The Portland daily press., 1889-08-06
SPOKANE FALLS WENT UP IN FLAME.
Fourteen Million Dollars Is the
Measure of Loss.
Maine Capitalists Fully Protected
Against Loss.
A Roasted Man Runs Along the
Street.

SPOKANE FALLS, w. T., August 5.-The
entire business portion of this city was burn
ed last night. twenty-five blocks were re-
duced to ashes The estimated loss Is S14,-
100000. The fire started at p. m. in lodg-
Ing mouse on Railroad Avenue. The fire de-
partment came out promptly. but owing to
lack of water, the fire spread to the adjoining
frame buildings and was soon beyond con-
troll. The flames jumped across the street to
the Russ House and the Pacific Hotel. A
strong wind sprung up, and the fire spread
with fearful rapidly. The firemen were
powerless. Useless attempts were made to
check 1t by blowing up buildings in its path.
From the Pacific Hotel the ire swept across
First street to the frame buildings In the
next block, and soon reached the heart OF
this city. A block of two story brick build
ings on Riverside Avenue was easily carried
away. From here the fire communicated to
the manifcent Hyde block, a four story
building taking in the whole square be-
tween Mill and Seward streets on Riverside
Avenue, then leaped across Howard street.
In few minutes the block between Howard
and Stevens streets was mass OF ashes. The
next structure to succumb was the large Iult
block. Now the confagration went whirling
through the solid blocks, four story brick
buildings including the p0stofice between
Stevens and Washington streets. At this
point the fire burned out from lack Of
material.
From the place of the origin of the fire,
meanwhile, the flames had succeeded In
leaping across Sprague street to the Opera
House, then over Riverside Avenue to
Browns bank. Then both sides OF the
avenue were in flames. The buildings be-
licked up, including the Grand Hotel: From
here the flame poured into the adjoining
square on the right containing Frankfort
block, the largest building in the city. Frank
fort block cost S250,000, and withstood the
fire some but finally disappeared. The Ar
lington Hotel was enveloped in flames. Sud
denly man was seen to jump from the
second story. He arose, started to run down
Howard street, but was overcome by heat and
fell. He was carried to place OF safety, but
was found literally roasted alive. His skin
was peeling off all over his body. and he died
at noon today. Here the fire spread to the
north from Arlinaton, and consumed block
between Howard, Main, Front and Stevens
streets, burning east as FAR as the latter
thoroughfare, when vacant lot checked its
further progress in that direction. Every
thing to the north, including the Northern
Pacific Express office, Union block and
Windsor Hotel were soon mass OF flames.
The river here prevented the fire doing fur.
ther damage, saving all the big Touring and
lumber mills. Three hours sufficed to COM
plete the awful destruction.
The only business block left standiug In
the city is the Crescent building, saved by
tearing down the intervening building. Ow-
ing to the rapidity with which the fire
spread, scarcely anything is saved Provis-
ions are scarce and will last only short
time. The city council met this morning
- ls~E
decided that provisions be sent for the needy
and supplied free. The superintendent OF
the city water works was denounced by the
council for neglecting his duty, he being
away at the time of the fire. The big pumps
were not connected, and as a result there
was scarcely any pressure. Had the contrary
been the case the fire would have been easi-
lily gotten under control. The militia are
out in force and all persons without passes
are forbidden to enter the burned district.
Five out of the seven banks destroyed are
doing business to-day, all being located In
Crescent block. Notwithstanding the extent
of the calamity, the people wear cheerful
air and bear the losses bravely. Many busi-
ness men have already signiied their inten-
tion to rebuild
SAN FRANCISCO, Cal, August 5.-The
property loss by the Spokane Falls fire last
night is estimated at $4,000, ,000lby the Coast
Review, an insurance journal published in
this city. Inc same paper estimates the
total insurance at 81, 339, 800.
Helping Coming In.
PORTLAND, Ore, August 5.-Portland.
Seattle, Tacoma and several neighb0ring
towns have elready began to contribute to
the relief Of the people of Spokane Falls.
BANGOR, August Jonathan G. Clark of
this city. owner of the G. Il G. flour mill at
Spokane Falls, telegraphed today contribu-
tion of $1,000.
Mr.. Clark was seen this afternoon in rela-
tion to the great fire at Spokane Falls. He
was feeling very happy over the fact that his
establishment, the G. and G. Touring mill,
was saved. 1t was fully insured and was
protected by its own water works and force
pumps. Mr.. Clark says that the territory
burned in Spokane Is Just about the same as
1t would be here to burn from the Exchange
street to the Maine Central depot and taking
in Exchange Broad and Main streets and
the territory included Mr.. Clark says that
the loss has been very largely exaggerated,
although some of the buildings burned were
very much finer than any in Bangor.
He believes that the entire business part lof
the city is gone, including several blocks
valued from 100000 to 100000 but the whole
lost cannot be over S5,000,000. None Of the
residence portion of the city has succumbed
to the flames and the fire has been very much
the same. Mr.. Clark thinks, as the great
blaze at Seattle. On some Of the property
burned Bangor money was loaned but these
losses are protected by insurance. The city,
Mr. Clark says, will not be given any set
back by the fire but with new railroads run