Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-11-23
WENT UP IN SMOKE
Many Springfield. Mass Business
Blocks Destroyed BY Fire
CAUSING A s2,oOo,ooo Loss


SPRIzoyTKLD Maas. Nov. 2-Ihe
nost destructive fire this city has known
for years started shortly after midnight
10 the block owned BY J. X Dexter and
Henry s. Dickinson. and was net
checked until o'clock this mornine.
when IL wss estimated that the total
los would reach e2o0c.oo0. The flames
when discovered had gained considerable
hesdway. from the fact that the IRE
seems TO have started In the center of
the building some time before IL ap-
peared on the outside Of the block The
flames soon spread beyond the control
OF the firemen. John Doolan's building.
next 10 the Dickinson block. went next.
and then the Mayo block. The Able
block was then attacked and the Hotel
Glendcwer was soon completely sur
rounded by fire and speedily caught
The hotel burned rapidly. and at a N
it's walls fell The guests long before
had packed their baggage and left the
building. The attention OF the depart
ment was then turned TO saving the
Fuller block.
Fire Iraped Across the Street
While the fire was at its height the
fronts OF the Able and Worthy blocks
fell and the flames seemed 20 leap
across the street. but fortunately the
blocks opposite were low and exposed
little surface. The upper floor on the
Wight block across Worthington street
TO the north. just in the rear OF the
Union editorial rooms. was a roaring
furnace. The corner OF the Union block
took fire about $50 o'clock and the tire.
men were driven BY the flames from tho
roof. AS the flames crept out OF the
windows u the Giendower hotel on Main
street Mt 4 o'clock, having swept through
the whole interior. the scene on Nam
street was wild and fantasticaIly lurid.
The front OF Abbe's block looked like n
sort OF lattice-work. high and immov-
able, yet so f-ail that breath, as IL
seemed. would topple IL over into the
street Behind this lattice OF brown.
stone ragged the fiery furnace. pouring
up to the heavens in a colossal burst of
heat and flame.
Cinderr Set Another Fire.
With tremendous energy the vast
blaze was driven out the front windows
OF the three upper stories OF the Glen
dover. The cloud OF burning cinders
sweeping TO the west caught house on
Bridge street. necessitating the divert
ing Of line OF hose from the main con-
iiagration- Many thought that the Van
Norman studio was in for another ex-
perience such as that which il had
short time ago. for the low. fiat roof was
smoking and steaming- The waves Of
flame from the Glendoger spread TO the
Wight block on Worthington street aud
in q short time 1t was in ruins The
.Glcndower meanwhile had been de
stroyed and when the wall fell Chief
Leshure was struck on the head by
falling missile. but was not injured seri-
ously enough to take away his courage.
No one else was found to have been hurt
some OF the Heavy Losses.
The loss Of James McKeon & Go. il
placed at 10000. insured for two-thirds
OF its value. A. ~ Mayo places the loss
OF his block at 81. 900. fully insured. S.
&. Warmer. the insurance agent said
he had put insurance on the City
National bank for $1,000 and on the
Barnett Cigar manufactory for $4,000.
tits reported that M. ii. Barnett had
10000 cigars stored In the Able build
ing. The fire in this block swept
through from the rear as soon az the
falling walls OF the Mayo block had
given entrance. and Mr.. Barnett's store
was the first one gutted. He received
sufficient warning. however. to remove q
quantity of the stock. Two companies
came from Worcester at $50 o'clock
The first block attacked was mainly
occupied by the Leonard agricultural
establishment Ii. together with the
adjoining building. was entirely de-
stroyed. entailing loss OF $4,000. The
fire next destroyed the Webber block
and then spread to the Able block. both
Of which were totally destroyed. In all.
seven blocks were burned. The Wight
block was partially burned and the con.
tents Of the buildings considerably dam
aged. The police claim that the FIRE
was OF incendiary origin. They prom.
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