The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1885-11-20
GREAT FIRE IN GALVESTON.
Three Hundred Buildings Burned - Loss
100000.

GALVESTON, Texas, Nov. ia destruc-
tive fire broke out In this city ct lao O'Clock
this morning, In q small foundry on the
north side of Strand avenue, near the corner
Of Eighteenth street. The entire fire de-
partment turned out, but seemed unable to
accomplish anything, owing to the fierce
wind, which drove the sparks in perfect
clouds into their faces, nearly suffocsting
them. For five squares south the fire was
confined 10 the width of one square, between
Sixteenth and Seventeenth streets, but when
1t crossed Whine street, six squares from the
starting point, 1t jumped diagonally to the
southeast into the next block, and gives evil
dence of consuming one-third of the city.
At 1l:2O O'Clock the fire had reached the
beach, about mile and q half from the
starting point. The burned district is six or
seven blocks wide.
About A O'Clock the fire began to spread to
the east and to the west Of Sixteenth and
Seventeenth streets.
THE WIND ROSE TO A GALE,
and pandemonium reigned. For time 1t
seemed as though the entire half of the east.
ern part of the city was doomed. The fire
spread rapidly to the southwark, licking up
blocks of elegan: residences, hastily aban-
Goned by their inmates. By 5 o'clock 1t had
reached Broadway, which threads the center
Of the island, running east and west. At Z
o'clock the wind gave signs Of dying away,
IN m
crease until by 8 o'clock only fair breeze
was blowing. But by this time the fire had
eaten It's way to Avenue o, where at $50
o'clock II seemed to exhaust itself, and the
6remen coming up, checked Its further rava-
ges at this point, or within two blocks of the
gulf. The burned district covers fifty.two
blocks, seven of which are not swept entirely
clean. 1t Is sixteen blocks in depth, and
averages width of three blocks.
this time. The city assessor says that the
taxable value OF the dwellings burned IL
$500 This makes the actual value of
the property $500, 900, which perhaps rep
resents the loss in money. The Insurance
10 estimated 1t $780, 900, although some of
the Insurance men who have walked over
the district place the insurance at $500, 600.
Following close on the heels of the great
strike, which infict q monied loss on the
business men Of Galveston of fully $4,000.
600, this calamity Is q climax To the woes
and sorrows Of the citizens Of thls city.
The business portion Of the city was not
touched, but In the burned district there
were twenty-one groceries, saloons and
small stores. The chief Of these ale Croos
& Co., grocers; A. Werner, timer; AMI Jno.
A. Hammer, lumber merchant. They lost
everything, as did other small stores. AZ
the fire passed the county Jail, rejecting Its
fearful glare and intense heat through the
grated windows, the forty Imprisoned In
mates became nearly frantic with fear.
They set up yell which was heard for
squares above the awful roar Of the terrible
fire. On top Of the jail building and court
house were corps of men determined to save
the buildings, and with the aid Of the brick
walls succeeded. The jail was on fre .
dozen times, but was saved. All the street
cars were hastily run out Of the Galveston
City Railway stables and they were absn-
doned to their fate.
Nearly every one has IN estimate OF what |
The total loss Of the great fre foots up. The
best posted citizens estimate the loss Il |
81 000, 900, while many who claim to have
figured on the matter put the estimats -
high - $500 COO.