor creature had to be lett to her fate.
1t is also reported that two children were
burned to death, but the story lacks con-
frmation.
Miller & Turner. in whose premises the
fire started. lost about $3.50, 900, mostly COW
cred by insurance. The entire loss will
reach upward of 81, 200, 900, but it is impos-
sible to learn tonight the extent to which
different parties are insured.