Weston weekly leader. [volume] (Weston, Umatilla County, Or.) 1878-189?, 1880-09-18
WAITSBURG IN ASHESI
The Thriving Little Town Of
Waitsburg is Visited by
the Fire Fiend to
the Extent of
$1jO,OOO.
A chinaman Gathered to his Josh.

From the Walla Walla Statesman of the |
l4th INST, we clip the following: Last night |
our neighborlng city of Waitsburg was visited |
by FIRE as destructive in proportion to its
size as ever falls to the lot of journalism to
record. The fire originated in the old Van
sycle House, lately changed to the Pearl
Hotel and was first discovered at about 10
p. NJ in the kitchen, and apparently came
from under the floor. Its origin, however can
only be surmised for no sooner were the flames
discovered than they had spread throughout
the building and wrapping a Chinaman in
their fiery embrace lept high above the tinder
box below. A strong breeze from the south
was blowing at the time and caught the lurid
light and burning brands. and hurled them
on and against the dwelling house adjoining,
and from there almost unhindered the fire
iend had his will until he had swept both
sides of Main street except the Hanaford
House, Frank Hart's stable and saloon, and
one or two other buildings securely hid and
protected by the green foliage Of a row of tall
poplars. So rapid did the fire burn and so
thoroughly did it do its work that by three
o'clock all that remained of a solid line of
business houses and few cozy dwellings on
the front street could be summed up in the
word debris, and be seen i'll heaps of smould-
ering charred timbers OF half burned goods,
wares and household furniture that had fallen
a prey to it's ruthless ravages. We have not
been informed as yet i'll regard to lnsuranccs
except one insurance OF 50, 900 on the goods OF
Preston Il Powell The loss will not fall So
heavily on the principal stores us it would
had the fire occurred either earlier or later in
the season as stocks are pretty well run down,
and members of the firms are now below pur-
chasing goods. The city had just begun un
der the railroad stimulus to grow and im-
prove and coming when the crops are poor
and trade dull the loss will act as Il terrible
set back to handsomely located, devastated
Waitsburs. business men here place the loss
at from 100000 to $3.50, 900.
LATER.-Thc following is statement of
losses on account of the Waitsburg fire us near
rs can now be estimated. The facts were de-
rived mostly from the owners and insurance
agents together with the good judgement Of
Mr.. Wheel, =, the school superintendent
Preston x lowell, dry goods and genera
70 dealers, total value S3l 600, insurance $40,
Il 600, amount of goods saved $4,000, los.
81, 900 kinnear Il Wheeler, value of goods
Y So0,0i0, insurance $4,000, goods saved $1,000
5 loss SlG,G00; J. Bauer, variety store, tota
valnc $4,000, insurance $1,000; AL Bromiet
blacksmith shop and dwelling, fetal valu,
$4,000, no insurance; Chas. Vincent, hard
ware. value $500, insurance $1,000; Masonic
Lodge, value 800; lIass saloon, value $1,000
no insurance; w. II. Kaup. cigars, ETC., value
$1,000, no insurance; ii. II. Griffin, hotel
value $4,000, insurance $1,000; Mr. Maston
value $500, insurance $1,000; w. p Bruce
, furniture $500, no insurance; J. Morehouse
residence and wagon shop, value $500; Geo
Kellicut, saddler, value Sl5O0; J. McGee, tive
residences, value $1,000, 10 insurance; j. W
Fields, billiard table and house, $1,000, no in
surance, making the loss above all insurance
81, 500, and i'll round figures i'll which are
/ many small losses we estimate the loss to b.
So, 600