The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-08-06
SPOKANE IN ASHES.
Another Thriving Town Laid
Waste By Fire.
THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY WILL
Have European Professors After ALI Captain
Rigby Dead-A Wild Engines Doings
An Oriental Riot.

SPOKANE FALLS, W. T., Aug. 5.-The
entire business portion of the city was
destroyed last night. Twenty five blocks
were reduced to ashes The estimated loss
is S14, 100000. The fire started at D. m. in
a clearinghouse on Railroad avenue. The
ire department was On the scene quickly,
but owing to lack of water the fire
quickly spread to an adjoining frame build
ing and was soon beyond control. The
flames jumped across the street to the Rush
house and Pacific hotel. BY this time a
strong wind had sprung up and it was evil
dent that the city was doomed. The fire
spread with dreadful rapidity. An attempt
was made to check the fire by blowing up
buildings in its path. but it was useless.
From the Pacific hotel it jumped across
First street to the frame buildings on the
next block. Soon it reached the heart of
the city. A block of two story brick build
ings on Riverside avenue next went. From
here the fire went to the magnificent Hyde
block, a four story building, taking in the
whole block between Mill and Howard
streets, on Riverside avenue. The fire
leaped across Howard, and in few minutes
the block between Howard and Stevens
was reduced to ashes. The next to sue
cumb was large and solid block of four
story brick buildings, including the post
office, between Stevens and Washington.
Here the fire burned out from lack of ma
terial.
From the point of beginning the fire
took another direction, leaping across
Sprague street to the Opera block. From
1t the flames leaped across Riverside
avenue to Browns bank, and then both
sides of the avenue were in flames. The
block between Post and Mill avenues was
quickly picked up, including the Grand
hotel. From here it communicated to an
adjoining block on the right. Here was the
Frankfort block, the largest building in the
city and cost 100000. 1t withstood the
fire some time but finally succumbed. The
Arlington hotel was the next to go. The
building was enveloped in flames when a
man was seen to jump from the second
story window. He arose and started down
Howard street when he was overcome by
the heat and fell Several people rushed
to his assistance and carried him to place
OF safety. He was pitiable sight, being
literally roasted, his skin peeling off all
over his body. His name is Charles Davis,
of Billings, NJ. L. He died about noon.
From the Arlington the fire travelled
north and consumed a block between How
ard, Main, Front and Stevens streets
burning east as far as the latter street
where vacant lot checked its further
progress in that direction Everything in
ancrtherly direction, towards the Northern
Pacific express, including the Union block
and Windsor hotel, was soon a mass of
flames. The river prevented the fire from
doing further damage, anu was the means
of saving the big Touring and lumber mills
BY this time, in the short space of three
hours, the fire had consumed everything in
its path, reducing to ashes the entire basi-
ness portion of the once beautiful city.
The only business block left standing is
the-Crescent building, which was saved by
tearing down the intervening buildings.
Owing to the rapidity with which the fire
spread scarcely anything was saved. Pro
visions are scarce and will last only a short
time. The city council met this morning
and appointed a committee on relief Pro
visions will be sent for and the needy sup
piled free.
The city superintendent of Waterworks
was roundly censured by the council for
his duty, being away at the
time of the fire. The big pumps were not
connected and at the time of the fire there
was scarcely any pressure. Had there
been, the fire would easily have been got
ten under control The militia is out in
force and all persons withouta pass are
forbidden in the burnt district. Five out
of the seven banks are doing business to-
day on the Crescent block. Everybody
bears his losses bravely. Many business
men already signify their intention to re-
build.