SWEPT BY FIRE.

A TOWN IN MICHIGAN AND ANOTHER IN MAINE BADLY DAMAGED.

MILWAUKEE, Sept. 17.----Fire swept away seven of the best business blocks in Ironwood, Mich. this afternoon, much in the same manner as three months ago its sister Wisconsin town, Hurley, just across the Montreal River, was devastated. The loss is estimated at about $150,000, with practically no insurance. At one time the entire town was threatened. The fire broke out in the business centre in some inexplicable way, and in a short time the St. James Hotel and Alhambra Theatre were in flames. The town having no facilities for fighting fire the merchants became panic stricken, and, instead of trying to check the progress of the flames, attempted to save their goods by carting, carrying and wheeling them to vacant lots. Hurley sent over an engine, but it was practically useless, and the flames spread rapidly, a brisk wind aiding its progress. The large general store of Bingham & Perrin, containing goods valued at $60,000, situated just opposite, soon caught fire and was destroyed. When it became evident that the town was threatened, the men employed at the big iron mines in the neighborhood quit work and organized bucket brigades. They succeeded in saving the south part of the town. About 20 buildings were destroyed, including the St. James Hotel building, drug store of A. L. Downs & Co., American Express Office, Western Union Telegraph, Post Office, and J. E. Beau's jewelry store; the Alhambra Theatre, Bingham & Perrin's large general merchandise score[sic], Hoxie & Mallon's lumber yard, Lake Shore and Western freight depot, Ironwood Store Company, general merchandise store, the Transient Hotel, Record printing office, Grand Hotel, Max Haus's hardware house and a few minor intermediate buildings containing saloons and the drug store or Thomas & McCabe.

The New York Times, New York, NY 18 Sept 1887
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Transcribed by Linda Horton. Thank you, Linda!