The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1877-08-09
County and City Official Press.
Thursday, August 8. 1877
A BIG FIRE +!
A Timely Warming to Seattle.
OLYMPIA BADLY sc0RCHED !
In Time of Peace We Must
Prepare for War.


Prepare for War.
SOS ~
The report. from the conaagration
which broke out at the capital city yes
terdsy morning, are sufficient to con
vince sensible men that Seattle's turn
will come next. and that ourfancied Sc
curity from the devouring element is
only delusion If Olympia WAS un-
safe, Seattle is a Undertook. Diere-
garding all precedents. the Common
Council Of this city have neglected to
establish fire limits in this city, and to
prohibit the erection of wooden build
n0s within those limits. They should
now be warned by the misfortune which
has oyer,aken the beautiful city Of
Olym pis, and afford some protection TO
the business portion OF Seattle. A fire
district should be established bounded
on the north by Cherry street, on the
east by Second street and on the south
by Msin and on the west by low water
mark Inside of those linesf no more
wooden buildings should be erected.
THE COMPLICATION
Broke out in Chinese wash-house, and
is another example of the old motto
that Ian empty house is better than a
bad tenant" These Chinese wash
houses are generally tenanted by class
OF laundrymen who keep lights burn
ing at all hours and smoke opium in-
oessantly. In some Of the California
towns they are restricted to u particular
locality and forbidden to put building
outside tha. limit, but here they seem
TO build wherever they like, and by
their dangerous presence to jeopardize
tire W6rsa r. eff all who surround them.
capital city. days Seattle will see
prepared to contest against fire than
Seattle is, especially when we consider
her well organized
FIRE DEPARTMENT..
To begin with. the truck aud equip
ments Of the Barnes Hook ann
Ladder Company are What is much
needed in every town Of over one
thousand inhabitants. Seattle has no
such appliance to defend her against
the devouring element. In addition to
this the Oiympians have fine piano.
box engine made by Button, of Water
ford. which only weighs about half as
much ~ the wretched old Zimmerman
tub in use here. aud will do Just as
much work. Those Zimmerman tubs
ere only fit for fiat. level towns. Hnv-
ing shown that. in proportion to the
amount Of her taxable property. Olym'
pia was really the best qualified to cope
with oondagration when it did come.
we resume our recital ana give the
COURSE OF THE FIRE.
Next to the building where the fire
broke out Is an old two-s,ory stable.
built in 1854. by L. Sylvester, aud &C.
cupied for many years by George Cog
gin as a livery stable. Here be kept
the horses and coaches of his stage line
to Monticello. For the past three years
the old shell has been unoccupied. This
gave the fire good heat and then it
licked up tho two story house occupied
by n. S.uth as . beer hall. Thence
Il spread to Otto Rauke's saloon. owned |
by Chas. Burmeister, who also owned |
The fine wooden building tenanted by
Crosby & Lowe. next door. Next came
he grocery and saddlery establishment
u Robert Mack. and s..uth Of it stood
Barnes Rank. on the corner of the alley.
This was brick building. two stories
high. and gave
fAhIlAls tHECk
TO the course Of the devouring element.
Across the alley Was the saloon kept by
Barker Il Dickinson. bat for many
Fears the headquarters of James b.
Pray. who also had a small dwelling
house on the rear end of the same half.
mock. The fire did not cross Main
'treet. owing to the heavy growth Of
maple trees, the foliage of which shell
cred the buildings behind them, among
hem the Post Office and the restaurant
tspt by Miss Kate Maginnis. But the
on the rear side were ali de-
ltroyed. as we'll - the residence of
Thomas pra,her, across Washington
'trset. The Pacific House narrowly es-
,apcd destruction.
THE DAMAGES
Are greatly exaggerated. IS claimed.
For instance. the old stable is set down
t u 500. when we should consider
800 . big price for the lot aud ell.
. fact. ifever Olympia should take .
tart Ard begin to grow. the naked lot
voald be worth more than it was with