The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1889-06-27
Late FOreign News.
Nine Days Later from San
Francisco.
Seattle Destroyed By Fire.


resulted in conaagration that des-
troyed nine-tenths of the city.
The section destroyed was on low
land reclaimed from the tide, and
wooden buildings were built on piles
giving great advantage to the flames.
The streets were paved with wood
planking and the wharves extended
far out into the water. All the
brick buildings we're costly and sub
stantial. The area devastated COM
prised ninety-four acres thickly
built. The boundary of the fire on
the north is University street, on the
west and south Seattle harbor, and
on the east Second and Fourth
streets. There were about five
hundred wooden and fifty brick
buildings. The wooden buildings
we're mostly old, and being in the
fire limits, if they had alone burned
no regret would have been felt, but
every brick building in town is gone
except three. One of the latter was
the Boston block and another an un-
finished building Two of these
survivors were much injured when
the sun set that night. All the rail-
road property in the city was des-
troyed. Every bank, theater engine
house, telegraph office and news
paper office is gone. The City
Hall, with records, was lost,
and the big Occidental Hotel and
nearly every wharf, electric light
and gas works is lost, and the cleo
trio and cable road disabled.
A strong north wind was blowing
when the fire started, which increas-
ed until about six, when the flames
were driven at the speed of a prairie
fire. The first row of buildings at
tackled were of wood, built on piles,
and the fire devoured them with in
credible speed and then reached out
on all sides, licking up big saw
mill, three wooden blocks and the
Frye Opera House, four story
brick. The supply of water was
insufficient and the firemen were I'M
able to accomplish anything. Half
an hour after the fire started people
half mile away began to move per-
sonal effects and to blow and tear
down buildings, in the hope of
checking the flames, but the fire
laughed at the feeble endeavors, and
stopped at the water on one side and
steep hills on the other. At Z o'clock
o'clock on the hills looked down on
ninety acres of flames. The fire
sped with the wind, leaping the
streets in second. Many of the
brick blocks were four stories in
height, but few minutes sufliced
for their destruction. On reaching
the Whitechapel district, in South
Seattle, the fire spread so rapidly
that people were glad to escape with
life. Little effort was made here to
fight the destroyer. AS soon as the
citizens could rouse from their dis
may vigilance committee was
formed, two companies Of militia
called out and 200 special police
sworn in, but not too soon, for
thieves were abreast of the fire pillag-
ing stores, A jewelry store was
cleaned out at one rush. Several
hundred men Systematically began
the work of plumber, and these were
reinforced by an army from Tacoma,
who came by train. One tirebug
espied setting fire to building was
shot at repeatedly by policeman
until h was killed in his attempted
hiding place.
The loss of life in the fire is est,
mated at twenty-five.
The loss is estimated at Sl5, 000,.
900, and insurance about 20 pei
cent. of the whole. A number OF
losses were paid within two days.
Offers from capitalists in other cities
of money for rebuilding were receiv
ed to an aggregate of $50, 200, 900
AT meeting presided over by tilt
mayor the morning after the fire, thu
500 or 600 citizens assembled re
solved to rebuild the city of brcl
and stone. The question beins
raised as to whether $558 raised TO
the Jolnstown sufferers should no
be retained for home relief, hun
dred voices shouted, "Ne, let he
gop' Relief for the sufferers by tn
fire is generous from all sides.
OTHER INTELLIGENCE.
The United States Navy Depart
ment has decided to recognize Kin
Mataafa's services in saving life an
property at Apia, by sending him
whale boat of the latest improve
model, to be built at the Mare Islam
navy yard. 1t will be accompanie
with an autograph letter from Pres
> dent Harrison and taken to Same
by committee of surviving nayi
officers, who will probably leay
; California in August.
Pndham of Australia was at MOI
} treal ON the 9Th inst, making il
; quiries about the Canadian Pacit
; Railroad as a mail route, ON beha
: of Australia. He says there is
: very great feeling of annoyance
a Australia against the Americs
Government for not assisting Il
l mail service between the two cou
a tries.
: There are strained relations l.
Z