The Detroit times., 1911-07-13
$4,000 Loss
IN EAST-sIDE FIRE
Blaze Starting in Boys Smoking
"ParlOr' Destroys Cigar Factory and
Several Homes on willis-Ave.

4 Many uNeb were onuhnbOASu am -
factory OF the Maaer Cigar Co. NOS
1913 aud 1876 willis-ave. east, together
with six dwellings on the same street,
between Bsanblen and St Antoine
SITS, were totally destroyed by a hre
which started in an unused barn la the
rear OF No. 1873 willis-ave. east. about
s o'clock, Wednesday night.
The total damage was $4,000. Hen
ry Mazer, president OF the Mazer Cigar
Co., estimates the company's loss at
$50, 600, fully insured. Six houses.
valued at $4,000 each. with furniture
worth $500 in each. were burned.
There were other minor losses in the
neighborhood. Insurance was carried
on almost all OF the property.
The barn in which the iire stated
has been used by boys as a smoking
den, and it Is thought that lighted
cigarette stub or burning match
kindled the flames. They broke out
so rapidly that, In a twinkling, the
whole building was roaring furnace.
The flames lighted up the blocks
around Willis-ave. yiyidly, and no less
than eight alarms were sent to head
quarters.
Those whose homes were destroyed
are: John Koslowski, No lS3 Willis
ave-; John Bodzikowski. frst floor,
and Joseph Cichowski, second floor,
No. 1876 Willis-aye: Frank Wilamow
ski. No. Isl Wiiffs-ave.; Anthony
Weregowski and Jacob Ostalicki. frst
floor. and Theodore Roddy, second
floor. No. 1s1 Willis-ave.: Henry
Sroczynski. first floor, and John Pan
ter. second floor. No. 1877 winis-ave.:
John Szupun. No. 1919 WiIlis-ave.
Nicholas Koening's barn, where the
fire started and which was burned TO
the ground, was empty and was said
TO be worth about $4,000. II was not
insured. Two other barns, owned by
John Kozlowski, No. 1873 Wilns-ave.
east, and several sheds, chicken coops
and other small structures, were
valued at about $1,000. The residence
OF Joseph Schaffran, No. 1879. was
burned on the west side and the roof
The home of William Gross. No. 1sl.
was only partially damaged.
A shed In the rear OF S12 Beaubien-
ST., containing fuel. belonging TO Mrs
Mary Wilson, was completely destroy
ed Edward Garner. and william
Thomas, living at No. S14 Beaubien-
st., also lost some fuel and old clothes
which were In the shed at the rear or
the premises. Mrs. A. Bernard lost
two stoves valued at $50 in the shack
at the rear OF her dwehing. No. SIC
Beaubien-st.
glare brought thousands OF spectators
They crowded into the street and
hindered the firemen until forced back
by the police. Hundreds or automo-
biles filed the streets near the scene
OF the disaster.
The families whose homes were
burning were panic-stricken. Some OF
them, thinking that loved ones were
In the buildings, fought with the DO
lice to get into them. Women ran
wildly about, crying for their chill
dren, or fmploring the firemen TO save
some sacred relic from the fire. A lit
tie girl staggered under the weight OF
a holy picture she had saved. A littt
his arms around his pet dog.
Tony Weregowsld, No. I91 Willis
ave-, forced his way through the lines
into his burning home to save
crucifix he had brought from Poland.
He was stopped at the threshold and
dragged back, sobbing and cursing.
Mrs. z. A. Price, No. SIS Beaubien-
St, tainted when sheds I'm the rear or
her home caught fire. She was cared
for by neighbors.
Battalion Chief McGinnity, while
fighting the flames, fell into cellar
way. After being rescued by some or
his men, he went to work again.
Frank Wilamowski, No. 1877 Willis
ave., had as his guest, at the time OF
the fire, an aged relative. The old
man was found I'm the rear OF the viii
amowsh home dazed aud apparently
unaware Of his danger, sitting calmly
on dry goods box.
Nearly all the occupants OF the
houses were enjoying the evening on
their porches. when the fire broke
out Had II occurred a few hours
later there would undoubtedly have
been a great loss Of life.
Low water pressure handicapped the
ire lighters at first, but when the en-
gines had been working a short time
the pressure improved. The telephone
companies suffered considerable dam
age, but started work Immediately to
"a T.. III -