A Serious Fire on Saginaw

The third story of Jacob's block, occupies by Voorheis' Saloon, was the source of the fire Wednesday night. At 9 o'clock Wednesday morning indications were that Pontiac was to have a serious fire. Smoke was pouring out of the third story windows of the Jacobs block occupied by Voorheis Brothers' saloon, in clouds, an alarm was turned in , to which the department responded promptly, but when they arrived in front of the burning building, over ten minutes elapsed before a stream of water was turned on. To the crowd of spectators the minutes seemed like ages. Finally, the ladder wagon arrived and the ladder was raised to the third story window. Fireman Mason climbed up with a line of hose and broke the window in. The smoke was so dense that he was driven back, and had to descend. The ladder was then raised to the roof of the building adjoining on the south side, and from here the fireman climbed to the rear of the burning building where they were able to throw water upon the flames. In the meantime, lines of hose from the alley in the rear of the building had been placed in position, and soon three streams were playing on the flames. The fire was all in the third story and owning to its being discovered before it had much headway, was soon under control. The second and third stories were unoccupied. A. H. Prager formerly occupied the second story as a cigar factory. The building is owned by F. G. Jacobs, and was insured for $2,500, in companies represented by J. E. Sawyer. The damage will amount to considerable. The interior of the third story was badly burned, and holes were burned through to the second story. water ran through into Voorheis Brothers' Saloon, and did some damage to the walls and paper. The origin of the fire is still a mystery.