, 1865-08-04
DISTINCTIVE Fire.

A. NJ, the night watchman, Mr.. Edward Ryan,
sounded the ever unwelcome and star Ting alarm
of Fire The streets were deserted and the
citizens generally in their beds and sound asleep;
but. the cry of fire ~ "frep' and the quick
and loud ringing Of the fire bell, soon brought
people rushing to the streets ia crowds. The
FIRE was first seen to burst in red flames through
the roof ofthe City Hotel building, and it burned
SO rapidly that it seemed but second until the
entire building was envelOped in a sheet Of fire
The Fire Engine was at once brought out and
promptly putto work, butafter throwing a steady
stream of water upon the burning building for
few moments it became apparenttbat the flames
were increasing in volume and spreading with
irresistible sway all around. Tire fire was now
complete master of the field and as it danced
with lurid glare from the adjoining housetops
twas evident that all the buildings onthe West
side Of Main street, between Third and Fourth
were doomed to speedy destruction; but it was
hoped that the East sdoo Main might be saved.
But this hope soon gave way, when it was dis
covered that the flames had communicated with
building across the street, opposite the City
Hotel. The Fng.no Immediately commenced
playing upon the last mentioned building, but
it was too late, the fire spread to the buildings
below with alarming rapidity. The heat from
the Hotel had drawn the pitch to the surface
of the dry pine lumber, of which all this por-
tion of tie town was composed, and this once
10 blaze the fire spread with redoubled
speed and fury. It was but few seconds now
until both sides Of Main street was solid sheet
ofroaring cracking flames, sweeping along to
the North and South. A light breeze sprang
up blowing down Main, and carried the Ere
from building 50 building with astonishing ra-
pidity. Nothing now could save the lower part
of town, for already the destroying element had
crossed to the houses On Fourth ana Main and
was levelng down all before it. Up Main, rear
the Oriental Hotel on one side and Kohlhaulf &
Guichards store on Che other, the Gre was cat
ing its way The only thing that could arrest
its progress North now was to prevent lis cross
ing Third street to Main on the North, and a
large number of persons at once set to work
with this view, spreading wet blankets BY The
dozens on the roofs Of RosentbaIs buildings on
the corner Of Main and Third, opposite X &
G's. store. BY Che time the blankets were thus
spread, the last mentioned store building was
ali a-biazc. The french had now shifted their
Engine and commenced playing upon the blan-
keted buildings, and every cxertioa was put
forth to save them, both By the iremen and BY
a large number of men not connected VITA the
~-I, oil
energy, or nearly all, was turned in that direc-
tion, the Oriental was wrapped in flames from
end to end and was scorching the STATESMAN
building, on the opposite side. But here, also,
wet Blankets had been spread by the Junior
and the printers 'dcyil, with tie timely assist
auce of our Teutonic friend, Mr. Besscrer. Mr..
J. D. Cook, our highly esteemed feliow-ciizen,
came to our assistance justiu the nick of timc
and mounting to the top of the building render
cd Invaluable service BY constantly dashing
the water, passed to him in pals, upon the
points where it was most needed. Al this iuro-
ture two were passing water to the roof, and the
FIRE had scorched the wet and dripping blankets
in dozens of places. 1t seemed that the build
ing would soon be in a blaze in spite Of the ex-
ertions Of the little force at work; bat here for
tune favored again, in bringing the timely SER
vices of Charley Plucker and Dr.. Stone. These
gentlemen carried water with will and the
critical moment soon passed and all was safe
now, with careful watching. To the gentlemen
mentioned our thanks are due, and not only
ours, but also those of the entire Community, for
boJ ~ tI,o Ill,
town must have met with the fate of that below.
The wind had shifted around, and was now blow
ing to the North; but the Oriental had tum-
bled to the ground, as also had KohlhauG and
Guichards store, and the Engine (Which was
the whole time we'll manned) could easily keep
the buildings on Third street contiguous to the
fire, from catching.
At little past O'Clock the fire bad either
been checked on all sides by those fighting its
progress or had abated by reason Of the build
ings standing being beyond its consuming grasp.
All the buildings on both sides of Main street,
from Brown Bros fre-proof brick store and Re
septhaPS store, down to thu County Jail had
during this oriof space been destroyed, and one
building above tie jail f,0atiag on Alder street
had shared the same fate. Nearly one-third
of Waila Walla City lay in G heap of fire and
ashes. Many who were quietly sleeping beneath
the roofs of their homes an hour or two prevI-
ously, now found themselves in the streets
houseless and homeless
During gthe fire the utmost confusion prevailed |
Crowds of men rushed hither and thither, and it .
seemed as if each man thought himself COM
malder Of brigade Of ungovernable tatterdc-
malions, aAd each gave orders with pecu-
liar recklessness and yelled himself hoarse to
have his commands enforced. Fortunately the
weak-lungcd orderlies gave out early in the ac-
tion, or among such multiplicity Of startling .
shrieks, it woald have been impossible to have .
understood a word spoken. We are not dis
posed to censure persons fer talking loud-yery
loud, for in talking and acting as they did
they probably done what seemed best; but mere
iy state things as they occurred. People were
excited and they manifested it in various ways
A large number Of persons were engaged in
carrying goods away TO safe distances putting