The daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1889-1890, 1889-08-07
THE SPOKANE BLAZE.
THIRTY BLOCKS DESTROYED
WITHIN A FEW HOURS.

A Scene of DesOIatlOn Fearful to
Contemplate Later and More
Accurate Information From the
Scene of OfSundaS's Disaster.
SPOKANE FALLS, w. T., August 6.-The
wires are now i'll such condition that
somewhat fuller particulars of Sundays
conAagration can be given. The fire
started at a quarter past six O'Clock, i'll
the root of lodging house on Railroad
avenue, third door from Post street. A
dead calm prevailed at the time, and
spectators supposed that the firemen'
would speedily bring the flames under
control This could have been done if
letter precautions had been taken, but
the superintendent of the water works
was out of the city, and for some reason,
the men in charge failed to respond to
the call for more pressure. The heat Gre
atcd a current of air, and i'll less than
half an hour the entire block of frame
shops were cnvelopcd in flames, and
burning shingles and other debris filled
the air igntng several adjoining blocks.
At the same time the opposite block to
that in which the fire originated, in which
stood the Pacific hotel, one of the hand
soonest structures in the northwest,
took fire. 1t was now ten O'Clock, and
by this time high wind prevailed from
the southwest, and it was evident that
the entire business portion of the city
was in danger. Mayor Firth ordered
that buildings be blown up with giant
powder to check the spread of
the fire. This order was speedily
put into execution and the explosion
added to the reign of terror. The pic
ture was weird grand, and awful. Block.
after block yielded to the demon of
destruction; the sky was overcast with
black clouds; a strong wind sprang up
from the northeast, tanning the flames
furiously, while an upper current contin-
ued to carry burning ernbcrs in the Op-
ositc direction. The Grand Hotel, Wash
ngton block, Eagle block, Trull block,
a new granite block, the Gushing build
ing, the Falls City Opera House,
Clyde block, and all the banks,
and in fact every house from
Railroad avenue, north to the river,
and from Lincoln street east to
Washington street, with the exception of
a few buildings in the northeast corner
were totally destroyed. Meantime,
sudden change in the direction of the
wind, carried the fire southwark across
Railroad avenue, and destroyed the
Northern Pacific passenger and freight
dcpots and several cars. The freight
depot was splendid structure, and was
filled to the roof with valuable merchan-
disc, very little Of which was saved.
| The terrifying shrieks of dozens of loco
motives mingled with the roar of the
flames, the bursting of cartridges, the
booming of giant powder, the hoarSe
shouts OF men and the pitiful shrieks of
women and children, looking upon the
broad and mighty river of flame was
seen against jet black sky. Occasionally
two opposing currents of wind met,
causing a whirlwind of fire that seemed
to penetrate the clouds, performing all
sorts of fantastic gyrations. In this
manner the appalling monster held high
carnival until about 10 O'Clock, when
the Howard street bridge over the river
went down. A boom of logs took fire
and burned for hours on the surface of
the river. Many times blazing pillows
of fire covered the river, igniting the
mammoth lumber and Touring mills
that lined it's banks; but by heroic
efforts its career was checked on the
south side of the stream. 1t was scene
| Oh ueSOIdllOIl IltlI WStS lStlliul W Soh-
template; fragments of naked walls OF
what were a few hours before magnificent
structures of brick and granite, stood
like grim sentines over the surface OF the
burning sea; all was devastated. The
burned district embraces thirty blocks
besides the depot, The only brick
houses left standing are the Crescent
| block and the American theatre. Schools
and churches, colleges and hospi.
tai were beyond the lines of the burned
district and were not lost. 1t is lmpossl-
bic at this writing to estimate the loss
with any degree of accuracy, but 1t will
not fall short of ten million dollars, with
an insurance of about one-tourth of that
amount. The banks have obtained tenn
: porarv and several have already
| opened for business. The work of clear
- ing away debris has already begun, and
, the work of rebuilding will be also com
l mcnced at once. The fremcn are blow
. ing down dangerous walls, and a militif
Y company is guarding the burnt district
! while mounted police patrol the city
The company will bc reinforced by ;
company from WalIa Walla to-day. Th'
d city council has held meeting, and dis
t cuSscd resolution prohibiting the crcC
, ton of wooden buildings i'll the burned
district, and mass meeting of citizen
/ sustained it unanimously. 1t will b
s passed at the regular Wednesday meet
It ing. The council has passed resolution
Il rcvoking license of all hotels and rcstau
rants and of dealers in provisions, VIII
q advance their prices. Only two saloon
IS remain and they have been closed by OF
re der of the mayor. The council orderc
:, the committee on fire and water an
- sewers to investigate the cause OF the al
Ill scncc of the superintendent OF the work.
as the man left i'll charge was incomp'
tent. A hopeful feeling prevails; and a
though the destruction will retard IL
h, progress of the city for a time, it is in
y possible that resources so vast, and st;
v bility SO well established, should be bio
N ted out. 1t will rise again grander an
a better than before and will still claim II
as position as the commercial center an
=. railway center of eastern Washington.
o. save the Pieces.