The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1892-07-09
Rockland IN Ruins.

gon Herald the following particulars OF
the great Rockland fire are taken !:
The Fourth OF July, 1892, will be long
remembered by the people of our sister
town, Rockland. Yesterday, shortly
after dinner, smoke was discovered issu-
ing from the roof Of Mrs. August Preiss
building in that village and the people
who were left in town, (the greater
portion of the population having gone
outside to celebrate) rushed to the scene
and attempted to stop tie blaze in it's
incipiency. They were weak however,
the town being entirely without fire pro-
lection, and before they knew it the en-
tire building was enveloped in flames
and the fiery tongues were reaching out
for adjoining buildings. The little band
were plucky though, and fought hard,
but they were no match for the fire fiend
which was determined to wipe out the
best portion of the town in few hours.
When ii was seen that the fire was be-
yond control, dispatches were sent here
and to other towns to send home all
Rockland people to fight fire. News
reached here about B o'clock, but as the
three locomotives were at the other end
of the track, Ontonagon people were
powerless to assist the burning village,
smoke from which was plainly discer
nible. Many started in teams but ar-
rived there too late to be Of any assist
ance. Meanwhile the fire was continu-
ing its work of devastation and ruin.
The dry frame buildings made splendid
food for the fiery element which, in
few short hours leveled four blocks of
the business portion of the town. Luck
lily there was no wind blowing at time,
which the people may be thankful for.
Had there been, many lives would have
been lost for the people became panic
stricken, moving their goods into the
street only to be consumed by the fire
which had crossed the street and was
travelling north, consuming everything
before it. BY five o'clock the following
buildings with all their contents were
destroyed:
Mrs. August Preiss, dwelling house;
Simon Bahan, dwelling house; Joseph
Lambert, dwelling house; l.. Stannard,
two stores and warehouse; Il. d. Men
henet, dwelling house; James and VIM.
Holman, post Office and dwelling; Mrs.
Tobias Stevens, store building; r. Chy-
noweth, hotel; John Houle, saloon and
dwelling: Masonic building occupied by
r. Chynowoth g. Co. meat market;
August Gerblick. dwelling; Mrs. Chas.
Mueller, residence, store and barn;
Elfien homestead; Jacob Schmidliu,
shoe shop; James Jones and Frank
Cbynoweth lost household furniture.
On the above there is very little in
surance, Messrs. Stannard, Chynow-
eth, Houle and Mueller being the only
ones having insurance, aud they but
very little. When the Hearld represen-
tative visited the ruins last night, every
person was in such an excitab!e condi- |
ton, that it was hard to get an idea of
the loss, but it is safe to put it at 800,
900. l.. Stannard is probably the heav-
lest loser, his property being valued at
$4,000. Next comes r. Chynoweth,
G. Mueller and John Houle. Besides
the above list, the Masonic and Odd
Fellows halls with all their contents
were consumed.
Many people had narrow escapes but
fortunately there were no lives lost.
Thfse are however abo ut sixteen fami.
lies homeless without money, food or
clothing, and they must have relief and
that Immediately, therefore the Herald
proposes that Ontonagon people take
the initiative and announces that mass
meeting of our citizens will he held at
Corgan's hall tomorrow at 8 o'cloc k,
P. II. to devise means for the relief of
the sufferers of the Rockland fire.
Tdfn out everybody; these people must |
have assistance. Rockland citizens have
always been generous when called upon
in similar cases, and the opportunity is
nov afforded those towns which have
been recipients of the charity of it's cit !
izens to respond.