Woe In Saginaw

Saginaw, May 22.- Saturday afternoon the metropolis of the Saginavr valley was visited by the worst oonflag-ration in her history and one of the most destructive which ever visited any city in the state. The loss will amount to about $1,500,000. The total insuranee will aggregate about ÍU00,000. The extent of territory which was burned is about thirty squares, and includes larg-e portions of the Sixth and Seventh wards. This territory Was swept nearly clean of every building-. A close estímate places the number of buildings destroyed at 275. Over 200 families ara homeless and 800 men are thrown out of employment. The first alarm was turned in at 3:45 o'clock from box 52. The departrnent was called to the mili of Sample & Camp on what is termed the "middle ground," south of Bristol street and on the east side of the river. Just how the flre started is not certain, but it is supposed it caught from sparks, possibly írom a passing tug boat. This building was not occupied and the loss was a few hundred dollars. A strong gale from the southwest drove the flames to 700,000 feot of lumber owned by Brovvn & Ryan. The sparks from this set fire to the eastern span of the Bristol street bridge, burning it down and cutting off street railway communication. "'rom the bridge thence the flames leaped te the east side, just below Bristol street and north of the city hall, where were located a large number of buildings, ineluding hose house No. 6, J. F. Winkler's ice houses, all residences on Tilden street, and on both sides of Washington avenue down to Holden street. These were quickly licked up. Then the sparks were carried across the old bayou into the premises of the Ueorgfe F. Cross Lumber company, the I'laning-Mill Lumber company, the yard and a dozen tenement houses melting like snow. Next carne the Alling-ton & Curtis Manufacturing company's extensi ve plant and Passolt's soap iactory, all of which were wiped out. Here the fire struck Jefferson avenue, and in an hour some of the finest residences in the city were in ashes, the sweep being north to Emerson street, where the fire continned eastward south of and along Emerson street out toward the city limits. It cut a wide swath on Owen, Howard, Sheridan and Warren avenues and other streets east. St. Vincent's orphans' home succumbed early, but the inmates were all removed to places of safety. The patients were removed from St. Mary's hospital, which was in extreme danger for a time, but was saved. An old man named Robert Turner, 89 years of age, lost nis life, his body beinjf found near his residence burned to a crisp. This is the only known casualty, althoug-h several persons are reported missing. A meeting of citizens was held Monday at which it was decided to care for all sufferers at home and not ask outside aid. A subscription list was started and within a few minutes $10,000 were raised in sums ranging from $500 down. The disposition of the people here is to encourage the rebuilding1 at once. The Allington-Curtis Dust Separator company lias already started up on the oíd lioyt mili. Edward Gerraain and the Cross Lumber company will doubtless rebuild at once, and Saginaw industries will not be materially cheeked. A partial list of the losers is as follows: E. Germain, loss $325,000, insurance $31,000; J. F. WinUler, loss 120,000, insurance !W,200; L. L,. Holden, losa íl',000, insurance $5,000: Thomas Steele, loss }2ö,000, no insurance: P. H. Ketchum, less $30,000, insurance $10,500; W. H. Presser, loss ilz.000, partially insured: H. PassU, loss $7,000, partially insured: Peter McArthur, loss 812,000, fully insured; S. Goseline, loss 55,000, insured; George B. Brooks, loss 56,000, iusured; John Otto. Jr., E. R. Ayers, G. A. Mitchell, D. E. Skinner, Horace Johnson, Charles Holland, Frank Plnrab, D. A. Swlnton, K. BlaUely, Nicholas Sclimelzer, W. G. Dalke, H. N. Doty, W. T. Cooper, J. F. Cooper, A. Simpson and about thlr ty others losses each from $3,000 to 410,000, all partially Insured: the Valley Machine company, lsss $15,000; insurance not known: Cross Lumber company, loss $50,000: Allinston-Curtis Manufacturing company, $25,000, both well iusured. Fire broke out Monday night in the rear of the Union hotel on Franklin street, in the same block in which is located the Vincent hotel. By hard work the fire was confined to the Union hotel, McGugan's livery stable and a wooden structure that was vacant. The loss will not exceed $8,000, and is partially covered by insuranoe.