Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1886-09-29
A DESTRUCTIVE BLAZE.
IL Ruins Three Buildings and Damages
Half n Dozen 0thers-An Ag-
gregate Loss Of $4,000.
COalter & SnelgrOye Lose Everything
PembrOke's Heavy LOss-Dwyer's
Fortunate Escape.
Some Good Work Done by the Fire De-
partment--Hbe Scene of the
COnllagratiOn.

COnllagratiOn.
BY far the most destructive fire that
has occurred in this city since the terri
BILE Clawson conhagration was that which
at late hour last night started in the
upper story OF the store occupied by
Coalter q Snelgrove on Main street, and
spread south to Cunnington's corner and
north to Asmussen's jewelry store. Just
how the fire was started will probably
never be known, but it is evident that it
originated in room used by Held's
band, in the middle part OF the top floor
OF the building in question.
Two bakers who were employed in the
rear of the California Bakery seem to
have been the first to discover the flames,
though the general alarm was soon
started by some one who must have seen
the blaze from the front part OF the build
ing. The attention OF the two men in
question was first attracted by
CRASH OF GLASS,
And as one OF them ran out he
saw that the rear end of the Coalter
building was in flames, and that the
noise he had heard was caused by one of
the back windows falling out. This man
whose name was Englin, gave the alarm
to his fellow-baker, j. d. Kelley, and it
was not long before they had stream
playing on the flames from little gar
den hose in the rear OF their shop. The
effect Of this, however, was not percepti-
BILE, and the intent was the only good in
it.
In the meantime the blaze had shot
up over the tops of the surrounding
buildings, and it was not long before
LOUD CRIES OF "FIREp'
Pierced the air, and were heard over
mile away. The fire was first discovered
at about IL 80 o'clock, and notwithstand-
ing the fact that it was only block away
from the Firemen's Hall, the alarm was
not sounded until about II 30. Long be-
fore this there was an immense crowd on
the ground, and before the fire engine
had started for the scene the surrounding
stores had been broken into and dozens
of men and boys were busily carrying
out goods. Some brave attempts were
made to get some of the stock from the
music store in which the fire started, but
those who were daring enough to enter
WERE DRIVEN BACK
By stream of smoke which poured in
from the back and carried before it hot
flashes of fire.
DIVERS store was probably the first to
be entered, as it appeared to be in the
most immediate danger. The showcases
containing the more costly goods were
carried across the street into the Pacific
Express Office, where they were out of
danger, and the books, toys and other
goods were soon all dumped into con-
glomerate mass in front of the office men-
toned. The greater part of this work
had been done before the bells were
sounded and before the crowd had at
tanned such massive proportions. But
when at last the alarm was rung, people
looked out OF their windows to see
THE SKY ABLAzE
With the reflection OF the flames and to
see flash after flash of fire leap into the
air. 1t was then that the crowd began to
swell. People poured onto Main street
from every direction and inside of half
an hour the street was crowded with
men, women and children, most of whom
stayed to see it out.
Prior to this time the flames had con-
fined themselves to the rear and upper
part OF the store in which they started,
but now the smoke rolled over the front
of the building, and as the flames came
out through the front door, it was seen
that the store was complete ruin. At
about this time the
FIRE WAS AT IT'S WORST,
And for half an hour there seemed little
hopes of saving anything between the
corner and Asmussen's. The roof of
Dryers store was q mass Of flames and
to all appearances the upper story OF
Cunnington's building was slowly being
consumed. The smoke and flames broke
out to the north. Pembrokes upper
story and roof were all ablaze, and while
the flames extended only a few rods
north, there was suspicious stream OF
smoke pouring from the cornice of every
building on that half the block. All
that was needed to start the entire row
was a little air, which, fortunately
enough, was not supplied. The flames,
however, broke out briskly at the end OF
the cornice in question and the blaze
tlickered for a moment against the fire.
proof walls of Asmussen's store. A
splash of water was enough for this, and
the hose was soon playing on the main
blaze.
LOUD COMPLAINTS
Were heard on every side, because the
firemen seemed to be directing their at
tention to that part OF the property al
ready beyond redemption and neglecting
the adjoining blocks.
Soon after the fire started, the report
went round that there were explosives in
the Cunnington store, and for some time
the crowd steered shy OF the corner, but
upon being treasured that the powder
had all been removed, the people again
flocked around. At about half past
twelve O'Clock
A STREAM FROM THE REAR
Was gotten to play upon the flames, and
it was no doubt this that saved the roof
OF Dryers store and prevented the
flames from spreading to the north. 1t
was soon found, however, that the hose
was too short, and it was not until De-
lay of another half hour, that a good
steady stream was running from the by
drant on the south side Of Cunnington's,
around through the alley-way and on top
OF the burning houses. The workers in
the rear were kept busy during the en-
tire evening and did good share OF the
work which led to the final extinction.
Among those foremost on the rear end OF
the burning store was Officer Bill Calder,
who worked like a trooper with axe and
hose.
In the meantime, the flame was get
ting in its work on the front part of the
building. The elevated fronts of lath
and plaster, which were used as sign