Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1889-08-07

SPOKANE FALLS, w. T., August 9Th
entire business portion OF the city wa
destroyed last night. Twenty-Five block
were reduced to aches. The estimated los
is $14, ,OOO, 900.
| The fire started at o'clock p. m. in
lodging house on Railroad avenue. TIL
fire department was on the scene quickly
but, owing to the lack Of water. the fir
quickly spread to an adjoining frame build
ing and was soon beyond control. TIL
flames jumped across the street to tn
Russ house and Pacific hotel.
By this time q strong wind sprang NJ
and it was evident the city was doomed
The fire spread with dreadful rapidity
The fremen were powerless. Attempt
were made to check the fire by blowing VI
buildings in it's path, but it was useless.
From the Pacific hotel the fire jumped
across First street to the frame building
in the next block, and soon it
REACHED THE HEART OF THE CITY.
A block of two-story brick buildings or
Riverside avenue next went. From hers
the fire communicated to the magnificent
Hyde block, q four.story building, taking
in the whole block between the mill and
Howard street on the river eide.
The fire leaped across Howard street
and in few minutes the block between
Howard and Stevens, was reduced to ashes
Next to succumb was the large Tull block
and solid block of four-stories, including
the postoffice, between Stevens and Wash.
ington. Here the fire burned out from
lack OF material. From the point of be.
ginning,
TEE FIRE TOOK ANOTHER DIRECTION,
leaping acroes Sprague street to the opera
house block, and from here it leaped across
Riverside avenue to Browns bank. Then
both sides of the avenue were in flames.
The block between the postoffice and mill
were quickly licked up, including the Grand
Hotel. From here the fire communicated
to the adjoining block ON the right. Here
was the Frankfort block, the largest build.
ing in the city. which cost $25O,OOO. 1t
withstood the FIRE some time, but finally
succumbed.
The Arlington hotel was the next to 60.
The building was enveloped in flames when
a man was seen to jump from the second
story. He arose and started down How
ard street, when he was overcome by heat
and fell. Several people rushed to his as.
sistance and carried him to place oi
safety. He was pitiable object.
HE WAS LITERALLY ROASTED,
his skin peeling off all over his body. His
name was Charles Davis OF Billings, Mon.
tana. He died at noon to-day.
From the Arlington the fire Travelled
north and consumed all between Howard,
Main, Front and Eleventh streets, burning
east as far as the latter street, where a va.
can't lot checked its further progress in that
direction. Everything in anortherly direc.
tion, including the Northern Pacific ex'
press, Union block and Windsor hotel, was
soon q mass of flames. The river pre-.
vented the fire doing further damage, and
was q mass OF 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 bust
ness portion OF the once beautiful city.
THE ONLY BUSINESS BLOCK LEFT
is the Crescent building, which was saved
by tearing down the intervening building
Owing to the rapidity with which the fire
spread, scarcely anything was saved
Provisions are scarce and will last only q
short time.
The city council met this morning an6
appointed a committee on relief. Provi
sions will be sent for, and the needy sup
piled free.
The city superintendent OF water works
was roundly censured by the council fol
neglecting his duty, being away at the tim'
of the fire. The big pumps were not con
nected and at the time OF the fire there wal
scarcely any pressure. Had there been
the fire would have been easily gotter
under control.
The militia 10 out in force, and all per
SONS without passes are forbidden in thu
burnt district. Five out OF the sever
banks are doing business to-day in tht
Crescent block. All bear their losses
bravely. Many business men have al
ready signifed their intention to rebuild.