The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1889-06-29
VANCOUVER FIRE.
ONLY THREE BLAzEs in ONE DAY
The Old Catholic Church was the First
Building to Go.

complete destruction by fire early Satur-
day morning last, and the three hours
ending at o'clock we're the most excit-
ing and menacing the people of the pros
porous little city have ever known
Fiery tongues licked their frame struc-
lures and leaped from building to build
ing and from street to street. 1t was
only through the united efforts of the
citizens, the United States soldiers, the
firemen and the territorial militia, that
the fire was kept within the limits that
it swept, and repetition of the Seattle
fire averted.
The total loss figures up between $780,
600 and 100000. The full amount of in
surance is not known at present, but it
will be between $4,000 and SIC, 1000. No
lives were lost and no one was injured.
There is no question that the fire was Of
incendiary origin. 1t was the third at
tempt to fire the city within twenty-four
hours, and the villains came very near
accomplishing their dastardly design.
The first fire was discovered in the
saloon of William Quinn, on Fifth and
Reserve streets, at :15 Friday morning.
The blaze was extinguished in good
style. Mr. Quinn has no doubt that his
place was fred
AT II 80 Friday night, James McGin-
mis-, the government watchman, discoy-
cred the old Catholic Church inAames.
He Immediately gave the alarm by dis.
charging his revolver and sentry No, 8
at the fort answered the signal by firing
his piece. The garrison and municipal
fire brigades were called out, but. they
were unable to save the building, and
it burned to the ground.
There is no doubt that the old church
was fired. 1t has not been occupied for
three years, since the Catholics built
their new cathedral. Watchman Nc
Ginnis says the flames flashed up and
enveloped the building in trice, as if
kerosene had been used. There was an
odor of coal oil about the building during
the progress of the fire.
The church was one Of the oldest
landmarks in the territory, and stood on
land regarding which there has been
much litigation between the bishop of
Nesqually and General Gibbon. 1t was
an historic structure, having been built
in the palmy days of the Hudson Bay
Company. 1t was situated on Fifth
street nearly half mile from the place
where the fire broke out in the business
district.
The church was a smo ,ldering ruin at
1 80 A. NJ; and the tired firemen OF the
city and garrison slowly wound up their
hose and returned the engines to the
houses. Nearly everybody had come
out to see the fire and in half an hour
they were home again to complete their
interrupted nights rest.
The third fire was set in an ice house
belonging to Mrs. Newell, and spread
rapidly, burning up the east side OF
Main street to Fourth and spreading
rapidly down to Third and across it,,
being stopped on that side of the street
by the brick building OF Slocum & Co.
Below Fourth the fire crossed the street
burning all in the block below the Odd
Fellows building and crossing Third
street burned three buildings belonging
to Mrs. Turnbull. All the buildings
destroyed were of the cheap variety, and
while the individuals suffer the town
will be benefited.
The garrison fire brigade worked like
Trojans, and but for their efforts there
would have been many desolate home
and burned business block in Vancouver
last night. The citizens say without
hesitation the soldiers saved the town.
Captain Padden, the depot quarter
master, furnished hose and attached it
to the government fire plugs. Major
Burke called out seven companies Of
the regular soldiers, and the boys put
their shoulders to the wheel and did all