Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-10-21
A sIc rT.E AT EExrss.


Eiery xlesx-Gsss Abess exs,see.
AZ fifteen minutes 20 10 o'clock last
Saturday night Ere burst oas OF the
northeast corner Of @. Castar's nss and
large store building, and immediately
the cry Of ere was given and citizens
came rushing to the spot. Mr.. Custar,
Who had been out visiting In company
With his wife and others, had just re-
turned home. and. hearing the alarm.
looked ouf and exclaimed 8 Nv God, my
store Ia On drs r Leaving his wife
shriekine and fsinting from excitement
and interest, be rushed toward his burn
ing bnildino and. with others. COM
meneed the battle against the fiery foe.
70 save what could be from is cruel
grasp. The building, with all Il con-
tanned, uRs already gone, for the Dire
had done too well its work inside pefors
bursting out. Tbs two story building
adjoining on the south was broken into,
and ths work OF carrying ouf was kept
M ~ long 40 the flames would permif.
the owner, Mr.. Wood, and bis family.
living upstairs and all ebed. barely
escaping with their lives not even saw
ing their clothing. Across the street 20
the vest. the SALON on the corner could
not be saved, and then commenced a
terrible battle 70 save the residences of
the late widow Thomas, when was sue
cessfnl. Still farther west, on Railroad
street, the Cottage Hotel aud Renton
House were tn danger also, on the
north, the buteher shop. livery stable.
restaurant, saloon and lodging house,
bat all were saved by constant apptica-
ton of water and wet blankets, while
on the northeast, two residences--oue
belonging 10 Mr.. Custsr and the other
| 70 the coal company--could not be
saved, though most Of the household
goods were saved. residences on the
east wers saved but the hottest and
| hardest fight was 10 save the barn on
| the SOUTH which, being full OF hay, en-
| danQeyed the schooihouse and two or
| three residences. A few men, however,
stood by the barn until the boards were
chayred black. and finally saved IL. A
man ON the roof of the schooihouse
was kept employed beating of the
burning cinders with his coat, by which
means tho building was prevented from
| taking fire. The carpenter shop of
White IL Martin. also their residence
adjoining, could nos be saved, but most
Of the tools and part of their house
hold goods were saved. Faithful men
ON all sides did what they could. The
losses approximate as follows: q. Gus
tar, $500. insurance $500; Robert
Wood. who had Just bought bis build
ing and newiv stocked IL, over 5000,
no insurance--left penniless widow
Thomas, saloon building. 500, insur-
ance $500; Renton Coal Company,
500, no insurance !; White Il Martin,
$3.50, no insurance Mrs. Hemisphere.
$75.
ii. B. Francis, one Of the employees at
Custar's store, on hearing fire." being
near. rushed 10 the store, and having the
key 10 the back door. unlocked it and
went In, finding the oii-room all ON FIRE.
He threw ont the window what books
no could get hold Of, also the book
keepers trunk and his own, when an
explosion occurred, knocking him nj
most senselesa and extinguishing his
lamp. He started for tho front door of
the main storeroom, blinded and almost
suffocated. He reached ID. aud then
AGAA9tAA9tAUA ~ was tQ2A1os AA6 VtOktu
mp sewing machine and threw It
through the glass front and got out
alive, but without breath for the mo-
ment.
Mr.. Albert Holt, the butcher. who
roomed upstairs. awoke only in time to
find himself surrounded by FIRE and
smoke. He rushed to the window, and
despite the cry of friends below for him
not 90 jump, he leaped and struck the
ground almoet iifeless body, bat is il
thought he will recover.
Mr.. Anderson, who also roomed on
the upper floor, waited a moment later
and coolly descended ladder, sustain.
ing SLIGHT injury by stepping on bro
ken glass at the bottom.
Two little eirls, belonging 20 Mr..
Wood. who amid the smoke and excite
ment had been forgotten, and who were
in their beds asleep, were thought of
just in time 10 be saved their clothes
we're slightly scorched.
The IRE Is Supposed TO have origi-
mated from bsrrel OF lime, which was
in the wareroom, Stacking as IL came 10
contact with moisture from oil, salt,
etc.