The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-08-07
2p0KANE'S LURID SHEET.
rpz FIRE ONCE STARTED SIMPLY
IRRESISTIBLE.


prevented if the superintendent OF
.ba Water Works Had Been on Hand
mo Estinaate on the Loss Cut Down
TO s1oOoo,ooo
SPOKANE FALLS, w. T. Aug. 6.-The
wires are now in such condition that
sornafbat fuller particulars of Sundays
,orq,,,rstion can be given. The fire started
o.s.,5 o'clock IN the afternoon in the roof
of a LODGING house on Railroad avenue,
.Lra, ,7o,. $ from Post street. A dead calm
..,,.oiIaj at the time, and the spectators
srnnosed that the fremen would speedily
bring the flames under their control. This
oor1j bava been done if better precautions
had been taken, but the superintendent of
of the water works was out of the city, and
for some reason the men in charge failed to
rasnond to the call for more pressure.
THE WHOLE BLOCK ABLAzE.
The heat created current of air, and in
less than half an hour the entire block Of
frame shops was enveloped in flames and
burniDg shingles and other debris filled the
air toniting several of the adjoining blocks.
At the same time the opposite block to that
in which the fire originated, in which stood
the Pacific hotel. one OF the handsomest
, structures in the northwest, took fire. 1t
was now 10 o'clock, high wind prevailed
from the southwest, and it was evident that
the entire business portion OF the city was
in danger.
BUILDINGS BLOWN UP.
Nayor Firth ordered that buildings be
blown up with giant powder, to check the
spread Of the fire. This CIDER was speedily
put into execution, ynd explosions added TO
the reign Of terror. The picture was
weird, grand and awful one, as block after
block yslded the demon of destruction.
The SKY was overcast with black clouds
A strong wind sprang up from the north
east, tanning the flames furiously, while
an upper current continued to carry burn
ing embeIs in the opposite direction.
FINE STRUCTURES CONSUMED.
The Graad hotel, Washington block.
Eagle block, Tull block, new granite block,
Cushing building, Falls City opera house,
Hyde block, ali the banks, and in fact
every house from Railroad avenue north to
the river, and from Lincoln street east to
Washington street, with the exception of a
few buildings in the northeast corner, were
totally destroyed. Meanwhile, a sudden
change in the direction Of the wind carried
the fire s1Uthward across Railroad avenue,
and destroyed the Northern Pacific passen-
ger and freight depots and several cars
The freight depot was a splendid structure,
and was filed 10 the roof with valuable
merchandise, very little of which was
saved.
A SCENE OF TERROR.
The terrifying shrieks OF dozen locomo-
h7es mingled with the rear of the flames,
the 1urstlng of cartridges, the booming of
giant powder, the hOarse shouts of the
menand the pitiful shrleks of women and
children added to the wild excitement of
tLo hour. Looking upward a broad and
mighty river OF tane was seen against the
det BACK sky Occasionally two opposing
currents Of wind met, causing a whirlwind
oI IRE that seemed To penetrate the clouds.
performing all sorts OF fantastic gvrations
In TINS ma neT the appalling monster held
higl carnival until about 10 o'clock, when
tle howard street bridge over the river
went Gown. The boom of gs took fire aud
burned Tor hours on the surface of the river
Many times flying pillars Of fire covered
Inc liyer, igliting the mammoth lumber
Il ana 1Jurlng mills that lined its banks; but
Dy nerolc Ell Jrts its career was checked on
4 Inc south side OF the stream.
FEARFUL DESOLATION.
Looking backward. however, the be-
h0lder wit esSed q scene of desolation that
was fearful to contemplate. Fragments Of
maAeu "a'iS OF what were four hours before
magnificent structures Of brick and granite
STOOD Ike grim sentinels. Over the snrface
4 ruin. "ii0
The burned district embraces thirty
piocAS besides the depot. The only brick
nu9'eS ieII standing are the Crescent block
4 "'u ~ American theater. Schools and
Uuulcnes, , the college and hospital were be-
yona tae lines of the burned district and
were not lost.
THE LOSS FULLY Sl0,000,00O.
., ~ Is impossible at this writing to estimate
IL yni]s' i99s WIN any degree of accuracy. but
iU IN WIZ noC 1ail short Of $10,O00,O0O, with an
ms rance OF about one-fourtb tbat amount
10Y DaAhS nave octained temporary quar-
onsnaL. ms, anu several have already opened for
j GaInioSs' 1,HoSs' ne work Of clearing away the
rsp',:S D,.S las already begun and the work of
4 Fire,r,aIi " ~ DC also ommenced at once.
and -tien +ba are piowlng down dangerous walls,
4 Le ~ tre militia company is guarding the
t, o1ln1 district, while mounted police 3etroI
rair a1 suIlre CITY. The military company was
to-day. e"NJ 1ioh "aIa "alIa
FIRE LIMIT.
dilo nue city council has held a meetino and
tion uoseu as ~ resolution prohibiting the erec-
t1jn, t,G,. ol wooden buildings in the burned dis
tsre5 tT', aau Ut a mass meeting of citizens sus-
tba b-ea r II unanimously. It will be passed nj
c9lrogs oysular IA; Wednesday meeting of the
tion ti~l'a. Inc council has passed resoin.
boto,, IeVoAlng the licenses of all
nrovis; STS ana restaurants and of dealers in
t'sions twossios who advance their prices, O3Iv
cosa5 saoons ~. G remain, and they have been
W me order of Mayor Firth,
p, AFTER THE SUPERINTENDENT.
vsteo council ordered u committee on fire
Of thu qua qua sewers to investigate the cause
worSo rJo absence Of its superintendent of water
Com. COM, as The man left in charge was in.
The is5Ipe iropeiul feeling prevails, and altbopgb
the c'fr Isuctlon will retard the progress Of
sorrcsys 4. 1or time, il is impossible that re-
lsaoJ' sSoy5 ~ y5st ard stability so well estab-
again 9nouId ...d be blotted out. 1t win rise
viii stil Al'ahaer aIllr and better than before and
ea ceatol can, Cl'lfn Its position as the CONNER
Wasbjbgo1t5, ana railway center of eastern
SS4OhS