The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1914-05-09
TODAY IS L'ANSE'S
RED LETTER DAY.

Eighten years ago today the village
of L'Anse was visited by the most dis
astrous fire in its history. In COM
menting on Cthe conflagration The
SENTINEL of May 16, 1896, said:
Saturday last was the most unfor-
tunate day ever known in the history
of L'Anse. and the largest portion Of
what was once our beautiful city is
now mass of ruins.
About 2 o'clock in the afternoon an
alarm Of fire was sounded. and before
people had time to realize what it was,
the large sawmill of the L'Anse Lum-
Der company was one mass Of raging
flames. Protection Hose company
quickly responded to the call, and the
boys worked like heroes, but strong
wind was blowing and it was an utter
impossibility to cope with such con-
flagration. 1t quickly took hold of the
large railroad ore dock, and proceeded
to eat it up with lightning rapidity.
Next in line were the large lumber
phSoy SoHIniiiiiS oSFcIoi iHiiiioh Acct.
1t was then that the Mortified citizens
became aware that the largest business
portion of L'Anse was doomed, and
the fear was soon realized, for in less
time than words can express it, the
great mass of dry lumber and shingles
was entirely enveloped in flames. Peo-
pie then began hurriedly removing
books. etc., from the doomed buildings,
but the flames advanced so rapidly that
they were soon prevented from saving
much.
~. B. Smiths large store and ware
house were next to fall victims after
the lumber piles. and were soon leveled
to the ground, as was also M. Citizens
saloon, the upper story of which was
occupied as residence, Charles Gull
mans saloon and dwelling. o. H. Sen
gebusch's barber shop, w. T. Menge's
store, A. Menge's saloon, the upper
story of the Menge block being occu-
pied by two families, Charles Smith
and Peter Clyne, both families losing
all their household furniture; the bank
building and the building on the cor
ner, owned by August Menge, the up
per story being occupied by P. R. Nc
Herman as law office and P. M. Co.'S
ter's tailor shop.
''In the rear of these buildings were
P. Rupees warehouse, several dwell
ing houses and Otto Herzberg's livery
stable, all of which were consumed.
''The fire jumped across Broad street
and licked up P. Rupees large store
building and contents, Frank Senge-
busch's building, occupied by H. ].
Seifert & Co., Samuel Boivin's two
story building with saloon on the first
floor and occupied as dwelling up
stairs; the old Lloyd House, S. T. Har-
ris' drug store, which was completed
but a few days before the fire; Samuel
O'Connell's saloon, M. Wallace's livery
stable. the new Lloyd House. R. R.
Williams hardware store. the upper
story occupied by Geo. c. Jackman and
family as dwelling; the Town Hall,
THE SENTINEL building, the residence
occupied by John Orr. John O'Connor's
residence, M. Wallace's residence, John
Campbell's residence and barn, Luke
Welsh's residence and barn, Cord
Johnston's residence and barn. the
residence occupied by H. T. Ingersoll,
the four story building owned by the
Bendry estate, dwelling occupied by
Victor Peterson, Octave Sicotte's res
idence, ]. B. Belanger's buildings, and
mapy other dwelling houses"