木材火IN BAY CITY.
On April 2, what at first threatened, not to say promised to be a most destructive lumber fire in Bay City, Mich., was cleverly stopped by Chief Thomas H. Harding and his firemen. The blaze broke out at night in the Mershon, Schuette, Parker & Co.’s lumberyards. About twenty-seven piles of lumber were either completely destroyed or so charred as to be rendered commercially valueless, and nearly 500,000 feet, much of it choice white pine lumber, bringing $35 per 1,000 feet, went up in smoke. The fire had made considerable headway when Chief Harding arrived, fully twelve piles being well alight. A 2-8 alann was at once sent in and the fire was attacked on all sides. Chief Harding employed the “watertails” system —one he has employed for twentyyears in successfully fighting the flames. It was very successful; but the department had the sharpest work it had had in some years. The firemen laid 13,000 feet of hose and had ten heavy streams going. l he direct pressure system is in use at Bay City, and two Deluge and two Monitor nozzles did fine work. A westerly wind was blowing, and it looked as if all the easterly section of the yard must go. In an hour’s time, however, the fire was under control and was conlined to the east central portion of the yard, where it had started. l he loss was thus kept down to $15,000; fully insured. l he origin of the fire was probably a stray spark, though some claim that it was the work of an incendiary, ‘l he work of the fire department was beyond all praise and the highest credit is due to Chief Harding for the excellent stop he made.
A convention of delegates of volunteer fire departments was recently held at Carroll, la., and an interstate firemen’s association was formed, with the following officers: President, J. M. Wiederbold, Carroll; vicepresident, Frank Foster, Scranton; treasurer, P. Stcphany, Manning; secretary, J. H. Post. Carroll. It is intended to hold a tournament at Carroll during the second week in June.
