Huntsville gazette., 1892-07-30
AWFUL CONFEDERATION


Thirty Blocks of Buildings Destroyed by
Fire at Bay City. Mieh.-Most- of the
Houses Consumed the Homes of Poor
People-Two Churches and Number OF
stores Go Down-At Least One Human
Life Lost-The Loss Estimated at Fully
Million Dollars.
BAY CITY, Mich, July 26.-Monday
afternoon at 2 o'clock fire broke out in
the lumber manufacturing establish
ment of Miller & Turner, on the west
side of Water street, at the foot of
Twenty y-ninth. A brisk west wind
sent the flames across Water street 70
the east side, which is principally built
up with stores, hotels and restaurants
most of which are of wood. -s,sss
Within an hour Miller & Turner's
entire plant had been consumed The
fire had also travelled eastward three
blocks, cutting a swath two blocks
wide. At this point the path of the
confiagration broadened, and block
after block was swept over with terri
BILE rapidity.
Flint, Saginaw and Detroit were tel
egraphed to for assistance, and Saginaw
and Flint responded, each sending an
engine and quantities of hose. Blu t
the flames continued to spread in spite
of the efforts of the firemen, and at s
o'clock at night more than 500 build
ings had been destroyed, while the
confagration was still sweeping toward
the eastern limits Of the city.
Most of the buildings destroyed were
the dwellings of poor people. Many
rumors are afoat as to the number of
persons who have perished, but so far
only one fatality is positively known.
A woman was sick in one of the houses
and perished before help could reach
her. -
The entire loss will reach 81, 900, 600,
but nothing as to the insurance can be
learned thus far.
The fire covered the territory from
the river on Thirty-third street to Me-
Cormick; north to Thirty-first; cast to
Marsac; north to Thirtieth; east to
Broadway; north to Fremont; east to
Stanton: north block and half and
west to the river, thirty blocks in all.
A terrific wind from the southwest pre-
vailed.
frame buildings on Harrison street,
from Thirty third to Thirtieth, four
blocks, were ablaze. Fire companies
no sooner laid hose on Harrison street
than they were obliged to run for their
lives, leaving the hose exposed to the
heat and flames.
Long charred and burning boards
were lifted up bodily by the wind, car
ried to a height of 200 feet, whirled
around like feathers and lodged where
another fire sprang up Immediately.
From Harrison st rect the fire worked
back to Polk, then to Taylor, then to
Webster, to Mccormick and Marsac
streets, sweeping everything before it.
The latter streets were occupied by
residences, some of them of the poorer
class and the occupants were obliged to
fee to places Of safety.
The sun looked like huge ball Of
fire through the black clouds Of smoke,
and was often hidden entirely from
view.
Telephone wires were burned down
and communication with the lower
part of the city was cut off. Messen-
gers were then sent, and every availa-
bic dray. van or other vehicle was
ushered into service, carrying house
hold goods to vacant premises out of
range of the devouring element.
The Baptist and Methodist churches
on Fremont avenue were not spared,
and they helped spread the blazing cy-
clone
"Where will 1t end?" asked all, and
none ventured an answer
The course was right to sweep away
the whole city. Women ran shrieking
through smoke and fire, and half suffo-
Gated children clung to their dresses.
There was no cessation of the shower
of cinders and sparks. Poor people saw
their homes burning before their eyes,
but were helpless to do anything to
save them.