The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1889-08-13
SPOKANE FALLS In ASHES.
The Business Portion of the
City Entirely Laid
i'm Ashes.
The Damage Estimated at
Bet cen 900, 900 and
$50,0O0,000.

SJ0,0O0,000.
Spokane Falls, Wash. Aug. }. I-s-
teriay afternoon at about } o'c.ccs, a tire
broke on. in a frame building an Railroad
avenue, near the Northern Pacific depot.
The FIRE brigade, a volunteer organization,
was hamIerei by an insufficient supply Of
water and was unable to keep the fire IN
der control or To limit its rayages TO the
block in which il started, and now the en-
tire business portion OF the city is in ashes.
The loss is enormous. Several estimates
place the total at as high as $4,000, 900,
and others who were in position to Judge
snid at first that the loss is nearer S50,000,-
600. Later estimates: however,
based on calculations rather
than guesses, seem to indicate
that the value of buildings and stocks de-
stroyed is about els 900 600, and it is
hoped that these later figures are more re-
liable than the earlier ones. The history
of the fire is simply this: The flames were
in the eating house between 5
and 6, and the volunteer FIRE brigade re-
sponded promptly to the cali. The wind
was very high and it was evident from the
first that the tlock was do med. Bnt the
fire could have been confined to il had there
been a sufficient supply of water. Tue
brigade had DO engines, but if the water
works had been under good management
SIX powerful streams OF water could have
been kept constantly playing on The burn
ing buildings, as the city possesses excel
lent water works with a capacity Of at
least 9,000,0 600 gallons a day. But unfort-
uuately the superintendent was not in
town, and no competent deputy
seems 10 have been acting
for him. The result was that the big
pumps we're not cannecte or in condi-
lion to he worked, and there was so little
press ure that water could not be thrown
many feet The fire brigade is a volunteer
organic alton, aud il was assisted 10y msny
citizens whose property was in danger.
Bnt having no water of which any practic-
al use could be made they were powerless,
and the best they could do was TO tear
down buildings and thus try and limit the
amount of destruction. A hook and lad
der brigade Was speedily organize J, and
small frame buildings were hauled out
into IN streets But all TO no purpose.
The race between the flames and the fran
favor CT the former, and very little even of
lie stock in the stores could be saved.
THE CITY DOOMED.
As soon as it was ascertained that there
vas no force Of water in the mains, the
yrayest alarm was felt. This was increased
rhen a wind rose up from the south and |
carried flames and whole masses of burn |
NJ timber across the street TO the Russ
House. which took fire in several places at /
nee and was burned to the ground in a
ew minutes. All hands turned their at
entien TO the Pacific Hotel, and 4 grand
fort was made TO save il. Men climbed |
n the roof and spread vet blankets upon !
t. Others threw off burning embers as
hey fell, and an effort was made to drench
he building with water.
But the heat was so intense that the oc.
.upants of the roof were speedily beaten
pack, and even before they descended to
ave their lives The building was on FIRE.
The wind was so strong that the hotel was
peedily lass OF fame, and after hur-
led consultation ii was decided to blow up
everal buildings in the next block, in
hopes of saving the valuable brick blocks
u
allied TO accomplish Its purpose. Before
he first building was demolished the Pa
,i6c hotel had been burned TO the ground,
md flaming shingles had been blown tar
,ast the scene of the wrecke.s' labors.
The entire block north of the hotel was
hen burning, and the fremen were driven
Jack.
VALUABLE BUILDINGS DESTROYED.
The two-story brick buildings in the
lock on Riverside avenue were burned
imost rapidly as the frame buildings,
nd the whole business center was now
nveloped in one enormous flame. The
light was as magnificent as the loss was
ppalling. The Hyde block consisted of !
ne splendid four-story building, extend
ne from Mill to Howard streets, on River
ide avenue. This was the next object of
he f&mes' fury, and the roof fell in with
loui crash. The next block was already
alf burned down, and the fire had
cached Stevens street.
The wind dropped, but only to rise
gain with increased power from the south
rest. The Tult block, one of the finest in
be city, was destroyed, and soon the post
flee and the four-story building bet Eeen
stevens and Washington avenues were re-
uced to ashes. At Washington avenue
he fire steadied itself as If in search of
Their victims. There were none In reach
( the flames, and what may be termed the
orthern advance of fire was checked, af-
er having burned everything in lis way
nd left nothing but long and wide space
overei with burning timbers and totter.
ng walls.
All possibility of saving the magnificent
frankfurt block, which cost over $4,000
D erect, was over as soon as the Grand was
urning, and the block, of which Spokane
'slls was deservedly proud, was destroyed
D less number of minutes than it took
lonths to erect it. The buildings in the
lock were FIVE stories high, and were COM
osed of brick and stone. The architec-
lral design was very tasty, the long span
{ masonry on the roof being relieved by
umerous turrets and seven handsome cir
ular towers. The plate glass windows in