, 1883-12-22
MARROW ESCAPE.


A Fire In One Of the NeW Blocks.
A few minutes past nine O'Clock
Tuesday evening the startling and
eXcitement-prOducing cry Of 'fre"
rang out on the streets, and in re-
sponse to the dread summons there
arose the sound of hurrying feet to-
ward the location of the threatened
danger. The alarm was caused by
the discovery of flames issuing from
the floor of J. J. Brownies magnifi-
cent brick block at the corner of
Post street and Riverside avenue.
A stranger passing the building at
the time was the first to notice the
presence of the fire, and, without
leaving the spot, he inflated his
lungs and let go a succession of yells
that spread the information that
trouble was brewing in that quarter.
In very few minutes a large crowd
Of men had collected and went to
work with will to save, if possible,
the beautiful structure. The lower
floor and basement was full of black,
suffOcating smoke, and the vapor in
dicating the presence of the destroy
ing element rolled out in volumes
from doors, windows and every
crevice. The scene at this time
"beggars description" The red
tongues Of flame were shooting up
from the flooring in both the west
and east store rooms, fastening upon
the woodwork like ravenOus flends,
cracking in demoniac glee at the
pleasure of feeding upon such
precious viands, clothed in Il mantle
Of thick, sitting, hideous smoke;
men rushing backward and forward
looking spectral through the vapor,
and above all the cries, orders and
din that naturally arises where or
der is unknown and all system utter
ly banished. As first it looked as
though this beautiful monument to
the progress of Spokane Falls was
doomed, but there were ready and
willing hands, and although some
unnecessary damage resulted from
Over-eXcited individuals, yet every
one present worked with the single
aim of saving the building and that
object was fortunately accomplished.
Waicr was carried long distance in
buckets and by the timely applica-
tion Of this neutralizing element the
fire was at last entirely eXtinguished.
The entire damage can be covered
by 5000, and Mr.. Browne can con-
gratulate himself that it is no more.
The brick block is one Of the finest
Of the many bricks that have been
built this summer, a full description
Of which appeared in the REVIEW Il
few weeks ago. 1t cost over so, 900,
and is just receiving the finishing
touches. Had it been destroyed the
loss would have been felt aud re-
GREETED by every resident Of our
city. The origin Of the fire can be
traced to the haste Of finishing the
plaster work. a sheet iron stove
had been set up in the west store
room to aid in drying the plaster, in
which fire was left in the evening.
BY some means the fire ignited the
flooring and burned hole large
enough to let the stove into the eel
lar. The flames followed under
meath between two joists to the divi-
sion wall and there spread to the eIst
room. Had the discovery been
m lde ten minutes later the building
would have been beyond saving.
And at this time we are again
called upon to note the desperate
condition Of the city in case Of fires.
Week after week we hlvc called at
tentiOn TO the latent danger that is
forever threatening the Falls. 1t Is
the one Subject we have never al
lowed forest. and yet there seems
AN apathy among the people, not
withstanding they are COgniZant Of
the perils that surround Us. SpOk-
anc has not the shadow Of protection
against fire. No department, no or
no water, not even
bucket Thr buckets used Tuesday
night were kindly furnished by the
stores and single individuals. Since
so many new and valuable bricks
have been erected here the want of
Il fire apparatus is more keenly felt.
Had the fire Tuesday evening
reached the ceilings, or had it broken
out in the second floor where 1t
could not have been reached with
the crowd would have been
compelled to stand idle and see the
structure consumed without a hope
Of saving il. This may be timely
warning. We hope it may so result.
A fire that might be easily con-
trOlled with an engine would, in our
present defenseless condition, create
a loss Of thousands Of dollars. May
the city escape any further vista
tiOns until some measures are taken
to meet and do battle against the
flames with some hope Of success.
Organized.