Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-08-06
Twenty-Five Blocks Reduced to Ashes
One Life Lost

TwentyeFiv Blocks Reduced to Ashes
One Life Lost.
SPOKANE FALLS, CIV. To- August 5th.-
The entire business portion of this city was
destroyed last night. Twenty-Five blocks
were reduced to ashes. The estimated loss
is fourteen millions.
The fire started at seven o'clock. P. NJ. in
lodging house on Railroad avenue. The
fire department was on hand quickly, but
owing to a lack of water fire rapidly spread
to the adjoining frame building, and was
soon beyond control.
The flames jumped across the street to
the Russ House and Pacific Hotel. By this
time strong wind sprung up, and il was
evident the city was doomed.
The fire spread with fearful rapidity, and
the firemen were powerless. Attempts
were made to check the Ere by blowing up
buildings in its path, but in vain.
From the Pacific Hotel the fire jumped
across Flont street to the frame buildings in
the next block, and it soon reached the
heart of the city.
a block of two-story brick buildings on
Riverside avenue next went. From here
the fire communicated to the magnificent
Hyde block, a four-story building, taking
in the whole block between Mill and How.
ard streets. on Riverside.
The fire leaped across Howard, and in a
few minutes the block between Howard
and Stevens was reduced to ashes.
Next to succumb was the large Tull
block and q solid block of four-story bricks,
including the Postoffice between Stevens
aud Washington.
Here the fire burned out from a lack of
material. From the point of beginning the
fire took another direction, leaping across
Sprague street to the Opera House block
From it the flames leaped across Riverside
avenue TO Browns Bank, and then both
sides of the avenue were in flames.
The block between Post and Mill was
quickly licked up, including the Grand
Hotel. From here it communicated to the
adjoining block on the right. Here was
the Frankfort block the largest building
in the city, and which cost two hundred
and fifty thousand dollars. 1t withstood
the fire for some time, but finally sue
cumbed.
The Arlington Hotel was the next to CO.
The building was enveloped in flames
when a man was seen to Jump from the
second story. He arose and started down
Howard street, when he was overcome bv
heat and fell. Several people rushed to his
assistance and carried him to a place of
safety. BE was ipitible sight, being lit
orally roasted, his skin peeliug off all over
his body. His name was Charles Davis, of
From the Arlington Hotel the fire trav-
eled north and consumed the block be-
tween Howard, Main and Front and Stew
ems, burning last as far as the latter street,
where a vacant lot checked its further
progress in that direction.
Everything in a northerly direction, in
Guiding the Northern Pacific Express,
Union Block and Windsor Hotel, was soon
a mass of flames.
The river prevented the FIRE doing further
damage, and was means of saving the
big Touring and lumber mills. By this
time, in the short space of three hours, the
fire had consumed everything in it's path,
reducing to ashes the entire business por-
ton of the once beautiful CITY,
The only business block left standing is
the Crescent Building, which was saved
by tearing down the intervening buildings.
Owing to the rapidity with which the fire
spread, scarcely anything was saved.
Provisions are scarce and will last only a
short time. The City Council met this
morning and appointed a Committee on
Relief.
Provisions will be sent for, and the needy
supplied free, The City Superintendent of
the Water Works has been roundlv GEN.
sured by the Council for neglecting his
duty and being away at the time of the fire.
The big pumps were not connected, and
at the time OF the fire there was scarcely
any pressure. Had there have been the FIRE
would have been easily gotten under con-
troll.
The militia is out in force, and all per-
sons without pass are forbidden within
the burnt district.
Five out of the seven banks are doing
business to-day in the Crescent block.
Every body bears their losses brayely.
Many business men already signify their
intention 10 rebuild.
ESTIMATED LOSSES.
PORTLAND. August 5th.-The exact loss
by the FIRE at Spokane is yet unknown, but
Mayor Delasmutt received a telegram this
morning from the destroyed city stating
that twenty eight blocks were destroyed
and that the people are destitute Of provis-
ions except -four.
Mayor Delssmutt and Acting President
of tie Bcsrd of Trade c. H. Dodd ap.
pointed q committee to solicit subscrip-
tons.
Tonight three carloads of tents, provis-
ions and blankets will be sent.
s. G. Fnlton of the Northern Pacific |
Railroad Company has instructed the
agents 10 receive and bill free of charge all
contributions for Spokane.
The Oregon and Marine Insurance Com !
paDy will sustain q loss of $23, 100
The following companies in this city fur |
nish approximales of the losses, their iig-
ures being the result of hasty conclusions
Imperial Insurance Company, S25 coo.
Firemep's Fund, $50, coo.
The Royal, London, $40 600.
London and Lancaster, $40 600.
Commercial of California, $4,000,
Hartford of Connecticut, $4,000.
German-A mericsn. $40 600.
Union Insurance Company, $4,000.
London Assurance Company, SIS. 900.
Colonel Brush, the agent of the Home
Mutual of San francisco. says that the
loss of his company will not exceed $35 600,
and it may possibly fall lower.
The Hemburg-Bremen agent st Spokane
reports directto the Office at San Francisco.
Columbia Fire ana Marine, $50. 050
The Northwestern, from $l4, 000 to 500
900.
Pacific, s15. 600.
New Zealand. So, SEQ.
State Investment of California is unable
to furnish their loss.
S. G. Fulton, of the Northern Pacific
Railroad, states that the reported loss of
$4,000 By his company IS somewhat exag-
gersted.
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