Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-07-19

ary last occurred fire which destroyec
property tn the aggregate amount Of
| sl67, 800. followed by another on the 6.t
of February, causing destruction to the
extent of Sll,550, and, since. by mum
Der of lesser blazes. The last FIRE to re-
cord there occurred on Tuesday night
July 19th, when damage to the amount
Of $4,000 was done, the district burned
being the wooden one bounded by Sec
ond, Third. q and n streets. For al ac
count of this last visitation. We are in
debted to the Neirs, Of that city, a
follows:
Where the fire started il a somewhat
unsettled question Some say In the
stable, and others say in Listmann 4
Mueller's, with the majority in favor OF
the latter. At any rate, the two build
inos were in flames abont the same
time. The upper door of the stable
was filed with horses and hay, and the
scene there was indescribable. There
were about 100 horses in the stable when
the fire commenced, all of which were
gotten out in safety. The horses have
been in the habit of coming down
stairs for water, when in use, and seve-
raj men Immediately unkitched every
horse in the barn, and they started for
the lower floor, where they we're caught
and led out by the bystanders. Some
or the poor brutes were frightened al
most to ath at tho noise and glare OF
the flames, and their neighs and whin-
neys could be heard for blocks, The
lower floor of the stable Was filled with
bugRles, wagons of all kinds and hotel
coaches and other vehicles, nearly all of
which were run out by the crowd of
willing workers at hand. The stock of
hay and grain on hand Was entirely
consumed.
The cabinet aud finishing shop of
Listmann & Mueller was filled up stairs
and down with work of ..ali kinds in va
rious stages of completion, and Were all
of dry, seasoned lumber, making a very
fierce and hot fire. In the midst of the
fire, something in the shop, supposed to
be a s.eam-heater, used for turning
woods, exploded. causing the immediate
fall of the building.
The only brick on the block, known
as Nicolai's brick, had very narrow
escape from destruction, the wooden
cornice of the building and the roof be-
ing on fire several times. A line of hose
was run up the extension ladder of the
Hook and Ladder truck, and then the
brick was safe.
As the flames spread over the stable
1t became apparent to all that the Rich
mond House was doomed, and in few
moments the rea- portion was like a
seething furnace, the flames rising high
IN the heavens and sending out perfect
cloud OF burning cinders and sparks.
The rear wall fell first with a crash,
and for while it was thought that a
man had been caught and crushed on
the back stairway; but nobody seemed
to know. Engines Nos. 2 and were
located on Second and G streets, Just in
front of the Richmond House, and the
engines were in very hot place. No. 2
was moved away, but No. 3 remained,
and when the front of the building fell,
the heat was so intense that the engine
had to be covered with wet blankets and
boards to prevent burning. Two streams
were Immediately turned ON the ruins,
which somewhat cooled them. Directly
behind the Richmond House was a one
story frame, used as store room and
kitchen by the house, which, with the
SohsOhto, Wbo tothlly ucctIOgCu.
The flames from the stable soon
spread to the house on Third street, o.
cupied by Matt Keith as residence,
which in few minutes was mass of
flames. This house was an old land
mark of Portland, and was, when built,
considered one of the finest residences
IN the city. 1t was built by DIR. Thomas
Holmes, father of Byron 4. Holmes, of
the Willamette Iron Works, and was oc-
cupied by the family for a number of
years. The block now burned was then
an orchard. The house was very SUBJ
stantial one, the three brick ohimneys
remaining standing through all the fire
OF last night. 1t was owned by N.
Nicolai.
The Nicolai House on the northeast
corner of Third and ID streets, was the
last to go. and was n magnificent sight
while burning. 1t was a new house,
only a few years old, and was three stor-
les IN hight, surmounted with large
tower. The house was filled with room
ers, very few of whom got out any of
their effects, and very little, if any, of
the hotel furniture was removed. The
outer walls remained standing until all
the floors and roof had fallen in, and
then did not tumble until burned to Gin
ders.
A small cottage on the southeast ,r-
ner of Third and G streets was totally
destroyed. 1t was occupied by two fam
lilies. who saved very little of their ef-
fects.
The buildings across the streets from
the burning blocks, were all, with the
exception of the Seamens' Bethel, frame
buildings, and here it was the iremen
were obliged to make their hardest fight
to prevent the flames spreading. Flana-
gan's saloon at the corner Of Second
and Z streets, was on fire dozen times
but was well watched and put out. The
same thing occurred on the buildings
on Second street, and also on ID street
but no damage was done. Every house
for several blocks around, especially in
An easterly and southeasterly direction
the wind blowing that way, had two OF
three men on the roof with buckets and
garden hose, putting out the burning
sparks as they fell. The fire did cross
the street on Third street, setting three
houses on fire, but they were ex
tingnished before the flames spread.
THE LOSSES.
Nick Nicolai is the heaviest loser iY
this misfortune. The Nicolai HOUSE
was valued at $4,000. on which thers
was an insurance of $4,000. The hous,
occupied by Matt Keith was valued a
$500: no insurance. The building il
which Listmann Il Mueller had thei
mandatory was valued at 5000: M
insurance. The large three story bricl
on Second and d was insured for $l5,
coo and the building is damaged to tn
extent of 5000, the side wall bein,
badlv Crpcked thu tiy, r.,,f xvavv,od ~,