The Jewett Residence

The second serious fire within the past eix weeks, occurred in this city last Friday night, resulting ia tce destruction of the old Jewett homestead on W. Huron-st. The alarm was sounded a few minutes af ter 11 o'clock, and in a short time the hose carts of the i-'ourth, Fifth and Sixth wards were on the ground, and soon had three streams playing on the fire. When they arrived, the roof of the dining room was blazing fiercely, and flames were breaking through the roof of the upright. At the first tap of the bell, a large number of students who were still on the streets, hurried to the scène of the conflagration as indicated by the lurió glare made brighter by the inky blackness of the sky above, and a score of willing hands soon romnrpH all pnntents of the house below in the front rooms, but could do nothing towards moving a quantity of heavy furniture stored up stairs, belongiog to the Jewett estáte, wbich was destroyed. Mr. Jewett, the owner of the property, died last March, since which time the house has remained imoccupied by any of the family, but was looked after and taken care oí by A. S. Wheelock, senior medical student, who with his wife, occupied a portion oí the premises. Mr. Wheelock's versión oL the fire is as follows : " During the evening we had had a little fire in the sitting room grate, made up of part wood and part coal. My wife and I retired at about 10:00 p. m., sleeping in a bed-room adjoining the sitting room on ) the south. About an hour later, my wife awakened me, saying that she thousht there was fire in the house. I ran out into j the eitting room, and saw fire coming out I of the ceiling over head, around the I ney. I got the garden hose, but the I zie was broken and wag useless. I then I ran over to Mr. Davison's, crying fire, and Mrs. Davison telephoned to her husband who was at the electrical works. He soon came, and in the meantime I was getting out what things I could. Word was sent to the engine hou9e, Mr. Davison and I tried to keep it down with his garden hoge, but the fire soon drove us out. When I first saw the fire, the roaring it c&used in the chimney led me to believe that it caught from the chimney which was burning out. We lose all of our silver and table ware, which w&s in the dining-room west of the bed-room, beI sides losing a number of keepsakes, ding presents, etc., which were more valuable to us because of their associaüon?, I than beoause of any great intrinsic worth. I We saved about all of our clothing, books, I and personal ornaments." Mr. and Mrs. I Wheelock are reeidents of Bridgewater I township. The building destroyed was alarge twol story brick, having been erected by Mr. Jewett about 35 years ago, and was at that time the finest residence in Ann Arbor. The walls are intact, but the loss on the building will be at least $4,500. It was insured for $2,000, Judge Kinne, executor, having recently had it insured. The loss of personal property to the estáte will be about $1,000. CINDERS. The fire depsrtment fought the ñames inch by inch, and took a good many chances. The roads being heavy, and the distance considerable, the boys were tired when they arrived with the hose carts, but they went at t like veterans and staid till the flamea were conquered. Much amusement as well as consternation was at time caused in the large orowd assembled, by the capricious maneuver of the nozzles on the hose, as at times when being moved, they were just as liable to discharge their contenta into the crowd as into the fire, which they frequently did, muoh to the terror of those who had their " soft " clothes on. Two fellows whose name should be preserved (?) if learned, raised a ladder to a second story window, and with an axe smashed in the glass and sash of the lower half of the window, and then tried to tear loose the empty outside sash. What for, no one could make out. But " miclst flame and smoke, and shout and groan from the crowd below, they gave it up. Chief Sipley was everywhere present, and ruined his derby, to say noihing of the soaking he received. The Detroit Journal offers a cash prize of $.00 to any one whocan oorrectly guess the three hottest days of this snmmer. The predictions mu-t be malled to the Detroit Journa' (One name and addres with three dates on each postal card) before June lst, and the award will be made O;toberlst. A special article upon the subject of these guesses will ppear in every Saturday'a issue of the Detroit Journal during the summer. I rol. WigmnP the famous Canadian weather prop'het, has predicted July 9 and 13, and Aucrust 2.