The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1898-12-03

TOTALLY DESTROYED
Franklin Stamp Mill at Hancock
Consumed by Fire Sun
day Night.
A LACK OF FACILITIES
For Fighting Fire Responsible
for a Considerable Portion
of the Loss.
A LACK OF FACILITIES

! Between 1890 aud ! o'clock Sun
day evening fire broke out in the
Franklin stampmll at the Ripley,
| near Hancock, and what was once
an imposing structure two hours
later was nothing but heap of
smoldering ashes. At the time the
fire broke out there was no zone
about the building but tac night
watchman and firemen, and the mill
was not in operation. The fire was
first noticed i6 thr northeast end of
the building over the boiler room.
But when Superintendent W@rrcn,
1 who lives short distance from the
mill, and who was one Of the first on
| the scene, arrived, the fire had brok-
en- out in the ;wcst end of the build
ing, where the No rock crushcr
stood, He Immediately rushed
around to the engine room and blew
! the tire whistle which gave the alarm
and a few minutes later large num-
brrs of people were seen running to
| the scene OF the fire. BY this time
the fire had gained great Roadway
and the entire structure, which was
a large one, was completely cnvelop-
ed with flames.
IAc ann was equipped with a hose
| and Il hydrant, but as the mill was
tightly locked NJ and the fire had
gained such Roadway the hose could
not be gotten out. Some twenty
minutes a Ter the alarm was given.
MesSrS. ClcaveS, of the Portage
| play ing on the fire. the line of hose
running from the foundry. Here
there was not much pressure aud
the Onst that could be done with it
was to save the frame structure on
the east end, in which stands the
sand pump and also small black
| smith shop which stood TO the north
| had caught fire from the intense
| heat
oJuir th'rty.6vc minutes after the
( aIuTm was given the Hancock fire
| department with steamer pat in
iar appearance, but as there were no
! facilities there for working the en-
| giHe it was impossible to do any
thing 70 stop th" FIRE aud they to-
gether with hundreds of spectasors
| ODD around and sdN the mill rapid
ly consumed without being able to
raise hand to stop the contlaSra
tion.
How the fire started seems TO be a
mystery The mill was lighted by
large oll lamps and it is supposed by
some that it started by an explosion
of one of these. What the actual
loss will be to the company by fire
will amount up in the thousands,
which fortunately is fully covered
10y insurance. The greater loss.
however, will be in the closing down
of the mine. Fortunately no wind
was blowing at the time, or other
! buildings would also have been de-
stroyed.
A new mill is in course of con
| struction at Crosse Point, but this
will not be ready for use, even
should the work be hustled along,
before six months have passed.
There being no stamping facilities.
the result will be one of two things,
the mine will be closed down until
the new mill is ready for use or it
will be kept going and the rock put
in stockpiles, but it is thought the
former will be decided on by the
management. Should the mine close
down several hundred men will be
thrown out OF employment, which,
with winter coming on, is anything
but bright outlook for them.
The old stamp mill was erected
during the reign of Charles A..
Palmer in 1858, but the machinery
was not put in until 1860 The mill
at that time was small affair, but
from time to time additions bad
been built onto it as the growth of
the mine required. It's loss is a
severe one to the company and
means the closing down of the NINE
for not less than six months. .-Calu-
met Evening News.