Idaho semi-weekly world. (Idaho City, Boise County, Idaho Territory) 1867-1868, 1868-06-20
DISASTROUS FIRE.

Idaho City has again, for the third time,
been made the scene of 4 very disastrous fire,
at the hand of the incendiary. There can be
little doubt that some diabolically inclined
wretch caused this last confagraton, which
threatened the destruction Of the whole bust
ness portion of the city, but which was fortu-
nately arrested within block of the place of
outbreak We happened 10 be absent at the
time of the fire, on our return trip from Boise
City, and can therefore give only such account
of the calamity us We derive from others.
The fire was discovered just as the flames
broke forth from the rear of the wooden build
ing in which Powell & Coe (heavy merchants,
on the corner Of Main and Wallula streets,
had their chief sales aud retail store. II was
about O'Clock yesterday morning. The flames
spread with such rapidity that Mr. Powell,
who had his dwelling room in thr front Of the
adjoining building on Main street, had barely
time tn make his own escape lie had not
time To save even the books papers, and other
vauabes of record 10 the store. The evening
before large lot of general merchandise had
been received from Umatilla. and all Of it
was put temporarily in the front store. In 1t
was also a great quantity of every description
Of merchandise, shelved and arranged in the
usual manner TOR retail custom and samples
for wholesale trade. In the rear room were
the safes. the books and papers. desks, show
cases for wine and liquor samples, &c. Also
the business desk aud safe used by Mr.. Smith.
L. s. Collector of Internal Revenue. One of
these two safes contained a large amount OF
greenbacks, all Of which were found. after the
fire. in charred, totally valucless condition.
The loss to the firm, Of merchandise, is alone
very large but the greatest loss is that Of their
books and accounts, notes and grecnbacks.
From there the fire soon spread across to
the meat market of Sharp & Sa!les, and
thence up to the brick store recently put up
b. Bailey Simpson. and occupied by Mr. 6. A
Washington, one door below Isaacs' brick store
on the corner Of Main aud Commercial streets.
1t swept before it all the stores, shops and 81.
looms on that side of the street, Mrs Gala
burned.
Quite soon after the alarm, which was given
by the bell Of the Catholic Church. and by the
citizens generally, the hose from the great res
ervoir on the hill was brought in play Unfor-
tunately one whole length soon gave away un-
der the water pressure just as the heavy stream
was doing fine execution in qnenchiug the FIRE
and by the time this worthless length was re-
moved, and the couplings of the remaining
lengths were attached, the flames had made
big Roadway. The play of water from the fire
hydraut and the we-directed excrtions Of
the men at that point, who also had water
passed il buckets from the well Of Black &
Bridge, obtained final mastery over the fire in
Mrs. Gallaghcr's restaurant, as portion of
the frame partitions and rear wall furnish
present marked evidence.
During the FIRE water was thrown upon the
buildings on the east side of Main street, from
the reservoir and hose belonging to the Catho-
lie Church and st. Mays Academy on the
hin Just back, aud to this aid is doubtless to
be attributed the safety Of that portion OF the
city, il not the whole Of Main street, for had
the FIRE ever crossed and got into full Roadway,
il is almost beyond peradventure it would have
swept everything, and again laid Idaho City in
ashes.
To enard against its spread on Montgomery
street, and above Commercial tn the Luna
House, Masonic Hall, st. Charles. aud oil this
portion OF the city, active measures were i'm
nediately taken. The store building, unten.
asted, on the corner Of Commercial aud Mont
geometry streets, was lcveled to the ground BY
men with ares ard hooks. But, most forta-
uately. the flames were extinguished on Main