The Red Cloud chief., 1892-08-05
A CITY BLAZE.
Disastrous Confag grafton In the MichiEss
Lumber City - Thirty Blocks Burned

Disastrous Confagratiop In the MichiKau
Lumber City - Thirty Blocks Burned
Over Several Victims 20 the Flames.
BAY CRY, Mich, July 26-The great
est connagration which ever visited
this city broke out at . o'clock ycster-
day afternoon in the lumber manufac-
turing establishment Of Miller & Turn
err, situated on the west side of Water
street Mt the foot OF Twenty-ninth
street. A brisk wind was blowing ut
the time, which famed the flames into
a roaring conilagration 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-
structcd of wood and burned like tin
der. The wind increased as the flames
progre 'sed, and In an hour the fire had
consumed Miller Sc Turner's entire
plant, comprising a saw mill, salt
blocks, dry kilns and u large quantity
of lumber.
The flames had also travelled three
blocks eastward, cutting u swath two
blocks wide. At this point the path Of
the confiagration b%roadened and block
after block was swept over with aston
ishing rapidity. Thousands of men,
women and children rushed about all
engaged in removing furniture and
other household effects from before the
advancing flames. Every vehicle adapt
cd to the purpose was on the ground.
At 8 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 Saginaw, 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 equipage came
to the scene of the disaster and lent
such assistance as lay In the power Of the
firemen, but with hundreds of streams
playing on the fire, the flames pursued
their course, licking up house after
house until at 8 o'clock upwards of 800
dwellings had been destroyed ana the
conflagration 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 0 p. m. many rumors were afoat
concerning people who had persisted.
So far as it is positively known, only
one death has occurred, that Of a wom-
an whose name 1t 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 n 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-
troll, but Mt 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 81, 600, 900 to
OF KIM mn