Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1889-08-09
The Loss Estimated at from
Nine to Fourteen Mil
lion Dollars.
Owing to Lack of Water the Fire
Gets Beyond Control Of
the Firemen.
The Superintendent of Water Works
Denounced by the City Coun-
Gil for Negligence.
Spokane Falls in Ashes.

SksOAAsAA0
SPOKANE FALLS, w. T.. August g.
The entire business portion of this city
was destroyed by fire last night. Twenty
five blocks were reduced to ashes. The
estimated loss is $14,00O,OOO. The fire
started at o'clock p. M, in a lodging house
on Railroad avenue. The fire department
came on the scene quickly, but owing to
lack of water the fire quickly spread to adj
joining frame buildings. and soon got be-
yond control. The flames jumped across
the street to the Russ house and Pacific
hotel. By this time strong wind sprung
up and it was evident that the city was
doomed. The flames spread with fearful
rapidity and the firemen were powerless.
Attempts were made to check the fire by
blowing up buildings IN its path, but was
useless. From the Pacific hotel the fire swept
across First street to frame buildings in
the next block and soon itreached the heart
of the city. "A block of two.story brick
buildings on Riverside avenue was easily
carried away. From here the fire commu-
nicated to the magnificent Hyde block, q
four-story building, taking in the whole
square between Mill and Howard streets
on Riverside avenue. The fire next leaped
across Howard street, and in a few minutes
the block between Howard and Stevens
streets was mass Of red-hot ashes. The
next structure to succumb was the large Tull
block. From there the conflagration went
iwhirling through solid blocks of four-story
brick buildings, including the postofice
between Stevens and Washington streets.
At this point the fire burned out from lack
Of material. From the place Of origin the
I fire had meanwhile taken another direc-
tion, leaping across Sprague street to the
opera house, and thence over Riverside
avenue to Browns bank; there both sides
of the avenue were in flames. The build
ings between Post and Mill streets were
quickly licked up, including the Grand
hotel. From here waves Of flame poured
into the adjoining square on the right, con
tanning the Frankfort block, the
largest block in the city. The
Frankfort block cost $500 It withstood
the fire for some time. but finally disap-
peared. Arlington hotel was now envel-
oped in flames. Suddenly . man was seen
TO jump from the second story. He arose
and started to run down Howard street,
but was overcome by the heat and fell.
Several people rushed to his assistance and
carried him to . place Of safety. He was 3
pitiab BILE sight. He had been literally
roasted alive. The unfortunate mans
name was Charles Davis. He died at noon
today. Northward was the direction
taken BY the fire from the Arlington. It
consumed the blocks between Howard
Main, Front and Stevens streets, burning
to the latter thorough ghfare, when vacant
lot checked further progress in that direc.
tion. Everything in : northerly direction.
including the Northern r aei6c express Of
fee, Union block and Windsor hotel were
soon : mass Of flames. The river prevent
edthe fire doing further damage and was
the means Of saving III the biz Touring and
lumber mills. Three hours sunced to COM
plete the awful destructio The only basi-