New-York tribune., 1873-08-04
FIRE RA VAGES.
TwENTY-THREE BLOCKS BURNED IN PORT
LAND.
MaQaoketa, Kan, July %, 1873.


LAND.
THE FIRE ENGINES INADEQUATE-sEvERAL CASUAL
TIEs-ToTAL LOSS, $1,500,G00.
PORTLAND, Oregon, Aug. "A very destruc-
tive fire began at 420 in tins city. at the furniture
OF Hugbren SCHNEIDER, and spread over an entire
block. burning the Metropolitan Hotel before any steam
engine at hand The wind and caused the fire
TO extend in all directions that when the engines OF
the Salem Fire Department arrived seven blocks had
been consumed They stopped the further progress OF
the fire norhward. but when all the engines available
at hand there only seven engines to subdue
fire half mile in length and quarter of mile wide
AS fast the fire suppressed in one direction 1t
broke in another, and it ceased mainly for want Of
material New res the work Of incendiaries were con
stantly discovered. The water supply was insnft
Gent When the fire finally brought un-
der control % blocks had been destroyed
Nearly all OF the city bounded by Yamhill-st. on the
north SecOndst the west Columbiast on the SOUTH
and the river the east, in flames. There were
two engne-houses sash factories, three foundries
five hotels 100 stores $50 dwellings and probably other
structures not enumerated destroyed. Only house
stands on Firstst. in a space Of eight blocks Nine
squares the east side OF Secondst were burned The
st. Charles Hotel damaged to the extent OF 10000 the
largest house in the city aud two stores are the only
buildings saved on Front-st Walkers sash and door
factory destroyed also loss, $4,000 The Oregon
Iron-works fire five times.
There several casualties Samuel Lowenstein of
the firm OF Emil Lowensteu, killed; T. Backensto
the City Treasurer, dangerously hurt; fireman
had his leg broken and several others otherwise
injured.
The fire was discovered by the captain of river
steamer, who sounded the alarm. The material
dry and burned like tnder. Many articles burned
during removal. During the burning of Walkers fac
tory the propretors offered 600 for stream OF water
from an engine for 10 minutes The buildings along the
river front pulled down. and the goods carried
river. second fire started six blocks
from where the first began, by incendiary who was
caught by the police and taken to jail The Salem Fire
Departments engines arrived by train which made
the run Of 81 miles in the extraordinary time OF 60 min
ues including stoppages, and the steamboat bringing
the Vancouver fire engines made IS miles IN rs minutes
Two companies OF the regular army from Fort Van
couyer have been detailed guard property stable
was fired this afternoon, causing loss OF $1,000 Two
men were arrested for setting fire to house this after
noon on Thrds Several churches have been converted
into dwelling houses. The Common Council has issued
food tickets for the destitute and call for aid for the
sufferers from other cities.
The loss is estimated at 81 600, on which there was
an aggregate insurance of 100000 Foreign insurance
companies lose heavily among which are the fonowing
The Imperial OF London $4,000; London and Liverpool
and Globe $4,000 Beside the losses from fire. damage
to the extent $4,000 suffered in removing goods
Many persons considered rich yesterday are now poor
The following are the principal losses: Hughren &
SCHNEIDER, ssOOOO Metropolitan Hotel, $4,000; G.. A.
Vaughan 100000; Smith Bros, s20000 DIR. Freehard,
5000; Champion Boot Factory, $1,000; Russ House,
$4,000; welch e. Morgan. E. Campbell, and j. b.
Springer 5000 each; E. LOwensten & Co., s5O,O0Oj Nj
Sellers, G. $. syas, Lave's Hotel, and Haekey and
stillme $4,000 each Walkers Mill and Rese and State,
10000 each W. Mofat $4,000 Sam Sykes st. Charles
Hotel, McGuin and Hail. W. B. Lake, Powers & Burch-
ard and DR.. Davenport $4,000 each; about 20 others,
$4,000 EACH There other losses not yet aseerained
THE BEST PART OF THE CITY UNINJURED.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 2.-Citizens Of Portland
in this city state that the fire yesterday was confined
entirely the Oldest portion Of the town, and in which
nearly all the buildings were Of wood and Of compare
lively small value Many OF the structures had been
standing from the first settlement Of the place. No fires
Of any importance have hitherto occurred In the district
The 1s squares burned we're principally occupied
by dwellings all OF the best and most substantial busi-
ness part OF the city escaped IL is not believed that
call for outside contributions to relieve the families
rendered homeless will be necessary Neither Attorney
General Williams nor ex-senator Corbet, both heavy
owners Of property in Portland losers by the fire.