The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1894-08-04
Start OF the Fire


The fire began in pile of shavings
In a shed which stood on the north
east corner of the slip which extends
north into s. X. Martins yards. A
watchman saw the little blaze, which
sprung into a bonfire while he was
looking at it. At the time brisk
wind was blowing from the west,
and the watchman turned in an
alarm. Before he had returned
the little bonfire had grown to q
dangerous blaze, the wind had in
creased to gale which came ahead OF
the storm, and an hour later lumber
was blazing east of Ashland avenue
almost half q mile away from the
starting point The slips which come
out Of the river were SPAWNED by the
bridges Of fire, and when the general
alarm was turned in the confagration
was acres in area. It's light illumi-
mated the high buildings In the bust
ness center miles to the northeast
An Army of Firemen.
The first alarm was followed almost
immediately by second and third calls,
and when the fire 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 out, the fremen
sent in call after call for addi-
tional apparatus until there were forty
eight engines and two freboats play
ing their streams upon the fire, at
lacking it from every point of vantage.
These engines were supplemented by
Ave trucks and five chemical engines.
Chief Swenie was early on the scene
and took charge Of the battle against
the hameA He was assisted by the
first and third assistant marshals and
four battalion chiefs. The fire at
tracted the usual crowd Of spectators.
The streets in the vicinity were
crowded.
Flames sweep Over Lumber.
The immense yard of &. X. Martin 4
Co., extending half a block on each
aide Of Lincoln street from Blue Island
TO the river, was soon q roaring fur
mace Of flame and the fire was eating
its way through the yards of Perley,
Lowe & Co., adjoining s. X. Martin on
the east. Each Of these yards were
estimated to contain from 25, ZOO, 900 to
SO, 0o0, 900 feet Of lumber, besides many
thousand shingles and cedar posts.
The plant Of the Wells q French Car
company. employing 1900 men and ex-
tending from Blue Island to the river,
between Wood and Paulina streets,
was next attacked by the flames. The
flremen by hard work were able to
save portion Of the plant, but the
foundry, the main building of the
works, was destroyed.
Near the river, In q corner Of the
block occupied by the Wells & French
Car company, was situated the four
story brick plant of the Siemens-
Helske company, manufacturers of
dynamos and electric appliances. The
company furnished the electricity to
operate the Twenty-second street cleo
trio cars, and the destruction of the
plant will cripple that line until other
arrangements can be made for obtain
ing the necessary current.
Adjoining the property of the Wells
& French Car company were the yards
of Shoemaker. Higbee & Co., timber
dealers. The wind had veered and
seemed to be 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 g. Co., dealers in
cedar posts
1t was probably the hardest fire
which the firemen have had to fight in
Chicago for some time. Chief Swenie
said 1t was the largest FIRE of its kind
that he had ever fought. He gave
great praise to the work done by his
men and said they could not have dis
tinguished themselves better.
Engines Abandoned.
There were many thrilling escapes
and FIRE engines Nos. . and % were
abandoned because of the rapid ad-
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 d when sudden gust Of
wind seemed TO bear an avalanche of