Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1889-06-13
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON TERRI
TORY, ALMOST ENTIRELY
DESTROYED BY FIRE.
Water Gives Out and the Flames
Make Clean sweep-Com-
muhication Cut on

TACOMA, w. T., June THE bust
ness portion of Seattle, the largest city
In the territory, is In ashes. Every
bank, hotel, place Of amusement, all
the leading business houses, all the
newspaper offices, railroad depots, mills
steamboat wharves, coal bunkers
freight warehouses and telegraph off,
ces are burned down.
The fire began near the corner of
Front and Pearl streets. in the candy
factory buildings, at 2:30 p. M, and be-
fore midnight, had consumed the whole
business section of the city northward
to StetsOns & Posts mill, along front
and Second streets, to water front, in
vOlving loss of over S6,0O0,OO0. The
city is literally wiped out, except the
residence portion on high ground. At
$3.50 o'clock the flames reached the
wharves, and the steamboats, and ship
ping were compelled to haul out in the
stream. The ocean steamers Mexico
for SanFrancisco, and the Ancon, for
Alaska, escaped destruction by pulling
out into the harbor.
A stiff breeze was blowing from the
northwest when the fire began, and 1t
soon got the best of the fire department.
The water supply gave out within two
hours after the fire began, and then the
flames had clean sweep.
AT 0 o'clock p. m. 1t was impossible
to get press dispatches from Seattle.
Through Insurance agencies In this city
1t is learned that 81 blocks so far have
been burned in the business portion OF
city, aud there is great danger of the
loss Of 20 blocks more. The fire Is not
yet under control. The latest dispatch
states the fire had reached the great
coal Sunkers. Should these be destroy
ed it is certain that the flames will be
communicated to large number of
wooden buildings. Seattle's fire de-
partment was entirely inadequate to
cope with the flames and up to 8 p. m.
no help had arrived from Tacoma or
Portland. Further information OF the
great calamity must be taken to Taco
ma by boat. .,
A later dispatch from Ssattle says en-
gines and firemen have arrived from
Tacoma. Help has been telegraphed
for from Victoria, B. c., but 1t could
hardly arrive in time to be Of any assis-
tance to the burning city.
SEATTLE, w. T., June What was
the business part Of this city is this
nothing but smoldering ruins
and debris. Fire broke out yesterday
afternoon in the basement Of a two
story frame building on the southwest
corner of Front and Madison streets
owned by Mrs. Margaret Peutens. The
fire originated in some turpentine
which caught fire in some way. The
first story was leased by the Seattle
Shoe company, and the upper floor be-
ing occupied for offices were soon ablaze,
the volunteer fire department
promptly to the alarm they
could do little or nothing to check the
flames.
The building, like most of the others
Of its kind in the business centre, was
not detached but was corner one of a
row of frame buildings, all Joined to-
gether and of various heights. They
were of tinder and proved an easy prey
to the flames. Adjoining the first bull
ding was Dretz & Meyers wholesale
liquor store. The barrels of liquor ex-
plOded with terrific reports as soon as
the fire reached them, scattering the
cinders far and near.
In short time the entire square COM
posing the Denney block in which a
confectionery store, Gilmore & Co.'S real
estate Office and several other establish
ments, including a number of profess
sional Offices and some lodging apart
ments, were soon destroyed.
An effort was made to food the Cole
man building on Front street, but to no
avail. The flames spread across Mar
ion street to the Palace and Opera
saloons. In less than half an hour
another square was laid in ashes. This
took in Smiths grocery, Merchants
confectionery, q fruit store,
J. w. Lang & Co.'S drug store, John
spencer, plumbing and steam fitting
establishment: r. j. Graham, tailor;
Edgar Bryan's pawnshop, the palace
Gering & O'Connell'sj jewell
y store, Souster's barber shop, Leslie 3
store and DObelly & Marion's
store.
THE LOSSES.
SEATTLE, w. r., June lit Is now
estimated that the loss by fire In, this