The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-06-08
The Entire Business Portion Destroyed, Includ-
ing the Shipping, Banks. Hotels, News
paper and Telegraph Offices.
Over s1O,OOO,OOO Worth of Property Re-
duced to Ashes in a Few Hours.
Insurance Estimated at About Gne-Third the
Loss-PeparatlOns at Once Begun to Re-
build with Brick and StOne-An Appeal.
SEATTLE IN ASHES.
Washington Territory's Phenomenal City De-
stroyed by Flames-Appeal for Help.

washington Ierrltory's Enenomenai City DC
stroyed by Flames-Appeal for Help.
PORTLAND, Ore. June 7.-Dispatches from
Seattle state that the loss from fire yester-
day will not fall short of S10OO0.0O0 1t is
estimated that the total insurance will
reach all the way from S1.500.00O to S4.00o.-
900. Already, in many places. the
workmen have begun TO grade and
clean up the lots preparatory to build
ing. Many of the merchants have secured
quarters in the residence portion of the city,
and are open this morning with the rem
nants of their stock from fire. The people
have decided TO rebuild the city with brick
and stone. This decision was reached
quickly and almost unanimously at a meet .
ing held this morning. All companies of
the First Regiment are out guard
ing the damaged property. and
preventing the pilfering of the
merchandise or home furnishings
The city is quiet and everybody hopeful.
Governor Miles G.. Moore has just issued
proclamation, in which he says:
"The city of Seattle is in ashes. A hur-
ricane of fire swept over the queenly city.
and she is in ruins. Thousands Of her citi-
zen zens are .,; without food ihs0r or s1el, ,s.
spirit of her. people. She will
rise again in her desoIation. She is not
supplicant, but there are homeless people
to be sheltered and hungry ones TO be fed.
] appeal to the great-hearted people of our
Territory. who have recently so generously
responded to the cry of distress from Johns
town, to heed this appeal for aid from their
own suffering fe low citizens. The record
of losses will include every business
man of prominence in town. 1t is q
dreadful calamity from which few have es-
capped. All tho citizens made common
cause with the firemen In their powerless
fight. 1t had been predicted by insurance
men time and again that the city would
some time be swept by tire, and only the
wind from the north and northeast.
which kept up steady blowing, and
drove the flames into the bay, saved
that part of the city north of Union
street. This leaves good wharf room ont
side of the burned district. and sparing the
homes of a large number of the poorer peo-
pie who had all their earthly possessions
within the wooden walls of their humble
huts."
Engines sent from Portland. Tacoma and
Victoria, reached the scene with all posi-
BILE haste, but on arrival could accom-
plish very little toward check
ing the speed of the flames.
Tacoma citizens sent to Seattle early
this morning large quantities of bread,
provisions. blankets, tents and one ham
dred slaughtered beeves TO supply the
immediate wants of the homeless people.
Portland sent several carloads of provis-
ions, bedding, blankets and tents. General
Gibbons, commanding Department of Co
lumbia, will send seventy tents from Van
couver barracks at once Aid in any way
of money and necessaries of life will be
forwarded frem different sections of the
country without delay.
The district destroyed In Seattle covers
an area of thirty-one blocks. The bonn
aries of the burned district are as follows:
University. Front. Spring to Second. James.
South. Fourth, Wall and Water streets.
This comprises the business portion of the
city. The residence district escaped.
From the official figures furnished
by the local and foreign insurance COM
panies, the Coast Review (newspaper) places
the property loss at $700O0O0. This is COW
cred by total insurance Of 50 2J0, 900. OF
this amount S, ,9O4 900 is held by companies
represented in San Francisco. Six Oregon
companies carry risks representing round
total of S25O000. Fifteen small outside COM
panies carry risks estimated at about
S15O,000.