Milan In Flames

Milán was visited by a disastrous. confiagration Tuesday morning, which destroyed a part ol its business portion, and reminded its citizens of the foolhardiness of any village trying to get along without íire protection. Fortunately the fire was confined to the poorer class of store buildings and tlio result will in the ,end be beneficial to Milán, as they will be replaccd with bett-er buildings, but the loss falls hcavily on the owners. The íire broke out about 1:30 in Wolcott's harness shop, a frame building standing next to Blackmer's brick block. East of this were five other frame stores, all occupied with tho exception of one, while still further ■east was Rice's Hotel and barn. The wind was blowiug almost a gale, and these frame buildings ottered no resistance to the flames, but rather helped it on its way. These buildings were all burnod, together with numerous shcds, and a barn belonging to Supervisor Davenport. The cause of the fire is unknown. At the first alarm, the bell of the Baptist church was rung until it wakened all the villagers and even brought in farmers living two miles away. The male portion turned in and worked like beavers, part carrying out goods and furniture, while the rest endeavored to arrest the course of the fire by tearing down sheds and pouring water on the flames. This latter was slow work, as the water had to be carried in pails. Nearly all the wells and cisteins gave out, and water had to be carried from the river. It looked for a time as though the whole part oí the towu wouid be destroyed and the Ann Arbor fire department was telegraphed to for assistance, but before the department here got the engine loaded on a car, the wind changed towards the river and the voluntcer pail brigade liad the fire under control, and a second dispatcla was seut telling Chief Sipley that assistance was not needed. Portions oï the stocks of goods were carried out and saved, nearly everything- being saved from the hotel. Davenport's house, next to the hotel was badly dmaaged by an attempt on the part of some of the citizens to tear it down and arrest the flames in that dircction. The sills were cut and a rope passed tlirqugh the house, a hundred hands trying then to tear it down, but it eould not be moved. They then directed their attention towards saving it and were successful. The Insurance on the buildings and stocks was very light, as the place was a veritable fire-trap and the insurance rates were high. One poor widow woman, Mrs. Moore,. liad a piece of good luck. She had a policy for $100 on lier building, which expired at noon Tuesday, just ten hours after it had been burned, and she had notificd the agent not to renew it. The loss and insurance carried were as íollows: Loss. Ins. Wm. Wolcott, harness stock,.- $1,000. 8 200. M. M. Clark, general stock, 2,000. 1,200. Susan M. Gay, two buildings,. .- .00. 400. Mrs Emma Sloore, building o00. iw. H. & M. A Palmer, three buildnír6 1,500. 600. Paline'r"& Clark. Millinery stock, 1,000. none. W. K. Needhain, bakery and furniture 0. Van Warner & Lockwood meat market, --- 300. Nelson Rice, hotel, furniture and Ijarn o,íuu. i,uuu . Alfred'ïS,vênpörtidwening,.- 200. 200. ' " ,barn, 100. 60. Total, 11,100. 83,750.