The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-08-08
SPOKANE.
FURTHER PARTICULARS OF SUN
DAYS GREAT CoNFLAGRATION.
OFFICIALS CONDUCT.
Grand and Appalling Picture Presented by
the Flames-LOss Now Estimated at
Ten Million Dollars.

SPOKANE FALLS, w. L., August o.
The wires are now in such a condition
that somewhat fuller particulars of
Sundays conf1agration can be given.
The fire started at 6:15 o'clock p. m.
in the roof of the Loring house on
Railroad avenue, third door from the
postoffice. A dead calm prevailed at
the time, and the spectators supposed
that the firemen would speedily bring
the flames under control. This could
have been done if better precautions
had been taken, but the superintend-
ent of the water works was out of the
city, and for some reason, the man in
charge failed to respond to the call for
more pressure. The heat created a
current of air, and in less than half
an hour the entire block of frame
shops were
ENvELoPED IN FLAMES
and burning shingles and other debris
filled the air, igniting several of the
adjoining blocks.
At the same time the opposite
block to that in which the fire origin
ated in which the Pacific hotel, one of
the handsOmest structures in the
northwest, took fire, it was now 10
o'clock and by that time high wind
prevailed from the southwest, and it
was evident that the entire business
portion of the city was in danger. The
mayor ordered that the buildings be
blown up with gaint powder to check
the spread of the fire. This order was
speedily put into effect, and the ex-
plosions added to the reign of terror.
The picture was weird, grand and aw-
full. 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 continued to carry the burn
ing timbers in the opposite direction.
The Grand hotel, Washington block,
Eagle block, Tull block, New Granite
block, the Cushing building, Falls City
opera house, Hyatt block, all the
banks, and in fact every house from
Railroad avenue north to the river
and from Lincoln street east to Wash
ington street, with the exception of
few buildings on the northeast corner,
were totally destroyed.
Meantime the sudden change in the
direction of the wind carried the fire
southwark across Railroad avenue and
destroyed the Northern Pacific passen-
ger and freight depots and several
cars. The freight depot was a splen-
did structure, and was filled to the
roof with valuable merchandise, very
little of which was saved. The terri
flying shrieks of a dozen locomotives
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 constituted scene never
to be forgotten. Looking upward the
broad and mighty river of flame was
against the jet black sky.
Occasionally two opposing currents
of wind met, causing whirlwind of
fire that seemed to penetrate the
clouds, forming all sorts of fantastic
gyrations. In this manner the ap-
palling monster held high carnival un-
til about l o'clock, when Howard street
bridge over the river went down. The
boom of logs took fire and burned for
hours on the crystal surface of the
river Many times flying sparks of
fire covered the river, igniting the
mammoth lumber and Touring mills
that lined it's banks, but by heroic ef-
forts it's career was checked on the
south side of the stream. Looking
backwards, however, the beholder wit
messed
SCENE OF DEVASTATION
that was fearful to contemplate.
Fragments of what were four hours
before magnificent structures OF brick
and granite stood like grim sentinels
over the surface of the burning sea.
All was devastation and ruin. The
burned district embraces thirty blocks
besides the depot. The only brick
houses left standing are the Crescent
block and American theater. The
schools and churches, college and hos
pital were beyond the lines of the
burned district, and were not lost. 1t
is impossible at this writing to esti-
mate the loss with any degree OF accu-
racy. but it will not fall short OF
TEN MILLION DOLLARS,
with an insurance of about one-fourth
of that amount. The banks have OBJ
tanned temporary quarters, and several
have already opened for business. The
work of clearing away the debris has
already begun, and the work OF re-
building will be commenced at once.
The fremen are blowing up dangerous
walls. and militia company Is guard
ing the burned district, while mounted
police patrol the whole city. The
company will be reinforced by a COM
pany from Walla-Walla to-day.
The city council has held meeting