The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1889-08-10
THREE HOURS WORK.
The City Of Spokane Falls, Washington
Territory, In Ashes.

Territory, In Ashes.
ONLY ONE BUSINESS BLOCK LEFT
STANDING IN THE TOWN.
The Loss Estimated at sIA,OOO,OoO.
IN. o.. Picsyune.]
SPOKANE FALLS, W.T.. Aug. 81
Tue entire business portion OF this city
was destroyed by fire last night.
Twenty. Ave blocks were reduced to
aches The estimated loss is $40, O0O,~
900.
The fire started al p. ID. in lody-
ing house on Railroad avenue. The
fire department came Oh the scene
quickly, but owing TO q lack Of water
tue fire quickly spread TO adjoining
frame buildings and was soon beyond
control. The flames jumped across the
street to the Russ House and the
Pacific Hotel.
BY this time strong wind sprung
up, add it was evident the city was
doomed. The flames spread with fear
full rapidity. The fremen were power
less. Attempts were made to check
the fire by blowing up buildings in its
path, but it was useless.
From the Pacific Hotel the fire swept
across First street 10 the frame build
inas 10 the next block, and soon 1t
reached the heart of the city. The
block Of two-story brick buildings on.
Riverside avenue was easily carried
away.
From here the fire communicates to
the magnificent Hyde block, 4 four
story building, taking in the whole
suuare between Mill and Howard
streets on Riverside avenues. The fire
next leaped across Howard street and
in few minutes the block between
Howard aud Stevens streets was
mass of red-hot ashes.
The next structure TO succumb was
the large Tult block. From there the
went whirlins through
the solid blocks OF four-story brick
including the post office, be-
tween Stevens and Washington streets.
Al this point the fire burned out from
lack of material.
From the place of origin the fire had
taken another direction,
leaping across Sprague street to the
opera house, and thence over river
side avenue to Browns bank, then
both sides Of the avenue were In
flames. The buildings between Post
and Mill streets were quickly licked
up, including the Grand Hotel. From
here the waves of flame poured into
the adjoining square on the right, con-
tanning the Frankfort block, the lar
gest building in,the city.
The Frankfort cost $25O,O0O. 1t
withstood the fire for sometime but
finally disappeared. The Arlington
Hotel was now enveloped in flames.
Suddenly man was seen to jump
from the second story. He arose and
started to run down Howard. street,
but Yves overcome by the heat and fell.
Several people rushed 10 his assistance
and carried him TO q place OF safety.
He was pitiab!e sight, having been
literally roasted alive, the skin peeling
of all over his body. The unfortunate
mans name was Charles Davis. He
died at noon to-day.
Northward was the direction taken
by the fire from the Arlington. 1t
consumed the block between Howard,
Hahn, Front and Stevens streets. burn
ing east as far as the latter thorough
fare. where a vacant lot checked furth-
er progress ia that direction. Every
thing in a Dortherly direction, includ-
ing the Northern Pacific Express office,
the Union block aud the Windsor
Hotel. was soon in a mass of f1ames.
The river prevented the fire from
doing further damage, aud was the
means of saving all the big Touring
and lumber mills.
Three hours sufficed to complete the
destruction. The only business block
standing in the city is the Crescent
building which was saved by means
of tearing down Intervening build
ings.
Owing to the rapidiiy with which
the fire spread scarcely anything was
saved. Provisions are scarce and Will
last only short time. The city coun-
Gil met this morning and appointed a
committee on relief. 1t was decided
that provisions should be sent for and
the needy supplied free.
The superintendent OF the city water
works was denounced by the council
for neglectipg his duty, he being away
at the time of the fire. The big pumps
were not connected, and as result
there was scarcely any pressure. Had
the contrary been the case, The fire
would have been easily gettea under
control.
The militia is out in full force, ant
all persons without passes are l0rbld