The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-07-27
BAY CITY'S FIERY SC0URGE
Scene0 DesOlation Among Citizens Who
Lost All in the Conflagration.
Three Hundred Families Fed at Midnight on
the commons--Total Loss More than
MilliOn-0ne Old Man Found Turned.

BAY CITY, Mich, July 26.-After tn adj
journment of the Common Council. last
evening. a number of wealthy citizens sub
scribed several hundred dollars for the
temporary relief of families whose homes
had been destroyed in the fires that swept
over forty blocks of business houses and
residences. committee was appointed TO
purchase and distribute PROVISIONS. They
immediately set to work and after pur-
chasing the stock Of several restaurants
proceeded TO the camp of the homeless
with a couple of dray loads of provisions
Eatables were apportioned among the suf-
ferers and at midnight in the glare OF
flames which lit the armament, nearly one
thousand people partook of the first food
they had tasted since they ate their noon
day meal.
The scene on the commons where the
people were huddled, guarding the few
personal effects they had saved, was one of
desolatIOn. Such bedding as had been pre-
served was arranged on the sod and allot-
tod to women who had infants to care
for. To the northward, extending
over half o mile, and from two to five
blocks wide. lay a waste of burning en-
bers whore less than twelve hours before
had stood hundreds OF happy homes. At
the break OF day the scene changed to one
OF activity. The men left the group and
proceeded to the ruins in q vain attempt to
recover property overlooked by the flames,
while women and children busted them
selves asserting furniture and securing
their personal effects from the general
mass. Never did fire do cleaner worb
than this one which swept through tho
city yesterday. Within the burned terri
tory not . house is loft standing.
1t will require several days TO ascertain
precisely. how many buildings were
consumed. The total loss is some
whore around 81 600. COO. This afternoon the
most conservative estimate places the num-
Der at $50. while many persons acquainted
with the situation claim that 1Illy 500
houses were destroyed. The loss at Miller
* Turner'S manufacturing plant will reach
500, 900. These figures include 10000 600
feet of lumber owned by Joseph Turner
sured for S95, 0C0. Albert Miller loses every
thing His fine residence, situated on Tblr-
tieth street, was reduced to ashes. Slower
Il Larkin, hard ware merchants. suffer to
A. II. Gould had a small hotel and five
dwellings burned; value. $1,000. George
Turner, 5. Boards. j. Kelly Thomas Reilly.
T. NJ. Whipple. I. ii: Mason. Arthur
+. Webb, Mrs. II. Narple: Mrs: : Jane Clarke
Duncan McGreggor, j. NJ. Miller William
Wright. Samuel Cussons. Adrew Mil
Ter. Mrs. Crompton; William vii.
lis. r; McLaughilp; James Stevenson.
Stanley. c. Hewitt aud Mrs. southworth,
twenty-six in all lose houses ranging in
value from $1,000 to $4,000. Nearly all of
these are ensured. The Baptist Church.
which was burned, was modest structure
In n
dist Church, 5000; insurance. $500. A.
II. Miller ~ Co, lumber dealers, loss S6),-
600; insurance, $4,000. The firm of Turner
& Miller lose $4,000; claim to be fully pro-
stroyed belonging to other parties. each of
which, with their furnishing, represented
1000. The majority OF the latter belonged
to Polish families. and, as far 40 can DO
learned, most OF them were injured. Hun.
dreds of families whose homes were not
destroyed suffer losses by reason of renov-
ing their furniture In anticipation OF being
burned out
AS always on such occasions. thieves were
about, ready to ply their nefarious calling
in the city lookup. mass-meetinE OF cit-
icons was called, and means will be devised
for affovdng permanent relief to the home
less. While the conhagration is q serious
blow to the city, and will occasion much
suffering, the idea that the city lies In
ashes is q mistaken one. Tho principal
business portion lies over two miles from
tho burned district. and remains intact
1t is the poorer class who will suffer most,
and much food. money and clothing will
be required.
The first fatality has just come to light
1t was learned this morning that Jesse NJ.
Miller, an old and respected citizen. was
missing. A search among the debris OF his
dwelling resulted in finding OF his teeth
and a few charred bopes. Lying close by
the remains were several gold coins. It's
supposed that he arrived 1T his home to find
IT III flames. and rushing inside To rescue his
gold. was overcome by heat and smoke.
Searching parties are going about at pres
that any more persons have persisted.
Koain and Oil Burned.
CINCINNATI, O.. July GA locomotive on
the switohing-tracks of the Cincinnati
Southern railroad. at Ludlow, KY, late
this afternoon, dropped few Goals of fire
on some powdered rosin on the track.
which at once 1gnited and soon set in flames
the stora &c warehouse of the Standard Oil
Company. One warehouse was q wooden
building, 900 feet long. and the other was
of brick. 100 feet long. Each was one story
high. As nearly as can be learned these
warehouses contained about $1,000 barrels
of rosin, 5000 barrels of turpeptine and
5000 barrels of benzine. In addition TO the
above. eight freight ears. two tanks of tnr-.
pentine and / 90 feet of the Cincinnati
Southern railroad siding were destroy ed.
The agent of the Standard OH Company
had the buildings INSURED for Sl4. 900. which
10 the only insurance as far as can be as
certained. The warehouses were
storing department for shipping purposes.
Two companies of the Cincinnati ire de-
-. II