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Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. ============================================================================= Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. ============================================================================= The Bay City Times-Press Tuesday, 26 July, 1892 DIRE DESOLATION! The Worst Conflagration In Bay City's History Acres Devastated by Yesterday's Cyclone of Flame Three Hundred and Sixteen Buildings Reduced to Ashes Three Hundred Families Rendered Penniless and Homeless JESSE M. MILLER Burned to a Crisp Under His Own Roof Frightful List of Losses - The City Saved by a Heroic Endeavor. When the Times-Press account of yesterday's great conflagration closed at 5 p.m. the cyclone of smoke, cinders and flame was still sweeping on in its destructive career, and eating the very vitals out of the Sixth ward. The wind blew a hurricane and the black smoke as it rolled heavenward, hid the sun from view, and the clouds hung like a pall over the terror stricken territory. A hundred homes had been wiped off the earth as if by a monster hand and 50 more were in the clutches of the devouring element. Men and women ran wildly about, some crying and sobbing, some with blanched faces and others standing as if paralyzed and totally unable to move. They were awe-stricken. The scene before them was something never before witnessed. No picture had ever given such an appalling view, and no imagination ever pictured such a terrible scene as was being enacted within their sight. On and on the wild weird sheets of flame swept over the streets, and the fiery tongue of the monster licked up everything in its course. Nothing was spared. Even the sturdy trees that had stood the storms of half a century were wiped out like powder balls. Desolation was spread everywhere and no one had the power to put an obstacle in its path. Streams of water were like drops in a bucket. They seemed to aid, rather than check the vast sea of fire. Terrified people were hurrying here and there on the back streets with their household goods, weak women with babes in arms hastened to places of safety and children sat upon the sidewalks, frightened and not knowing which way to go. It was a scene of a lifetime. A very demon of destruction seemed to be in possession of the entire district. A huge spark would drop in some combustible material and instantly a sheet of flame would spring forth. Thousands of these brands of fire were scattered on the breath of the gale and no wonder that street after street was swept clean of everything. Commencement of the Conflagration The tug Haight was moving about the southeast corner of Miller & Turner's premises early in the afternoon and it is supposed a spark from her funnel furnished the start for what proved to be the most fearful conflagration that ever visited northern Michigan. WILL McCLOY, F. W. GRINNEL and others were there and saw the start. "In 10 seconds," said McCLOY, "it seemed as if as many lumber piles were in flames. The wind was blowing a gale and the lumber, although green, seemed to burn like tinder." From Pile to Pile From lumber pile to lumber pile the flames leaped and across Harrison street into the long row of frame buildings. Merchants did not have time to remove their stocks. The warning was too short. Ten minutes and the entire street was a sheet of flame. The Mill Must Go No one had the slightest hope of saving Miller & Turner's mill. There was no power that could put a stop to the ravages of the awful destroyer. The mill was enveloped in an instant and what was one of the busiest institutions of the city, furnishing employment to a large number of men, was in ashes in almost less time than it takes to tell it. Lost the Hose The first lines of hose were laid on Water street, but be- for they could be put to good use the firemen were driven back to places of safety. No living thing could survive in such a furnace as Harrison street became. Telegraph and telephone poles toppled over and fell burning upon the street. The railway track became red hot and doubled and warped out of shape. The fire alarm box 65, from which the first alarm was sent in, fell from its post at the foot of 30th street. The cobble stones cracked into pieces between the rails. The Salt Block Goes Up. Just north of the saw mill was the salt block, cooper shop and sheds of Miller & Turner. They suffered the fate of the mill as rapidly as the flames and cyclone could do the awful work. The barrels were burned from around the salt in the store sheds and leaving the salt in fantastic shapes that no human hand could imitate. Where Would It End? This was the question passed around from mouth to mouth without an answer volunteered. If that cyclone of flame and cinders continued, the whole city lying northeast of the fire would be swept away slick and clean. Already people on Broad- way, six streets away from the river, were preparing to move. Goods were hustled out to the street and draymen were impor- tuned to give them assistance, but many passed on without heading the cries for help. The telephone wires had been burned away and communication with the lower part of the city was cut off, but messengers were sent there post haste and every available vehicle in the city, slab carts, lumber wagons, drays, delivery wagons and everything on wheels, even to dog carts were ushered into service in the removal of household goods. Into the Park The public square on Broadway and the big field adjoining on the west was a godsend to the afflicted people. They afforded a place of safety even if the wind should shift to the north. No flame could touch them there, and once there, they breathed with a spirit of thankfulness. Such a scene of confusion was never before seen here. One knows what hustling there is done when a single dwelling is burning to save the contents. Just multiply this by 200 and you have a faint idea of the chaos yesterday. The Wind Changes At 3:45 o'clock the wind changed a point, coming from the west, but this change was just temporary. All of the build- ings on Harrison street were then in ruins and the fire had advanced to Polk, the first street east, and in a few minutes to Taylor, on 30th. The fire spread on 32snd, 31st and 30th simultaneiously and in 15 minutes had leaped across to the Fremont avenue Baptist church, a large frame building at the corner, between Taylor and Polk streets. This was leveled to the ground instantly. Flames from this large building jumped across the street to the dwellings and all were destroyed as far north as 29th. Backed Against the Wind Notwithstanding the wind was blowing a gale from the south- west the flames backed up against it at 33d street, and this was equivilent to the destruction of the extensive lumber yard of M. M. MILLER & Co., which occupied the south half of the blocks bounded by Polk. Taylor, 32d and 33d streets. The 3,000,000 feet of lumber it contained was licked up like so much powder and the flying embers made additional danger, spreading the fire to dwellings east. The fire ran along 33d street to Polk and then jumped across the street where there were six small dwellings and a saloon. They were completely destroyed. At Wilson street on 33d the fire was checked. It then passed east on Wilson to Marsac, then north half a block on Marsac, where it cut northeast half a block and then east to Broadway, just missing the marble works of SAMUEL BEARD at 1804 Broadway. It was just after 5 o'clock that the residence of MR. BEARD, at 1800 Broadway, adjoining the marble works, caught fire and was destroyed. The firemen worked hard to save the works, and their efforts were successful. The Wind Decreases. At this time there was a noticeable change in the force of the wind. It was considerably lessened, and, as the sun slowly sank in the west, it was seen that the wind was gradually go- ing to sleep with it. "Thank God, we are safe," was heard coming from more than one poor woman's heart, as she noticed the wind losing its veolocity. Passed Through it All. the Sixth ward brick school building passed through the hurricane of flames, and to-day stands like a monument in the vast area of desolation. That is escaped seems a miri- cle. It was owning to the lessening of the wind and the superhuman efforts of the fireman, who worked with a will to keep it from being destroyed. Once it caught fire in the roof, but a timely stream of water prevented it from getting a start. The Fremont avenue Methodist church, a large fram building between Taylor and McCormick, had just been enveloped in flames and was sending its fire brands far and wide. ALBERT MILLER'S House The fine old residence of ALBERT MILLER occupied the half of the block bounded by McCormick, Fremont, Wilson and 30th streets. North of it was the Methodist church. It was wholly destroyed. Further Course of the Fire. At 5:30 o'clock the fire had spread its fiery fangs to the east side of Broadway and began clearing out the fine homes on that thoroughfare. Here the department made a strong fight and were successful in finally stopping the progress of the destroyer a half block east of Stanton on 31st street. The fire spread north a distance of a block and a half, then west to Stanton, north again until it wiped out another dwelling, then west half a block, thence north to Fremont avenue. The fire line was then west along Fremont to Marsac, north to 29th and along 29th to Polk, thence south to Fremont and then west to the river. Michigan Box Factory on Fire. The huge sparks and burning boards from the lumber yard of A. M. MILLER & Co. flew wildly about the desolated ter- ritory and some lodged over at the Michigan box factory, on the corner of Jennison and Fremont avenues, 10 blocks from where the fire started. At exactly 5:30 o'clock a huge volume of black smoke was seen pouring out of the shavings recepticle at the north end of the factory. The company has a fire department of its own, and it was brought immediately into service and succeeded in putting the fire out. It was very fortunate that the wind was blowing away from the fire, else the entire plant would have been swept away. It was about this time that the wind commenced to die away, so that this was also in favor of the mill not burn- ing. The Fire Department When the fire department received a call at 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon it little suspected that it would be obliged to remain on duty for 15 hours without a bit of rest. A general alarm was turned in immediately when it was seen how extensive the fire would be and every com- pany in the city responded. A message was then sent to Saginaw for assistance, two companies and a steamer be- ing sent in response. Flint was also called upon and an engine and hose came at about 5:30 o'clock. West Bay City sent all the companies she could spare, but the combined efforts of the departments of the four cities could do little toward checking the flames. Under Control They had the fire under control at 7:30 o'clock, by which time the wind had nearly died away. The firemen remained on the scene all night, the last going home this morning at 6 o'clock. THE DESOLATED TERRITORY What Buildings and Meterial the Blocks Contained. The block bounded by Harrison, 33d, Polk and 32d streets, contained two dwellings, one office building, the Luxton house, two story barn, blacksmith shop and livery stable. The block bounded by Harrison, 32d, Polk and 31st streets, 10 frame store buildings, brick veneered Carroll house, nine other buildings. The block bounded by Harrison, 31st, Polk and 30th streets, nine store buildings, one being brick, and seven dwellings. The block bounded by Harrison, 30th, Polk and Fremont avenue, a store and 20 dwellings, a barn and paint shop. The block bounded by South Water, Fremont avenue, Polk and 29th was occupied by Fremont avenue roller rink, lum- ber shed, store and other buildings. The block bounded by Polk, Fremont, Taylor and 30th contained Baptist church and six dwellings. The block bounded by Harrison, Polk, 33d, Taylor and 32d contained lumber yard and five dwellings. Block bounded by 31st, Polk, 32nd and Taylor streets contained nine dwellings and two store buildings. Block bounded by Polk, 30th, Taylor and 31st contained twelve dwellings and two saloons. Block bounded by Taylor, 30th, Webster and 31st contained ten dwellings and eight barns. Block bounded by Webster, 30th, McCormick and 31st con- tained two big slab piles and five dwellings. Block surrounded by Taylor, 31st, McCormick and 32d, three dwellings and half a block was devoted to slabs. Block bounded by Taylor, 31st, McCormick and 32d streets, eight dwellings and a slab pile. Block bounded by Polk, 32nd, Taylor and 33d, six dwellings. Block bounded by Taylor, 32d, McCormick and 33d, five dwellings. Block bounded by McCormick, 30th, Wilson and 31st, ten dwellings and ten barns. Block bounded by Wilson, 30th, Marsac and 31st, nine dwellings, six barns and one store. Block bounded by Marsac, 30th, Broadway and 32st, seven dwellings, meat market and store. Block bounded by Marsac, 31st, Broadway and 32nd, six dwellings. Only a part of the buildings on this block were burned. Block bounded by Wilson, 31st, Marsac and 32nd, 13 dwell- ings, nine barns. Block bounded by McCormick, 31st, Wilson and 32d, five dwellings and pile of slabs. Block bounded by Taylor, Fremont, Webster and 30th, six dwellings, a barn and a large pile of staves. Block bounded by Webster, Fremont, McCormick and 30th, eight dwellings and two barns. Block bounded by McCormick, Fremont, Wilson and 30th, ALBERT MILLER'S residence and two dwellings and Methodist church. Block bounded by Taylor, 29th, Webster and Fremont, eight dwellings. Block bounded by Webster, 29th, McCormick and Fremont, six dwellings. Block bounded by McCormick, 29th, Wilson and Fremont, 11 dwellings and one store. Block bounded by Wilson, Fremont, Marsac and 30th, eleven dwellings. Block bounded by Marsac, Fremont, Broadway and 30th, six dwellings and two stores. Block bounded by Wilson, 29th, Marsac and Fremont, eleven dwellings. In addition to the foregoing list of blocks, there were several half blocks, notably on 33d street and east of Broadway, which contained house, the exact number is im- poosible to acertain at this time. They will probably reach 15 in number. Miller & Turner's Plant The premises of Miller & Turner begin at Fremont avenue and end at 33d street. There was on the ground a small mill containing one band saw, two edgers, one stave mill, two engines, one gang saw, one trimmer and one circular saw. The salt block north contained six grainers, and one settler. There were also a cooper shop, salt sheds, and storing ground. The tramway as well as all the lumber on the docks was destroyed. ===============================================================================