Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2014 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== EAST SHORE NEWS PENTWATER, OCEANA Co., MICH. VOL. I, NO. 39 Friday, 13 October 1871 TERRIBLE FIRES ------ Chicago in Ashes ------ Manistee and Other Places Burned ------ A HUMAN HOLOCAUST ------ Three Hundred Persons Roasted Alive ------ Many Villages with All their In- habitants Burned Up. ------ At Manistee Information more definite and reliable in reference to the burning of the city of Manistee than that furnished by our extra of October 11th has reached us. About nine o'clock Sunday morning, the wind being heavy, the woods south and west of the mill of Gifford & Ruddock, which for some days previous had been smouldering, were dis- covered to be ablaze, and likely to ignite the large quantities of dry slabs between them and the mill. The engine was called out and flames extinguished ere any material loss was sustained. Soon after noon the alarm was again sounded, the mill of Canfield and Magill, on Blackbird Island, just across Manistee lake, having been discovered in flames. A perfect hurricane was now raging and the conflagration rapidly spread, laying bare the island in about twenty minutes. Only the horses in the stables were saved. During the continuance of the scene last mentioned, smoke and burning leaves from the woods south drove thick over Man- istee, but no further alarm of fire was given until about 11 o'clock, P.M. Then Canfield's mill, at the mouth of the river, was in flames, caused by the burning of the woods to the south- ward, the tempest still raging from the southwest lashing the great sheets of fire across the entire sweep of land and river, completely enveloping and destroying the government lighthouse. Almost simultaneously the burning forest bounding the city on the south showered its fiery embers upon the buildings located at the southern extremity of the city, west of Maple street. Soon they ignited, and so terrific was the raging and rapid the progress of the flames, that the inhabitants abandoned and fled from their homes in dismay, regardless of property in their anxiety to preserve the lives of themselves and little ones. Many escaped to vessels lying at the docks, and took partial shelter from the suffocating heat and smoke while at anchor in Manistee lake, while others sought refuge at the southeastern extremity of the town. The fire swept down Maple street like an avalanche. Soon the mill of Green & Milmoe and the bridge were in flames. Both sides of South River street followed. From the City Bank to the little lake seemed one sweep of wav- ing fire. All was reduced to ashes. While these were falling, the North Side also became a continuous chain of burning woods and buildings, reaching a mile and a half north of the bridge, following the line of the inner lake. But three houses on this side remain. On the South Side, probably fifty homes remain. The mills burned were those of Messrs. Canfield & Magill, Canfield, Green & Milmoe, Robinson's little mill and Cushman & Calkins. The principle hotels are untouched, the banks and postoffice also escaped, and the jail, churhces and school- house remain. In the two latter many of the homeless find shelter, the remainder living with their more fortunate friends, who are doing all in their power to allay distress. Small frame buildings are being rapidly erected. Supplies are anxiously expected by the boats, and ere now, in the event of no new calamity, this disorder will have been nearly recti- fied. The total loss of property is carefully estimated at $2,000,000, with an insurance of about $800,000. The mills and stores are to be rebuilt at once. ===========================================================================