The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-08-07
WEIRD. GRAND, ANElL.
Graphic Description Of the Great
Fire at Spokane,
AN AWFUL REIGN OF TERROR,
How the Terrible Monster Held High
Carnival and Swept Everything
Before It-,Fatal Negligence Of
Que Man Responsible,

oFuAANAFF ~ ALLSI We Al huBuhb VI
The wires are now in such a condition
that somewhat fuller particulars Of Sun
days conaagratIon can be given, The
first fire started at G;l5 o'clock p,
IN, in the roof OF a lodging house on
Railroad avenue, the third door from
Post street, A dead calm prevailed at
the time and the spectators supposed
that the hremeu would speedily bring
the flames under control, This could
have been donei II better precautions had
been taken, but the superintendent OF
the water works was out Of the city and
forsome reason the men failed, to respond
TO tho call for more pressure. The heat
created q current Of air and in less than
hall an hour the block ot frames en-
veloped in flames and burning shingles
and other debris filled the afr, ignitlng
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 otthe handsomest
struCturers in the Northwest, took fire.
It was now 10 o'clock and by that time
the high wind prevailed from the south.
west, and II was evident that the entire
business portion OF the city was In
danger.
Mayor Firth ordered that buildings be
blown up with giant powder 10 check
the spread OF the fire, This order was
speedily put into execution and explo.
sion added TO the reign Of terror. The
picture was weird, grand and awful.
Block after block yielded to the demon
OF destruction and the sky was overcast
with black clouds. A strong wind spraug
up from the northeast, tanning the
flames furiously, while an upper current
continued TO carry the burning tlmbers
In the opposite direction. The Grand
Hotel. Washington block, Tull block,
New granite block, Cushing building,
Falls City Opera House, Hyde block,
all the banks and in tact every house
from Lincoln street east to Washington
street, with the exception Of few build.
ings in the northeast corner, were TO.
tally destroyed.
Meanwhile a sudden change in the
direction OF the wind carried the fire
southwark across the railroad avenue
and destroyed the Northwestern Pacific
passenger and freight depots and several
cars. The freight depot was q splendid
structure and was filed TO the roof with
valuable merchandise, very little OF
which was saved, The terrifying shrieks
OF dozen locomotives mingled with the
rear Of the flames, the bursting Of car
tridges, the booming OF giant powder,
the hoarse shouts u men and pitiiul
shrieks OF women and children. Look.
ing upward, broad and mighty river OF
flame was seen against a Jet black sky.
Occasionally two opposing currents Of
wind met, causing whlrlwind OF fire
that seemed to penetrate the clouds, per.
forming all sorts OF fantastic gyrations.
In this manner the appalling mouster
held high carnival until about 10 o'clock,
when Howard street bridge over the
river went down. A boom OF logs took
fire and burned for hours on the crystal
surface OF the river. Many times flying
pillars OF fire covered the river, igniting
the mammoth lumber and Touring mills
that lined It's banks butby heroic efforts
It's career was checked on the south side
OF the stream. Looking backwards,
however, the beholder witnessed a scene
OF desolation that was fearful 10 Contem.
plate, Fragments Of the naked walls OF
what were, four hours before, magni.
lcent structures OF brick and granite,
stood like grim sentinels, Over the
surface Of the burning sea all was devas.
tatlon and ruin.
The burned district embraces thirty
blocks besides the depot. The only brick
business houses left standing are the
Crescent block and the American thea.
ire. The schools and churches, the col.
lego and hospital were beyond the
lines Of the burned district, and were
not lost. It's impossible, at this writing,
to estimate the loss with any degree Of
accuracy, but 1t will not fall below ten
million dollars, with IN insurance OF
about one.fourth OF that amount. The
banks obtained temporary quarters and
several have already opened Lfor bust.
ness. The work Of clearing away the
debris has already begun, aud the work
oi rebuilding will also he commenced at
once. Firemen are blowing down dan.
gerous walls, and a militia company Is
guarding the:burnt district, while mount
ed police patrol The entire city.
Tie City Council has held meeting
and passed q resolution providing for
the erection Of wooden buildings ln tue
burned district, and mass meeting Of
citizens sustained II unanimously.
A hopeful feeling prevails, and al.
though The destruction will retard the
progress OF the city for time, 1t is i'm.
possible that the resources so vast and
stability SO well established should be
blottea out. II will rise again grander
and better than before aud will still
claim its position as a commercial gen.
tire and the railway centre Of Eastern
Washington,