The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1894-08-04

Total ....,,...,......,.. 81 ololVV
The FIRE began in pile OF shayings
in shed which stood on the north
east corner Of the slip which extends
north into S. X. Martins yards.
The first alarm was followed almost
Immediately by second and third calls,
and when the Are still increased in
velocity in its progress through the
dry lumber and resisted all the efforts
of the twenty engines which had
then been called ont, the firemen
sent in call after call for addi-
tional apparatus until there were forty
eight engines and two fireboats play
ing their streams upon the fire, at
lacking il from every point OF vantage.
These engines were supplemented by
five trucks and five chemical engines.
Chief Swenie was early on the scene
and took charge of the battle against
the flames lie was assisted by the
first and third assistant marshals and
four battalion chiefs. The fire at
tracted the usual crowd OF spectators.
The streets i'm the vicinity were
crowded.
The immense yard of S. X Martin g.
Co, extending half block on each
side of Lincoln street from Blue Island
TO the river, was soon "A roaring fur
mace OF flame and the fire was eating
its way through the yards OF Perley,
Lowe & Co. adjoining ). X. Martin on
the east Each OF these yards were
estimated to contain from $4,000, 600 TO
80, 900, 900 feet Of lumber, besides many
thousand shingles and cedar posts.
The plant OF the Wells & French Car
company. employing 1000 men and eX-
tending from Blue Island to the river,
between Wood and Paulina streets,
was next attacked by the flames. The
firemes by hard work were able To
save portion of the plant, but the
foundry, the main building OF the
works, was destroyed.
Adjoining the property OF the Wells
& French Car company were the yards
OF Shoemaker. Higbee q Co, timber
dealers. The wind had veered and
seemed 70 bc blowing when the flames
attacked this yard more to the south
toward the river The greater part of
the yard, however, was burned, as was
also that OF Conway 4 Co, dealers In
cedar posts.
There were many thrilling escapes
and fire engines Nos. 2 and 2S were
abandoned because OF the rapid adj
vance OF the fire, which drove the men
from their posts before they could
take their engines with them. The
two engines were at work between
slips and ID when a sudden gust OF
wind seemed 20 bear an avalanche of
flame down upon them and the men
had TO fly for their lives. All, how
ever. reached a place 81 safety. The
fire boats Yosemite and Geyser had
many narrow escapes while working
I'm the slips between the burning piles
of lumber.
At II o'clock, after burning for four
hours the FIRE was gotten under con
troll The Siemens-llalske company's
plant was considered one OF the most
important electrical manufactures in
the country. IL was built two years
ago and everything in IL was OF the
latest style and construction. IL was
the American works OF the big German
electric company which has large
factories at 81 Petersburg, Rus.
sia, Berlin. Charlottenburg and
Vein on the Rhine. The effects
OF the destruction OF this plant will be
widespread, for on the floor, almost
ready 10 be shipped, were two sSO, O0C
dynamos for the Toronto Cam street
railway, four 1000 horse generators
for the Metropolitan elevated road OF
Chicago and some dynamos for the
Dayton (O.l street railway Five large
stationary engines used for power and
two travelling electric cranes valued al
oar onn $500.