The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1889-08-07
SWEPT BY FIRE.
The City Of Spokane Falls, w. T.,
Almost Wiped Out
By One Of the Most Destructive Con-
flagrations on Record-Sev-
eral Persons Cremated.

Nearly Forty Blocks in the Business Por-
tion of the Town Burned-Loss Esti-
mated at s7,OO0,000.
SPOKANE FALLS, w. T., Aug. 6.-The en-
tire business portion Of this city, with the
exception Of one mill, was destroyed by fire
Sunday night The blaze started in lodg-
ing house on Railway avenue at five o'clock
and burned until yesterday morning. A
large number Of frame buildings and sew
eral grain elevators were near tho lodging
house and soon after the fire broke out they
were ablaze A strong wind was blowing
toward the city at the time, and the blaze
was soon beyond the control of the hremen.
The fire leaped from street to street and
nothing could be done but let the flames
have their own way until they reached the
river and then endeavor to prevent the fire
from reaching the buildings on the opposite
side
The flames swept through the city and
one business block after another was con-
,umed, every thing burning to the waters
edge. The fire department was stationed
on the other side Of the stream and pre-
vented flying timbers from setting fire to
the buildings there. Only few dwellings
were destroyed, as the residence portion Of
the city was not visited by the fire.
Every business house in the city, includ-
ing eight banks, all the hotels but one-all
magnificent structures-and every newspa-
per save the Review were burned out. The
burned district includes all that part Of the
ott fsaff, thn NNffhart, paniAC tatltxyar 20
the river and from Lincoln to Washington
streets. Several persons are known TO have
perished and several more were injured by
leaplng from windows. Charles Davis, Of
Chicago, guest at the Arlington House,
was awakened by flames bursting through
the door Of his room on the third floor. he
IumpeS from the window and was shock
ingly mangled and died in q few minutes.
A woman whose name is unknown leaped
from the second story Of the Pacific Hotel
and was killed. The fire spread with such
astonishing rapidity that II is believed
many were shut of from escape before
they were even aware Of their danger. A
dozen large buildings were blown up with
giant powder by order Of the mayor, but
even this proved futile. The Northern Pa
cific railroad is probably the heaviest loser,
the magnificent new freight warehouse be-
ing destroyed. Their loss, including freight
burned, will reach about sl,0O0,0OO. All
provisions and supplies were burned and
there will necessarily be much suffering
for several days. Appeals for help have
been sent out, and Portland, Seattle, Taco
ma and several neighboring towns have al
ready responded.
Spokane Falls was one Of the most prom
lnent Of the many new cities In the infant
State OF Washington. Situated on the line
Of the Northern Pacific railroad, close to the
Cour d'Alene mining region, the city has
been the site for many large industrial en-
terprises, such as smelters and kindred en-
terprises. Expensive public edihces had
also been recently erected, and the popula-
ton was supporting two prosperous daily
papers.
strip between the Northern Pacific railroad
tracks and the Spokane river This strip
was five square miles across and extended
about seven squares in length. It was sol
idly built up with brick and stone struc-
lures, the cost Of which varied from s25, 600
10 Sl25, 900 Ten banking houses, five hotels,
the Opera House and many wholesale es-
Adjustments, doing business estimated at
half million dollars each, were situated
within the district described.
The population Of the city is about 10000.
The city possessed an excellent water works
modelled after the Holly system with ca
pacity OF 100000 gallons daily. There
we're no fire engines, but by the system in
use FIVE or six good sized streams OF water
could be concentrated on any block in case
Of fire. The fire department was volun-
teer one. AS 10 insurance the bestinforma-
tion is that no large amount was carried.
Buildings that cost $4,000 TO $4,000 are
known TO have had but 5000 to $4,000.
The chief losses are as follows Holly,
Mason, Marks & Co., wholesale hardware,
s25, 900; the Great Eastern wholesale and
retail dry goods house, 800 600; the white
House." wholesale dry goods house, $780, 600; (;
Lowcnberg Brothers, 100000: Benham &
Griffiths, wholesale grocers, 1000; Mason,
Smith & Co., grocers, $4,000; Pacific Hotel,
$4,000: Grand Hotel, $4,000; Windsor,
s35, 900; Hyde block, ST5,000 Washington
block, $4,000; Crescent, $4,000; Cannon
block, $4,000; Moore block, $4,000; First
National Bank block, $4,000; Wolverton
block, $4,000; Frankfort block, sl25O0Oi
Tull block, $4,000.
Estimates Of losses range from seven u
thirty millions, but conservative men place
the loss at S7,0O0,0OO. Although the ground
burned over is not so extensive as at Seat
tie, yet the business buildings were much
more costly, and the loss will consequently
be very heavy, as great number carried
only light insurance.