St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1889-06-13
SEATTLE'S BIG FIRE.

The prosperous city of Seattle, w.
T., was visited by fire on Thursday
last which destroyed $4,000, 900
worth of property. About three
O'Clock in the afternoon some turpen-
| tine caught fire in the basement of a
| two-story frame building on the
southwest corner of Front and Mad
ison streets. The building was soon
ablaze. An alarm was instantly
turned in and the volunteer fire de-
partment responded promptly, butt it
was impossible to make any head
way against the flames. This build
ing, like most of the others of its
kind in the business centre, was not
detached, but was a corner one OF a
row of frame buildings, all joined to-
gether, and of various nights.
Adjoining the first building was a
wholesale liquor store, and as soon
as the fire reached it the barrels of
liquor exploded with terrific reports,
and scattered flaming tinbers far
and wide The Denny block and sew
eral other establishments were soon
licked up completely. This cleared
out the entire square. In less than
80 minutes another square was
burned to ashes.
The Opera house block caught fire
in the upper stories. From the Opera
house block the fire now fast becom-
ing a mOnstrous confagration, swal-
lowed up the square to the south.
The explosions of giant powder
were useless to prevent the awful
spread of the flames, and with clouds
of binding, suffocating smoke on
ward the confagration went, crack
ling roaring, almost shrieking.
Engines from the Tacoma fire de-
partment had come over in 60 min
utes but both departments combined
were powerless to achieve any great
results.
From the initial point the fire
spread north and south a distance of
one mile. Every newspaper, hotel,
telegraph office, railroad depot and
wharf i'll the city was totally des-
troyed. The entire water front, in
Guiding all wharves and docks, coal
bunkers and railway tracks, the
wholesale quarter and everything
south of Union st. and west of Sec
ond st. was completely burned.
There is great privation felt among
the poorer classes, as nearly every
restaurant and grocery in the city
was consumed by the fire.
The burned district, comprising 81
acres, now presents the aspect of a
huge oven of burning Goals, and
threatens even further destruction.
The streets all through the night
were crowded with people wander
ing about, penniless and homeless.
Later dispatches from Seattle state
the loss from the fire Thursday will
not fall short of 100000. 1t is
estimated the total insurance will
reach from 81, 100000 to $4,000
600. Already in many places the
workmen have begun to grade and
clean up the lots, preparatory to
building. Many merchants have Sc
cured quarters in the residence por-
ton and opened today with the rem
nant of their stock. The people have
and stone The First regiment is
guarding the damaged property.
The city is quiet and everybody hope
full. Gov. Moore has issued an APP
peal for those made destitute by the
fire. The losers include every bust
ness man of prominence in town.
Only the fact that the wind drove
the flames into the bay saved that
part of the city north of Union ST.
This leaves good wharf room outside
of the burnt district Tacoma citi-
zens sent to Seattle quantities of pro-
visions, blankets and tents for the
homeless people. Portland sent sew
eral carloads of provisions, bedding
and tents.