Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1892-07-30
BAY CITY BLAZE.
Disastrous COnhagration In the Michlgan
Lumber City, - Thirty Blocks Burned

Disastrous Conhagration In the Michigan
Lumber City - Thirty Blocks Burned
Over-Several Victims TO the Flames.
BAY CITY, Mich, July o6.-The great
est conhagration which ever visited
this city broke out at o'clock yester-
day afternoon in the lumber manufac-
turing establishment of Miller IL Turn
err, situated ON the west side of Water
street ut the foot of Twenty-ninth
street A brisk wind was blowing ut
the time, which famed the flames into
q roaring conaagration and swept
across Water street into the settled dis
trict The east side of Water street.
where the fire crossed, was built up
with stores, hotels and restaurants.
Nearly all the buildings were con-
structed of wood and burned like tin
der The wind increased as the flames
progressed, and in an hour the fire had
consumed Miller g. Turner's entire
plant, comprising a saw mill, salt
blocks, dry kilns and large quantity
of lumber.
The flames had also travelled three
blocks eastward, cutting a swath two
blocks wide. At this point the path of
the conflagration broadened and block
after block was swept over with aston
ishing rapidity. Thousands of men,
women and children rushed about oil
engaged in removing furniture and
other household effects from before the
advancing flames. Every vehicle adapt
ed to the purpose was on the ground
At o'clock about thirty blocks had
been burned over, while twenty more
were supplying fresh fuel to the devonr-
ing 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 IN
engine and quantity of hose. Nearly
all of West Bay City's equipage came
to the scene of the disaster and lent
such assistance Us lay in the power of the
fremen, but with hundreds of streams
playing on the fire, the flames pursued
their course, licking up house after
house until at o'clock upwards of 800
had been destroyed and the
was still sweeping toward
the eastern limits of the city. While
the majority of the buildings burned
belonged to the working people many
fine residences have been consumed.
Two churches. four hotels and about
forty stores of all varieties are included
among structures which have contrib
uted fuel to to the flames.
At Up. m. many rumors were afioat
people who had persisted.
So far as it is positively known. only
one death has occurred, that of wom-
IN whose name it was impossible to
learn last night. She lay sick in one
Of the houses which was destroyed. Be-
fore assistance could reach her, the
dwelling was a seething mass of fire
and the poor creature had to be left to
her fate. 1t was reported also that two
children were burned to death, but the
story lacks confirmation.
BY midnight the fire was under con-
tvol, but at this hour, 1880 a. m. it is
still burning. Owing to the lateness OF
the hour and the great confusion and
excitement consequent upon the fire it
Is impossible to state correctly the
amount of the damage. 1t is, however.
estimated anywhere from $1,000,000 to
b, 500, 900.