Los Angeles herald., 1890-07-02
FLAMES AT SEATTLE.
A Disastrous Fire on the
Water Front.
A Row of Business Houses Con-
sumed. p
The Fire Department Unable to Do
Good Work.
Great Headway Gained by the Flames
Before They Were Checked-The
Losses in Detail.
associated Press Dispatches. |

SEATTLE, WASH, July 1.-At S:15 to-
night fire broke out in row OF 2-story
corrugated iron buildings on the west
side of West street, between Columbia
and Marion streets, on the water front
occupied principally by wholesale houses,
and before it was put out half the block
was burned and 100000 worth of prop
erty was destroyed. The fire originated
from some unknown cause in S.
B. Stewards wholesale commission
house, the second store from the
corner of Marion street. The flames
had good headway before they were
discovered by the engineer of train on
the Seattle, Lake Shore and Eastern,
which runs in the rear of the row. The
engineer blew his whistle as an alarm,
but as no one thought to turn in fire
alarm, the fire department did not re-
spond Tor nearly ten minutes.
By this time the whole building was
in flames. The flames spread with great
rapidity to that part of the building oc-
cupied by Knapp, Burrell q Co., agri-
cultural implements, north of Stewart
" w. LII UOOk UuU luOulCllG lOI Ullc
whole inflammable stock to ignite.
When the fire department arrived
four streams were laid on from the city
engines and hydrants, but there was no
force to the streams and the fire Knocked
the efforts of the firemen, who stood
holding the impotent nozzle in their
hands.
In the building north of Stewards was
and next to the east the warerooms of
Charles Powers & Co. and the Merchants
Mill Company. There was no time to
save the stock. Over these stores was
the printing office of Koch & Oakley,
which met the general fate. To the east
of the stores mentioned was an 8-fOot
alley and then another row of stores.
Here fight was made to check the
flames.
J. M. Coleman, who owns the rows on
both sides of the street, had nearly
completed a private water system of his
own, but part of the pipes had not been
connected. Seeing that the city hydrants
could do no good a force was put to
work to connect these pipes, and at 8
O'Clock the work was finished and
pumps were put to work pumping salt
water from the harbor. Two streams
were laid, and by turning. them into the
alley the flames were checked in that
direction.
In the meantime three city engines
had been put to work pumping from the
bay, saving the rows on the north side
of Marion street and the east side of
West street, which had been ignited in
several places from the intense heat and
flying brands, and in subduing the
flames which were still raging in the
Coleman row. At 9:45 they succeeded
in doing this.
The fire department also placed an
engine on the wharf and threw two
streams of salt water into the heat of
the fire and helped to drown it out. At
8 :26 the fire was completely under con-
troll, and at 8 80 was out.
The losses are estimated by the own
ers as follows:
JIM. Coleman, building, loss, $40, 900
insurance, $4,000.
Knapp, Burrell & Co., agricultural
implements, loss, SAL 900; insurance,
$21 900.
S. B. Stewart & Co., commission mer-
chants, loss, 81, 900; insurance, $4,000.
Charles Powers & Co., photographers
supplies, lOSS, PO,OOO, luouIdlCC, ,Pf,UoV.
Mechanics Mill and Lumber Com
pany, doors and sash, loss, $4 900; in
surance, 81 900.
Dixon & Bergeson, show cases, $4,000
insurance, $4,000.
John Ames, rubber stamps, loss, 5000
no insurance.
Koch & Oakley, printers, loss, $4,000
insurance, $4,000.
In the adjoining building the damage
by water is estimated as follows: North
western Fruit Company, damage $500
Battin, Lee & Co., fruits, damage $500
Risdon, Calm & Co., damage 5000.
The owners estimate the aggregate
loss at 100000; insurance, $40, 900. The
underwriters estimate the loss at $S2,-
900; insurance, $23, 900.