The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-08-27
DESTRUCTION COMPLETE.
Almost Nothing Left of the Town of
OntonagOn.

a sognnttcnn n age p,aos Assis
HOUGHTON, Mich, Aug 26-Par-
ticulars are now obtainable of the fire
which destroyed .Ontonagon. The fire
originated in swamp just south of the
Diamond Match Cos. mills. A forty
mile gale swept the flames before it,
and the planning mill, box factory and
immense dry kilnS of the match COM
pany were soon mass OF ashes. The
flames then descended on the business
ard residence quarter of the city and
finally lodged in 81, 900, 900 feet of sawed
lumber, on the docks. The destruc-
ton of the village was complete, bare
ly dozen houses in the suburbs re-
naming standing. The onslaught of
the flames was so sudden that barely
one in twenty succeeded in saving any
of their effects. The heat from the
burning mills and lumber was so in
tense that the people were compelled
to seek shelter under trees and drift
wood along the lake shore. Many
walked to Rockland fifteen miles
away. There are about 1900 men,
women and children without food or
shelter Many are ipsufficiently clothed
and they suffered severely last night.
The Diamond Match Co., lost two
fine saw mills, having a daily capacity
of 100000 feet, and other mills and
and lumber worth nearly 81 100000 In
surance to the extent of, s$75Q, 600 was
carried with the Flescheim agency, of
Menominie, and the Douglass & Van
Orden agencies at Houghton. The loss
on the balance of the village will foot
UP about $4,000, 900. with $500 900 .insur-
ance. The fire is still burning in the
lumber piles and it is impossible to
go among the ruins. Houghton and
otsr Scsx ~ Il
clothing. Money is needed badly.
From Green Bay, Wisconsin, a car
load of provisions, clothing and tents
was sent to OntonagOn this morning.
Supt Minturn has sent a request to all
Northern cities asking aid. The road
will transport everything quickly and
without charge. ....s.. -, o.,..
Advices received by railroad officials
from stations withinlsa few miles Of
Ontonagon are to the effect that only
Is houses are left standing, but that
no lives were lost. Fifteen hundred
people are homeless at Rockland, and
other places in the vicinity of sOntona-
gon, to which the inhabitants fed last
night. Relief measures are already I'M
derway. The Chicago, Milwaukee &
St Paul railroad had car loaded with
provisions this morning and succeeded
in running it over the warped rails to
within quarter of mile of Ontona-
gon. These provisions will suffice to
feed the people today, but they are
without shelter and would be in a pitt
full plight in case of storm Other cars
or provisions, are on their way from
Marinette, Green Bay and Milwaukee.
The state of Michigan will send a
quantity of militia tents for the people
Besides the Diamond Match COM
pany other large losers are:
Sargent, DOnnings & Gilkey of OcOntO
lumber, loss 800 00O Louis Reidenger of
Marquette, lumber dock, $25, 900, and
match company. Other large losers are:
James Norton, lumber on dock, 100000 D. j.
Norton, Of Ewing lumber on dock, $40, 600;
William McFarlan, of Bruce's Crossing, lum-
Der on dock, $4,000; Lowe house four-story
hotel SO 600; Centennial hotel, $1,000; Paul
house, $1,000; John Hawley's big store, total
loss $4,000; Bank Of Ontonagon, 1000; Chi
cago. Milwaukee & st. Paul depot, postofice,
court house, jail and schoolhouse, $50 GOO;
James MERGERS large warehouse, dock and
coal sheds, $4,000; government breakwater
and water works; five hundred residences.