Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1889-08-08
SPOKANE FALLS BURNED.
The Falls City tho Victim of a
Fearful Conflagration.
LOSSES Up IN THE MILLIONS,

Especial to the Unionl
SPOKANE FALLS, August 40 p. IN.
AT Gas p. IN, a fire started in the
block in the rear of the Northern Pa
cihc depot, ard at 7;45 .. M, the block
in which the fire originated and he
depot and freight house had been burned.
A high wind is prevailing aud the pros
poets are that the fra will sweep the
town. All the wires are down. AT
$50 p. M. the telegraph operator at the
Nor,hern Pacifi: depot had moved down
the line half mile and cut in on the
wires, but has just been forced to leave
by the approaching flames The Pacific
hotel and Russ house have been burned.
and also the block back of the depot.
9:l5 p. m--The whole city is doomed.
Everything is on fire from the depo. to
the center Of the city. The fire has just
reached the Western Union telegraph
Office, right in the center of the city, and
communication has been cut off for
while until the instruments can be set up
outside the circle Of fire.
9::25 r. m-The Washington block
and all the surrounding buildings are
now burning.
9:45 p. m.-The fire started in lunch
counter near the depot. The water
works are out Of order and would not
work at first, and the fire got good
start before the water supply was Of any
use. The passenger depot, freight
house and three cars were burned. The
fire seems to be going down some now,
All is excitement, however The streets
are crowded with people, and the bust
ness men are endeavoring to save some
portions Of their stock. The fire depart
ment is making a determined stand, ant
hopes are entertained that the fire vii
be stopped before it attocks the larg'
buildings on the water front.
lop. m-Fire has reached the hi.
buildings along Riverside avenue, and i
working its way rapidly toward the river
Word has just been brought that tn
immense Touring mills along the rive
are going to burn in spite Of the FIRE
mems utmost exertions. They ar
preparing to blow up adjacent bulldogs
hoping by this means to check tn
further srrssd Of the flames. TIL
people, generally, are making deter
mined fight to save the Mills as the
will go hungry it the mills burr
Nearly the whole business portion of tn
city is already gone, and from presen
Indications the rest OF tho bushes
portion will 90 before the flames can b
stopped. All tn. telegraph wires hav
been burned, and Western Union ar
now usin. the railroad wire. They hav
established their office outside the city
: the instruments being set 90 top Of
rail fence. The Gre las burned swat
from back Of the depot, through tn
heart Of the city, at least three quarter
) Of mile in length, and is now spreadin
out on both sides. The loss will cour
up into the millions, as nearly all the fiu
bu!, ',,,s erected within the last fe
yca. ne been burned. Besides bus;
' n1s. :. Uses, many fine residence hav
4 been des,r ,yed, and many families al
g homeless, having escaped with litt
: except the clothes they wore.
!, ran effort was made to get furth
news, but without avail, owing to Il
: fact that the wires are all down, an
e we're still so at / a. m Up to that tin
r il is certain that the FIRE was still raging
e In addition to the above We lea
t from Walter Leeper, who was at Spoka
the time of the fire. and through 9th
sources, that the FIRE was not stayed
i, twenty eight blocks had boen burn'
n. including mostly tho business part OF
" city. The only places excepted
It mentioned, were the Reu,ev off
he Knapp Burrc,ls, Staver & Walkers q
* the Commercial Hotel. It i report
be that the citizens are determined
!. rebuild and are making preparatio
clearing away &c. Some are going
build of granite. A company Of sold
are stationed to guard the burnt dist,
Wy an keep off intruders. 1t is estima
Al that the whole loss will not fall short
>, $1,000, 900 or $4,000, 600. Some
.ch Inmates higher and some lower.
IA. correct estimate can now be gi'
xes F ur firem n were reported - iii
Cd The property was insured for about