Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-08-17
TERRIBLE FINE AT ANOKA, MIN.
NESOrA.

ST. PAUL, Aug. l6.-For the fourth
time in its history. the CITY of Anoka
has been fire stricken, and the entire
business portion is for the second time
entirely wiped cut of existence. The
ruiz is widespread and extensive. At
this time it is utterly impossible to
more than roughly approximate the
great loss. which is placed by the most
conservative at 81 ,000. 900 at least. From
the Congregational Church, at the cor
ner of Main street, Avenue Three and
Avenue West to Rum river, and from
Monroe street north TO Van Buren,
street. there is naught bat a heap OF
smoking ashes and blackened ruins.
The alarm was gwen shortly after two
o'clock this morning. IL was found To
be for fire in Kenss d vandervilder's
skating rink. situated in the rear of the
postoftioe aid the High School building.
Although the department was quickly
at work, il was soon evident that the
flames were beyond control. In a few
moments the Campbell brick block, in
which the postofice was situated, Was
in flames, followed almost simulta-
neously by the appearance Of fire in the
High School and Dowell Bros. restaur
ant. The flames we're communicated to
the elegant new brick block belonging
TO II. L. FIcknor, and from there across
Second avenue TO II. s. Plummer's dry
goods store. and across NJ ain street to 4
row OF wooden structures occupied by
various branches of trade; then no SEQ
ond avenue, taking several residen ces
and the Merchants Hotel; and down
Main street ON thc south side, DESTROY.
lug Plummer's dry goods store, Cutters
dry goods store, ricknor Il Co, drugs.
Ryan, boots and Shoes. and so on, until
the river barred It's course.
While devastation Was being wrought
in this direction app LlinR q .mes lea ped
from the wooden buildings to the north
side Of Main street and enveloped a
handsome and stately structure lately
erected by W. d. washburne, and in
which were situated the First National
Bank and the elegant washburne Upera
House. The whole city seemed ablaze
az once. Up and down bath sides OF
Main street, from Third avenue 10 the
river, and along both sides of Second
avenue, from Van Buren TO Monroe, the
pitiless flames swept irre-istioly over
block after block. From the hardware
store of Putnam, Chelsea d Lindsay.
and the First National Bank TO Bridl .
square, the fire speedily went its wa, ;
tnence along Bridge Square on the ca,
side. sweeping away Daniels boot al d
shoe stsr-, Altar q Wicklevd's dry
goods Union brick block, Peters drug
store, and then across jackson street
diagonaily TO the great Lincoln Floor
ing Mill and elevator, cousuming also a
smaller Touring mill near the bridge,
txo planning mills, one shinele mill, dry
kiln, lumber shed and efiioe, ali be.
longing to w. ID. VAST burne d Go,
The a .mes we're brought 20 . sfandstill
at Lime street, ninety feet from the
Mammoth saw and shingie mills.
From the point where the fire was
communicated 20 the Lincoln mills, ID
went eastward TO toe corner of Second
avenue and jackson street, there Join
ing forces with that section which
jumped May street and. tackled the
James Hotel and stabiss, the black.
smith shop. engine house and Jail, ex.
haasting itself Il the corner Of Jackson
street and Third avsnne. That branch
of the great confiaeration which tool
It's way on Third avenue DESTROYED
was brougrt under control.
No lives we're lost and no serious acci
dents occurred, though there was q
scene of the widest and most uncon
trollable confusion. Men fell. exhaust
ed by the heat and smoke, while vomsr
tainted, appalled, By the terribIs vista
ton. The losses and insurance eannv
be definitely asoertainsd fur sevefa
days. washbarne a Co. have insur
ance for fl&3y50o- Their lo~ses are be
iieved 20 be fully $l75.0O0. po~sibl,
$4,000. Assistance was summoned
from 81. Paul and Minneapolis. bu
reached the doomed ciiy too late 20 b,
OF service except IL saving washburne'
mammoth saw and shingis mills.