The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-08-06
Wiped Out.
THE CITY OF SPOKANE, ", IT,
Visited by u Fire that Destroys
Twenty-Five business
Squares,
Involving Il Loss of Fourteen
Million Dollars and SeV'
craI Lives.
A TERRIBLE DESTRUCTION,
Inf One business House Left
Standing in tho Entire City.
"Details Of the DissSter-Tllc Third OF
the Kind That Has Visited the
Scv state of Washington
lvitpina Few Weeks.

Sror,yr FAILS, W. r., August g.
THE ecptir, business portion of this city
was destroyed by lire last night, twen'
ty.Gye blocks being reduced to ashes,
Tbo estimated loss is SI4,OOOpoOO. The
fire started at : o'clock p. III. in a lodg'
iprhonsr ON Railroad avenue. The
fire ,lrputment came on the quick
lv. but owingto II luck Of water the fire
nulckIy spread to adjoining frame build
inrs and was Roon beyond control. The
flames jumped across the street to the
Russ IIolseand the Pacific Hotel. By
this time strong wind sprung up and
II was evident the city was doomed. The
flames spread with fearful rapidity. Tho
ilremen were powprlcss Attempts were
made to check the hm by blowing up
buildings in its path, hut it was useless.
From the Pacific Hotel the tire swept
ncrOss First street To tie frame buildings
in the next block. und soon it reached
the heart Of the city. The block OF two
M0ry brick buildings Oh iiiY0Isideavenue
wSseasily carried away. From here the
ire communicated to tho magnificent
Hyde block, u four.stOry building, takr
ing in the whole square between Mill
and Howard streets on Riverside avenue.
The fire next iraped across Howard
street, aud in few minutes the block
het Yeen Howard and Stevens streets
was n ,uasa Of red.hOt ashes, The next
strIrluyc 70 sucGumb WIS the large Tult
block. Fro,l therG the conilagration
went whirling through the solid blocks
OF iour.story brick buildings, including
the postoilire, between Stevens and
Washington streets. Az this point the
fire buried out from lack OF material.
ANOTHER DIRECTION.
From the place Of the original start,
the fire had meanwhile taken another
direction, lenping across spngue street
to the Opera HOUSE, and thence over
Riverside avenue to Browns Bank.
Then both sides Of the avenue were 10
flames. The buildings between Post
and Mill streets were quickly licked up,
Including the Grand Hotel. From here
the waves of llame poured into the ad-
Joining square on the right, containing
the Frankfort block, the largest building
in the G,Ly. The Frankfort cost $3.50, 600.
II witlgt0od the fire for sometime, but
finally disappeared. The Arlington Ho.
tel was nov Gnveloped in flames. Sud-
denly man was seen 10 jump from the
second story. lie arose and started to
run down Howard street, but was over.
come by the heat aud fell. Several peo:
pie rushed to his assistance and carried
him to place Of safety. He was pit
liable sight, having been literally roasted
alive, the skin peeling of all over his
body. The unfortunate mans name
was Charles Davis. lie died at noon to.
alay.
NOHhward was the direction taken by
'the fire from the Arlington. II con.
snSled the block between Howard,
Main, Front and Stevens streets, burn.
ing east as fur Us tho latter throuRhiarc.
when vacant lot checked further
progress in that direction. Everything
III u nOhhtrly direction, including the
Northern Pacific Express office, the
Union block, and tho Windsor Hotel
was soon a mass Of flames.
The river prevented the fire doing
lutthCF lamage and was the means Of
saving all the big Touring and lumber
mills, Three hours sulliCed TO complete
thO awful destruction.
DsF oSr BLOCK LEFT STANDING.
The orly business block left standing
in the city Is the Crescent building,
which was saved by means Of tearing
down intervening buildings.
Owing to the rapidity with which the
fire spread, scarcely anything was saved.
Provisions are scarce aud will last only
short time.
The City Council met this evening and
appointed a committee on relief. II was
decided that provisions must be sent for
AMI the needy supplied free.
Ile superintendent OF tho city water
works was denounced by the Council
Iornegl Letting his duty, he being away
atthe time Of the fire. The big pumps
were EoE connected, and as d result
There was scarcely any pressure. Had
THE contrary been the case the fire
wOnId have easily been gotten under
The militia Is out IN force and all
persons without passes arc forbidden 10
enter tue burnt district. Figo out OF
lIe seven banks destroyed were again
HoiIg business today, all being located
~ .,,,,l, uls VhsCent block, the only buSinesS
Notwithstanding the extent Of the
calamity, the peopl wear A cheerful as.
pCcl and bear their losses braVely, Many
1nslhess men llNve already MgniaUd
lNeir intention Ia tebullI