Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-07-06
COSTLY FIREWORKS.
Ellensburg, W. r., Laid in
Ashes.
LOSS, TWO MILLION DOLLARS,
Two Hundred Families Destitute.
Several Theories as to the
Cause of the Fire.


Cause of the Fire.
ELLENsBURG, w. T., July 5.-Tel
blocks of the best portion OF this cit
are in ashes. Nearly a hundred familie
are homeless, and what was yesterday
thriving business center is now mas
of ruins. Owing to the excitement AM
confusion it is impossible to ascertain
how the fire originated, but it is pre-
sumed TO have been the result of th'
celebration of the National holiday, as i
started soon after the display of fire
works last evening. The flames starteC
on the north side of the city, at about II
O'Clock in the evening, and with a very
strong wind blowing from the northeast
The fire department was promptly called
rapid advance of the ccnfagration, which
center. Help was telegraphed for from
neighboring towns, but long before il
could reach the scene, the flames had
WlpOu Oub bLiO lCftlO VI UllO Clpy
and commenced to spread among the
residences on the south side.
1t was nearly morning before the fire.
men secured any result from their tire.
less efforts. The cessation of the winds
grsss of the fire, and at this hour it is
thought the flames are under control, or
will be confined to the buildings now
burning.
HEAVY LOSSES.
While it is impossible to form close
idea OF the amount of the loss, it is esti-
mated that the sum will run up to many
hundred thousand dollars. ALI of the
leading hotels, the handsome
Nash Opera House block, the
City Hall, Board of Trade building,
Snipe & Co. g bank; in fact, all the busi-
ness blocks on Pine and Pearl and Third,
Fourth and Fifth streets have been con-
sumed, excepting only the First National
Bank building, Bloomer & O'Connor's e
dry goods house, II. Gotzein's boot and
shoe store, one saloon and one general
store. Only these latter buildings remain
to mark the spot where fourished yester-
day prosperous business center.
ASSISTANCE BADLY NEEDED.
The number of residences destroyed
cannot now be estimated, but it is known
that 100 families are homeless and with
nothing left save few scant clothes.
Help has been asked and is badly
needed, not only in suppressing the fire
but caring for the homeless victims OF
the confagration.
LATER PARTICULARS.
ELLENsBURG, w. t., July 5.-A fire
broke out ct II O'Clock last night in the
grocery store of ]. 7. Anthony on Main
street. A high wind prevailed and the
fire soon spread to the adjoining
frame buildings, and then got be-
yond control of the limited fire
department, sweeping the entire
business portion of the city. The only
brick buildings left are the Lynch Block
and the Ellensburg National Bank. Two
hundred houses were totally destroyed,
and the space burned is about thirty
acres.
The loss, as far as can be ascertained, :,
is s., 1000, ,OO0-$750, 900 in buildings and
81 ,2500O0 in goods.
FIFTEEN HUNDRED PEOPLE DESTITUTE.
There is not restaurant, hotel or
boarding house left, and there are about
1,500 people destitute. While the loss is
terrible for city of 1000, the citizens
maintain cheerful disposition, and are
determined to build more substantially
than ever. The city is under patrol, and
order prevails.
The fire exhausted itself, after burning
five hours. The city presents sickening
spectacle this morning. Where long
blocks of business houses stood yester-
day, nothing remains but ashes and
smoking embers. Scores of new brick
blocks in the process Of erection suffered
the same fate as the other buildings. The
only four that remain are Motifs Hotel,
the Nash, Howgan aud Smith blocks,
which were saved by being some distance
from the confagration. Guards have
been placed around the burnt district, to
prevent curious people from rambling
from pilfering. Little thieving, however,
has been done.
THE BLAME LAID ON THE INDIANS.
The origin OF the fire is supposed to
have been incendiary. Us. Anthony, in
whose building the fire started, says he
left the store at 1915 pm. He had used
no fire or light, excepting electric light,
and thinks some Indians started to fire
the town in revenge Tor white man
beating a squaw.
President Hoyt, of the Constitutional
Convention, telegraphed Mayor Abrams
offering assistance. Assistance is GER
tainly needed.
SYMPATHY AND ASSISTANCE.
ELLENsBuRa, w. T., July 5.-Letters
of sympathy and proffers of aid have
been coming in all day and this after
noon Mayor Reed OF North Yakima ar
rived with carload of provisions and
81 600 in money. Aid has been thank
fully received. While the losses foot up
about 81, 900 900 the insurance is not one
fourth of that amount.
ACCIDENTS DURING THE FIRE.
When the fire was burning A. S. Hol-
brook entered the Ashter Hotel to arouse
the guests. In attempting to return
egress was shut off by the flames, when
he jumped from third story window
and was picked up fearfully burned and
bruised. The bones of what are supposed
to be the remains of one of the guests
were picked up. They are 30 badly
charred that physicians are unable tc
determine them.
STILL Ar LARGE,