St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-07-26
Bay City, Michigan, Suffers
From a Confiagration of
Vast Extent.
a District Comprising Thirty
Blocks Burned Over in
Short Order.
Two Hundred and Fifty Build
ings Laid in Ashes by the
Fire Fiend.
Losses on Burned Property
Figured at Upward of ST.
100000.

BAY CITY. Mich, July 25.-The great
est confiagration which ever visited
Bay City broke out at o'clock this aft
ernoOn in the lumber manufacturing es-
tabliShment of Miller & Turner. situat-
ed on west side Water street, at the
foot of Twenty-ninth street. y brisk
wind was blowing at the time. which
famed the flames into roaring con-
fagraton, and swept them across Water
street into the settled district.
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
IL Turner's entire plant, comprising
saw mill, salt blocks, dry kilns and a
large quantity of lumber.
Widening Its Path.
The flames had also travelled three
blocks to eastward, cutting a swath two
blocks wide. At this point the path of
contlagratlOn broadened and block after
block was swept over with astonishing
rapidlty. The scenes which ensued
beggar description. Thousands of
men, women and children rushed
about all engaged in removing
furniture and other household effects
lNnfA
Every vehicle in the city adapted to the
purpose @aS on the ground, and, as is
always the case at such times, the
owners charged fabulous prices for serV-
ices.
At o'clock about thirty blocks had
been burned over, while twenty more
were supplying fresh fuel to the devour-
ing element. When the chief of the
fire department first realized the extent
of the danger he telegraphed to Sagi-
nav, Flint and Detroit for assistance.
Saginaw and Flint responded. each
city sending an engine and quantity of
hose. Nearly all of West Bay City's
eQuippage came to the scene of the dis
aSter and lent such assistance as lay in
the power of the firemen. But with
Hundreds of Streams
playing Oh the fire the flames pursued
their course, licking up house after
house, until at O'Clock upward of 800
dwellings had been destroyed and
the contiagration was still sweep
ing towards the eastern linn
its of the city. While the major
ity of the buildings burned belonged to
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 contributed fuel to the
flames.
at p. m. many rumors are afloat
concerning people who have perished.
So far as it is positively known only one
death has occurred. that of a woman
whose name it is impossible to
learn tonight. She lay sick in one of
the houses which was DESTROYED.
Before assistance could reach her the
dwelling was seething mass of fire
and the poor creature had to be left to
her fate. 1t is reported also that two
children were burned to death, but the
story lacks confirmation.
Miller & Turner, on whose premises
the fire started, lost about SI5o,OOO,
mostly covered bv insurance. The en-
tire loss will reach upwards of 81, ,OOO,-
OC0 but is impossible to learn tonight
the extent to which different parties
are insured.
BY midnight the fire was under con-
trol, but at this hour q 80 a. m it is
Still burning.
A Perfect Sea of Fire.
DETROIT, Mich. July 25.-A special
dispatch to the Free Press from Bav
City says: Thirty blocks were laid bare
and $50 buildings were destroyed by a
fire started in pile of lumber
on the dock of Miller & Turner's
saw mill at o'clock this after
noon. The fire covered the territory
from the river on Thirty-third. McCor-
mick, north to Thirty first. east to Ma
roac, north to Thirtieth, east to Broad
way: north to Fremont, east to Stanton,
north block and Il half and west to
the river. There was a terrific wind
from the southwest prevailing, and in
two minutes ten piles of lumber were
ablaZe.
Ar alarm was turned n,then second
and third. and help was summoned
from West Bay City, Saginaw and
Flint. A great cyclone of smoke and
cnders rose and swept across Harrison
street. In fifteen minutes the entire
row of frame buildings on Har-
Ilson street, from Twenty-third to
Thirteenth; four blocks. were
ablaZe. 1t is impossible TO
accurately tc describe the scene. Fire
companies no sooner laid hose on Har-
rlson street before they were obliged to
run for their lives, leaving the hose ex-
posed to the heat and flames. Long
charred and burning boards were lifted
up bodily by the wind, carried to the
height of 200 feet, whsled around like
feathers, and where they fell
Another Fire Sprang Up
Immediately. From the Harrison the
fire worked back to Polk, then to Tav-
lor, then to Webster, then Mccormick
and MarSac streets. sweeping every
thing before it. The latter streets were
occupied by residences, some of the
poorest class, and they were obliged to
flee to places of safety. The sun looked
like huge ball of fire through the black
clouds of smoke and was often hidden
entirely from view. Telephone wires
were burned and communication with
Tue lower part of the city was cut off
messengers were then Sent and every
available dray, van or vehicle was ush-
cred Into service, carrying household
goods TO vacant premises out of range
OF the devouring element. The wiEd
increased and howled as the flames
Ieaped from one building to another.