Los Angeles herald., 1892-07-27
THE BAY CITY CONFEDERATION.
Forty Blocks Swept Clean by
the Flames.
Hundreds Of Workingmen Rendered
Homeless.
The Very Sites Occupied by the uild
ings Burned-The Loss Estimated
at $1,000, ,OOO--At Least
One Life Lost.
By the Associated Press. !

BAY CIrr, Mich, July 26.-The terri
BILE fire which started yesterday after
noon continued to rage all night, and
the sun rose this morning on a field of
ashes extending over forty blocks, 1t is
estimated that over hundred build
ings occupied by factories, dwellings
and stores, burned. The FIRE cut o
swath six blocks wide from the river
almost to the city limits, distance of
nine blocks, sweeping everything before
it, and only stopping when there was
nothing to feed on, the houses becom-
ing scattered. The loss ia estimated at
81 100000.
A fierce wind was blowing from the
southwest when the flames started in
Miller & Turner's saw mill. Burning
boards were carried 200 feet in the air,
and where they were dropped started
new confagration. The tiremen were
utterly unable to control the flames. The
progress of the fire was through Sec
ton largely occupied by the homes of
laboring men. They were compelled to
abandon everything and are now hud-
died in temporary quarters without
possession in the world and nothing to
eat. The progress OF the fire was SO
swift even that some of the wagons and
drays hauling away household goods
were overtaken and burned in the
streets.
The fremen finally attempted to
make stand several blocks away, but
the cyclone of fire swept down on them,
and was soon blazing thirteen blocks
from the point of starting. here the
wind began to die down, and the fire.
men began to get the mastery. The
| fire was not under control until 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 their sites
also.
A number of arrests were made of
thieves stealing household goods.
This morning there were several ru-
mora of loss of life, but it is only pos-
itively known that one unknown woman
was burned to death.
Most of the business places burned
had small stocks, ranging from 5000 to
$4,000.
Miller Co. lost s 600, 900 feet of lum-
| Der, WOrLn TOV,UUU.
One of the great spreaders of the con-
fagration was slabs piled on vacant lots
among dwellings. 1t is estimated that
4o00 cords were destroyed.
| After the adjournment of the common
council last night, number of wealthy
citizens subscribed several hundred dol
lars for the temporary relief of the fam
lilies whose homes were destroyed. The
committee after purchasing the stock of
several restaurants, proceeded to the
camp of the homeless, with couple
dray loads OF provisions. The eatables
were apportioned among the sufferers,
and at midnight, in the glare of the
| flames, nearly one thousand people par
took Of the first food they had tasted
since their MONDAY meal. The bedding
saved was arranged on the sod and al
lotted to the women and children.
| Never did fire do cleaner work than
this one. Within the burned locality
not house is left standing, while every
shade tree is stripped of it's foliage and
| left bare.
While the confagration is serious
blow to the city, and will occasion much
suffering, the idea that the city lies in
ashes is a mistaken one. The principal
business portion lies over two miles from
the burned district, and remains intact.
1t is the poorer class who will suffer
most, and much money, food and cloth
ing will be required to provide for their
immediate and future want.
The first fatality positively known of
was the discovery of the remains of
Jesse Miller in the ruins of his residence.
Lying close by the remains were several
gold coins. 1t ia supposed that he ar-
rived at his home to find it in flames,
and rushing inside to secure his gold,
was overcome by the heat and smoke.