The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1881-08-12
THE DAYTON FIRE.

We are indebted to the W " Journal
for the scc0uat following of the recent
FIRE in Dayton. W T
Our reporter arrived in Dayton by
the train At e4j q. m. Saturday morn
ing and ct orce PROCEEDED to the head
of Main street, one block above the
new hotel. where was to be seen MASS
Of smoking timbers. wheat. bacon and
machinery. all that remained of ten
frame buildings and the most of their
contents. Net timber was standing
ana the work of desolsiion was CON-
piete. The fire originated in the
butcher shop of Fl + Lawrence, which
was The middle one Of the six burned
buildings on the south side of the
street. The cau-e Of the fire is IN
known Some thought it was inceD-
diarism, others the explosion of =
lamp. which Mr. Lawrence informed
our reporter he nightly kept burning
His first knowledgs of the FIRE was an
alsrm raised 10 the street about half
past o'clock a. m. which brcught
him out. with large number of otber
citizeus who were attending a dance
given BY the Dayton brass band at
joys Hail. The flames when once
started quickly spread on both sides of
Mr. Lawrence shop snd leaped across
Main street. Il was with the greatest
difficulty that the destructive element
was kept within that limit. Ii breath
of wind had been stirring 1t is the gem
ersl opinion that the business part Of
tho town would have been entirely de-
stroyed. Dayroa has no fire eugips.
That depart meDt is represented by
hook and Adder and bucket brigade.
As it hap yened there was but one we'll
Of water in the vicinity. and g line OF
buckets from that TO the flames was the
only protection of the Deighboring
buildings. The people ,urned out in
body and worked nobly. but no amount
of labor would have saved the town
bad thers~-heen q respectable puff of
wind. As il was the alarmed mer-
chants. several squares away from the
confagration. removed portion Of
their goods. The buildings destroyed
on the south side of the street are as
follows A one story frame on the west
corner occupied as a schooiroom by
Prof Jones. who lost every thing. The
adjoining building was q two story
frame occupied by j E Edmonson.
agent Of Frsukz Bros. Considerable Of
the agricultural machinery which he
had in stock was destroyed. He esti-
mates his loss, jointly with Frank
Bros. at 81 200. Grant Bros. as agents.
had 80 sacks Of wheat stored in this
place. which was loss. Next were
four smaltlone story frame $, occupied
by II r Lawrence as q pork packing
establishment. The buildings were in
sursd for 81 500. but they were worth
about So coo. His stock of bacon and
lard was ihvoiced on August Sd at
"a. 200. and Insured TOR 81 geo. MIR
Lawrence also lost q barn tnll of hay
and all of his clothing except such as
he had on. The remaining building
on this side was one story frame
carpenter and paint shop, run by Smith
Il Kuhn, which was also an entire loss.
The largest loser on the opposite side
of Maiu street was Andy Neils u, q
blacksmith, occupying one aud halt
story frame He saved nothing but a
few tools and some wagon spokes
Nelson carried an insurance of 81 800,
but estimated hIs loss at 50 500 over
the amount OF tie policy. Henry Car
roits blacksmith shop adjoining Neil
sons was also burned. He saved most
Of his tools and only carried light
stock Of wood. Z s Gay, the publisher
Of small weekly called the Reporter.
occupied small frame building. which
wss destroyed altogether, with let of
new type and No Washington hand
press, recently purc ased from w w
Davis OF the Mormon camp. With the
exception of China wash house and
10000 feet of lumber belonging to Dan
Kimball, this was the extent of the
loss, and one which should mako Day
Ton act in the matter of procuring
fire engine at once.