The record-union., 1892-07-27
BAY CITY FIRE,
HUNDREDS OF POOR PEOPLE
RENDERED HOMELESS.
Money, Food and Clothing Needed
Only One Life known to
Have Been Lost.
Special to the REcoRD-UN1oN.

Special to the RECoRD-UNIoN.
BAY CITY (Micll.), July 26.-The terri
bic fire which started yesterday afternoon
continued to rage all night, and the sun
rose this morning on field of ashes ex-
tending over forty blocks. II is esti-
mated that over 100 buildings, occupied
as factories. storessand dwellings,, are in
ruins. The fire burned a swath of six
blocks wide from the river almost to the
city limits, distance of nine blocks,
sweeping everything in it's path and only
stopped when it had nothing to feed on,
the houses having become scattering
The loss is estimated at 81, 100000. A
terrific wind was blowing from the south
west when the flames started in Miller d
Turner's sawmill. The burning boards
were carried 200 feet in the air and where
ever dropped started new conflagration.
The iremen were utterly unable to cope
with it and were driven quickly from
point to point. The progress of the fire
was through the section largely occupied
by the homes of laboring men. They
were compelled to abandon everything
and are now hUddled in temporary GUAR
ters without the possession Of anything
in the world and nothing to eat.
The progress OF the fire was so swift
that even some wagons and draws hauling
away household goods were overtaken
and burned in the streets. The firemen
finally attempted to make a stand several
blocks away, but the cyclone of fire
swept down on them, and soon there
We're buildings blazing thirteen blocks
from the point of starting. Here the
wind began TO die down, and the firemen
finally began to get the mastery. The
fire was not under control till midnight.
Many houses in the burned section
were built upon ground made from the
refuse of the mills, and not only were
the buildings consumed, but the sites
also.
A number of arrests were made of
thieves stealing household goods
Most OF the business places burned had
small stocks, ranging from 500 to SIC, 0OO
Miller d Co. lost 5000, 600 feet of lumber.
worth 100000.
One great cause for the spreading of
the conhagration were the Stats that were
piled on vacant lots among the dwellings.
1t is estimated that four thousand cords
We're destroyed.
After the adjournment OF the Common
Council last night number of wealthy
citizens subscribed several hundred dol
/ lars for temporary relief of families whose
homes We're destroyed. The committee,
after purchasing the stock Of several res
taurants, proceeded to the camp of the
| homeless with couple of drayloads of
/ provisions. The eatables were appor-
| toned among the sufferers, and at mid
night. III the glare OF the flames, nearly
one thousand people partook of the first
food they had tasted since their noon-day
meal. The bedding saved was arranged
on the sod and allotted to the women.
aNever did fire do1cleaner work than
this one. Within the burned locality not
a house was left standing, while every
shade tree was stripped of foliage and left
bare.
While the confiagration was a serious
| blow to the city, and the occasion of
much suffering, the idea that the city lies
in ashes is a mistaken one. The princi-
pal business portion lies over two miles
nom the burned district and remains in
tact. 1t is the poorer class who will
suffer most, and much money, food and
clothing will be required to provide for
| their immediate and future wants.
The first fatality positively known of
was discovered. tbs remains of Jesse
Miller, being found in the ruins of his
residence. Lying close by the remains
were several gold coins. 1t is supposed
that he arrived at his home to find it in
flames, and rushing inside to secure his
gold was overcome by heat and smoke.