Point aux Barques ,
June 12th, 1849
Sir,
I regret to announce to you that in making this light
today about 10 o’clock a.m. we found the dwelling belonging
to it destroyed by fire. I learned from Mrs. Shook the
keeper that the fire was first discovered yesterday
morning between 9 and 10 o’clock, and that all human
efforts to arrest the flames proved unavailing. The
fire as I learned from her was first discovered in the
kitchen part of the building between the ceiling and
roof. I made a through examination of the ruins and
came to the following conclusion as to the origin of
the fire. The chimney in this part of the building was
constructed of rough flat stone, leaving large crevices
in the wall, which were filled with mortar. Although
a tight chimney when new, the action of the fire served
to dry up and contract the mortar, leaving large opening
in the wall through which sparks were forced by the
wind and sat fire to the building where it was first
discovered. I am strengthened in this belief from the
fact that the family, instead of using the fireplace,
used a cook stove, the pipe of which entered the chimney
below the ceiling, and was safely secured so that the
fire could not have caught from the stove pipe. What
I learned and saw, I would exonerate the keeper from
all blame, and ascribe the fire to a defect in the chimney.
The circumstances of the fire is more to be regretted,
as the husband of the keeper but lately found a watery
grave in Lake Huron, and this affliction on this account
falls with a double severity upon the widow who was
lately appointed in his place. By this catastrophy the
widow not only lost a considerable portion of her furniture,
but was badly burned in her attempt to keep the fire
from the main building. They have erected temporarily
a small shanty, which is very uncomfortable and unhealthy.
I hope therefore no time will be lost in having the
dwelling rebuilt. I think the main walls are not sufficiently
injured, but by a little repairing they will answer
for a new dwelling. The keeper complained that the chimneys
always smoked badly, rendering them often entirely unfit
for use, and I would therefore recommend that in rebuilding
the dwelling, the chimneys be made of brick, which would
obviate this defect, and secure these in future more
firmly against fire. The tower of the lighthouse also
wants painting and whitewashing, which could perhaps
be done the cheapest at the time of rebuilding the dwelling.
I may add that the Light-House is well kept and that
we discovered the light last night at a distance of
some 15 miles. The keeper is the mother of 8 small children,
and through her afflictions is worthy of our warmest
sympathy and as I am convinced, that no blame can be
ascribed to her in the burning of the dwelling. I hope
you will continue to entrust this light to her care.
I have the honor to be
Sir, respectfully
Your Obedient XXXX
Henry B. Miller
Supt. And Inspector of Lights, XX Lakes
Wmo. O.M. Hyde, Supt.
June 23/49
Hon. S. Pleaseseton
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