New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-08-06
SPOKANE FALLS IN FLAMES.
THE BUSINESS PORTION OF THE CITY COM
PLETELY BURNED OUT,

@'+NAf AADlNO fOR HOURS, OAUSES
LOSS OF s14,oooooO THE FIREMEN
PowERLEss OWING TO LACK OF
wATER-oYLY ONE DEATH
REPORTED.
Spokane Falls. w. r.. Aug. 5.-The entire bust
ness portion of this city was destroyed by fire
last night. Twenty-Five blocks were reduced TO
ashes. The estimated loss is S14000,000
The fire started at Z o'clock D. m. in lodging
mouse on Railroad-avc. The fire department. came
on the scene quickly. but. owing to the lack of
water, the 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 a strong wind
sprung up and it was evident that the city was
doomed. The flames spread with fearful rapidity.
The iiremen were powerless. Attempts were made
to check the fire bv blowing uD buildings in its
path, but it was useless. From the Pacific Hotel
the lire swept First-st. to the frame build
lngs IN the next block and it soon reached the
heart Of the city. The fire spread to the magnifi-
cent Hyde Block, four-StOry building taking IN
the whole square between Mill and Howard sts.
on Rverside-ave. The fire next leaped across
iioward-st., and in few minutes the block be-
tween Howard and Stevens SITS. was mass OF red
hot ashes. The next structure to succumb was
the large Tull Block. From there the fire went
whirling through the solid blocks of fourstory
brick buildings, including the poStohice. At this
point the fre burned out from lack of material.
From the point of origin, the fire had meanwhile
taken another direction. leaDing across SDrague-
ST. to the Opera House. and thence over Rlverside-
ave. TO Browns Bank. In a moment both SIDES
Of the avenue were in flames. The buildings he
tween Post and Mill SITS. were quickly licked up,
including the Grand Hotel. From here the waves
of fame poured into the adjoining square on the
right, containing the Frankfort Block, the largest
building in the city. The Frankfort cost $780,
O0O 1t wthstoOd the fire for some time, but
finally disappeared. The Arlington Hotel was
now enveloped in flames. Suddenly a man was
seen to jump from the second story. He arose
and started to run down Howard-st., but was
overcome by the heat and fell. Several people
rushed to his assistance and carried him to place
of safety. He had been literally roasted alive,
the skin peeng Off all over his body. The un-
fortunate 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 be-
tween Howard, Main, Front and Stevens sts
burning east as far as the latter thOroughfare,
when vacant lot checked its progress. Every
thing in northerly direction, Including the
Northern Pacific Express office, the Union Block
and the Windsor Hotel was soon mass OF fiameS
The river prevented the fire doing further dam
age, and was the means of saving all the big
Touring and lumber mills. Three hours suilced
TO com pcte the awful destruction.
The only business block left standing in the
city is the Crescent Building, which was saved by
means Of tearing down intervening buildings
Owing to the rapidity with which the fire
spread scarcely anything was saved. Provisions
are scarce and will last only short time. The
City Council met this morning and appointed
committee on relief. 1t was decided that pro-
visions should be sent for and the needy supplied
free The superintendent of the city waterworks
was denounced by the council for negectlng his
duty. as he was away at the time of the fire. The
bic numps were not connected, and as result there
was scarcely any pressure Had the contrary been
the case the fire would have been easily got under
| control -,
Tho militia is out in force and all persons with
o,t rasses are forbidden 10 enter the burnt dis
,rict Five ont of the seven banks destroyed
wore r,in doing business to-day, all being located
| in tbo Crescent Block the only business structure
left standing
Notwithstanding the extent of the calamity tine
neople wear cheerful air and bear thelr LOSSES
| bravcIv. Many business men have already sisni-
| fed their intention to rebuild.
| Tho business district of Spokane was III a strip
| bctwecn the Northern Pacific Railroad tracks anu
tbe Spokane River. This strip was nve SQUARES
across and extended seven squares III lehSun'
T. WAS solidly built up with BRICK ana Stone le
structures. the cost Of which varied from 9-o,uyV
| TO $4,000 Ten banking houses, n n'e ,nbIieS, nbiIitS
| The Opera House ana many Wholes"1 S%%0 0oo
| ments doing IA business estimated az 9o,h,d
acb wore situated within the district ueSoilp RI
! The population Of the city s about -VVVV. no 40
city possessed an excellent "SteE"oiHTI, Thoro were
| c,tocitv of 90OO. 900 gallons daily: lhefe weIe
no tire-engncs, but by the steam IN use lNc 30 VI
six eood-slzed streams OF water co9l4 oe Tho
| centr1ted upon any block IN case OI hre' 1o Nv
! Fire DEPARTMENT was volunteer oilc' - ~
| Insurance the best information here IS tiia' W ho
Ire amounts were carried BulldingS taJ d rs ht
| ST0 200 to $4,000 are known 10 nave h"u ou'
| -. 900 to 81 900 Insurance, l., irforrod
| s'ibe chief losses, as nearly as can be lnlerreu
from the reports that have reached Helena, o TeLe
a. follows: Holey, Mason, Marks ~ Co' Wnoie, ."n
| "ale hardware 81 200; the Great Eastern ~
TTbolesaie and Retail Dry Goods House, Sl0O,OO0
w. w. :. White Uonsas dry goods house, S9O,0OV'
! Iowenburg Brothers, 81 l00OOO; Benham " III uIti,
ith Wholesale grocers S1OGgeo ,oteI "a 900
! Srord Hotel. $4,000: Windsor S25, 900 n%Ge %0e
/ pi"clH s75. 900: Washington Block, 500 wy !
Crescent, $50, 900; Cannon bloc bocFi ponr IiSocIs
Sioofe ooa oioT Woiycrton Block. s2j OO0 Frankfort
3iocl5 81 % 900; Tull Block $4,000. -, b.
'? San Francisco Aug 5Ihe property Gss oy 5t
the Spokane Falls fire last night Is eSnaTa az
oSyne SSUUGVDGb published in this city. The same paper
esfimates the total insurance at s2S39, goo, ol ol
which sls4o7oG is is hGiG ctI oI The c0sald detailed
list is as follows: --ooo.
rova Norwich Union and Lancashire s1oVUo' Wy
,,oivc,Ia swiss. $4,000; South British s29VOo
I-nlon san Francisco. $4,000 sun, San ,ri,
~ eoo. Granite state 81 600; Fire Association Fmia-
1-nha $4,000 Commercial, San Francisco szooCo wv
r,,omen,s Fund. 100000; National New-fork slSVOo
sate investment. $1,000; Guardian s3e ooo rno'"In
| ,,l,u sol OCO; American New-Noik @It'oOo IN ~
| ance Company OF North America e4poOo
,ncloNeyaia $4,000 Northwestern ~ ~Nauonli
- 600. Denyer a. 500; London. Northern ana queen
~, ooo Connecticut $4,000; Springfield $50 ooo; NV,
hampshire sl5.ooo; German Ffeepoft sl',ooo, IT,