, 1889-06-13

they could do nothing but stand an
= watch it burn. One fire engine, enginee
= and two horses were burned up Will
Standing on the dock working.
, ProyisionC viii be collected from ou
people, and sent to the ill-fated city 10
the relief OF her inhabitants, who are lef
almost destitute of food.
From a gentleman who arrived on th.
Edith Friday a. m. we learn the follow
ing particulars of the terrible aeyasta
tion of Seattle by the fire yesterday. Al
half past three p. m. an alarm Of fire wal
rung from Fourth street in paint shop
! between Madison and Front. The wind
was blowing northwest and the flames
were carried to the adjoining buildings
and in moment four were in a blaze.
The fire was now beyond the control of
the limited fire department and the Off
cials OF Tacoma were at once telegraphed
to for assistance which WAS promptly re-
sponded 10. The wind blowing hard the
flames made rapid beaGwaY and every
thing IL is track fell victim. Fryes
opera house, the finest amusement re-
sort on the sound, was ihe frat brick
building tu catch, and was soon mass
OF ruins; the fire then spread toward the
water front, consuming everything,
though the tiremeD from Tacoma and
Seattle were working as il their lives
were depending upon it; perspiration
rolled from them and their muscles
stuck out like whip cords. Men were
battling with the flames, struggling to
save the lives of those who seemed help.
less from fear.
The magnificent store of Toklas &
Singleman was soon victim, and their
magnificent stock of goods amounting
S35O.OO0 burned. From this building
the fire spread in all directions reach
ing the railway depots and under
the Wharves. which we're destroyed not
withstanding the united efforts OF the
tiremen. One steam engine was 60
hemmed III by the flames that it was
impossible to get off and the engineer,
ergine and horses we're burned and fell
in tho harbor and were drowned. At
haif-past four fire broke out in the roof
of the Occidental hotel, but is was i'm
possible to do anything to save il, and
the eity's finest hotel was in q little
while a mass of ruins. The fire con-
tinued III the direction Of the court
house, taking everyt rs
the Arlington, Bru aua E
England hotels en- iis sEFa,
theaters, churches. b
IN the business portion =. s..o s.s, -
which but a few hours before
was full of activity was now mass Of
ruins, the Boston block being the o ly
one to stand the test. The fre-proof
buildings which were Seattle's proud
coast were but feeders to the flames.
The excitement, after the fire had OBJ
tained control, was something, tbs
equal of which bad never been Witnessed
III this country except during the dark
days of Chicago's conhagration. Low
ing mothers with their children in theiT
arms or clutchirg nervously at their
dresses were running from corner to cor
ner, not knowing what to do or Hhero
to go, their homes, their all was now
gore, and the savings of years had gone
up in smoke. The people whose homes
were in the numerous lodging houses
seemed powerless to do anything; ons
woman who occupied room in the top
fiat of the Minnesota lodging house
threw large sntchel from tue window
OF her room and then jumped after is
and was picked up a bleeding corpse.
One man, the proprietor of q small store
on Front street, went violently insane
aDd rsn shriesing from his store door,
the crowd chasing him aud hs was with
difficulty caught and taken TO his home
on the hill.
Nearly all the personal effects OF those
in the downtown lodging houses was
carried to the sidewalks and from there
removed to safer quarters ON the hill.
At seven O'Clock the city was placed
under martial law and the militia pa
trolled the streets, extra policemen were
sworn in and the marauders who had al
ready begun their work were summarily
dealt with. One man was found steal
ing some trink9ts from house and when
ne found that he was detected started to
run, an officer called to him to stop, be
sped on but three bullets from pistol
travelled faster and the man fell corpse
Two men caught robbing house were
hanged frcm beam in front OF one the
stores in the course OF erection back
from the Boston block. Drunken men
and fallen women paraded the streets,
they had no more TO lose aud they occu-
pied the night singing songs snd getting
drUnker as the time wore on.
Not wharf is left standing except
one in the neighborhcod OF Bell
view, and passengers TO or from any
of the outside ports must
reach the steamers by sma'
boats. The loss was estimated at thirty
millions of dollars. one-hah OF which js
covered by insurance. Inc people arc
destitute, homeless in many Instances
ard without food. Men who counted
their thousands yesterday are pennies
to day. Tho effort to SEED tents and
provisions TO the sufferers last night
was failure, but the fuller reports
which reached the city during the early
hours this morning spurred our citizen'
to concerted action with the result that
$4,000 in money and the same amount
| IN provisions left on the Fairhayen al
| IL o'clock this morning.
Since the above was placed IN type
telegram to the effect that the tIse veg
under control late last nightdrss os'H
received. A number Of r<si''enoeS "efe
destroyed, but as>.sdsy were .. sl' DOT 50
closely built p~>ch' S'oie' TIC n'0 "''