, 1890-07-03
A FIRE AT SEATTLE.
The Depar tmsnt Get There
Too Late.
LOSS ESTIMATED At 100000
No Wator to SO Had Through the
City Mains-Private Pipes
Used.

SEATTLE, Wash, July AT sil5 to.
night fire broke out In row of two.
story corrugated iron buildings Oh the
west side Of West street, ON tho water
front, occupied principally by wholesale
houses, and before IL WAS put out half
the block was burned and hundrcd
thousand dollars worth OF property
was destroyed.
Tho fire originated from some un.
known cause in :. Is. stewards
Wholesale commission house, the
second store from tho corner ui
Marion street. The flames had good
headway before they were discovered
by the engineer OF train over the seat
tie, Lake shore & Eastern, which runs
III the rear of the row. Tho engineer
blew whistles Of alarm, hut as no one
thought to turn on AN alarm, the tire
department did not respond Tor nearly
ten minutes, ny this time the whole
building WAS IN flames. The flames
spread with great rdpidity to that part
OF the building occupied by Knapp,
DurTell * Co., agricultural implements,
to the north oi stewar, street, and II
took but moment for the whole
iutnmmahlc store to ignite. When
the tiro department arrived, four streams
were laid from the city engines AMI by
drants, but there was no forco to tho
streams aud the tire nockcd the efforts
of tho iircmeu, who stood holding the
impotcnt nuzzles IN their hands. In tho
building with Stewart was y. \, sand
born, commission merchant. and next
60 the east the wIrcrooms OF Charles
IintgnH q a MaHhut.t~a AItlN
Company, There was no time to save
the stocks out OF either Of their places,
tho flames spread so rapidly. over these
stores was the printing office OF Koch ,v
Oakley, which met general late. To
the east OF the stores mentioned was an
oight.ipOt alley, and .hen another row
oistores. Here the fight was made to
check the flames.
>. NJ. Coleman, who owns rows on
both sides OF the street. had nearly COM
rleicd n private water system of his
own, but part Of the pipes had not been
connected. Seeing that the city hydrant
could do no good n force Was put to
work TO connect these pipes, and nt %
O'Clock tho work was finished and tho
pumps were pat to work pumping salt
water from the hnrbor. Two streams
were uscd and by turning them into
the alley the flames were checked In
that direction. In the meantime
the three city engines had been
put To work pumping from the bay,
saving the row On tho north side OF
Marion street and the cast side OF West
street, which had ignitcd in several
pluccs from the Intense heat and flying
brands, and in iubduiug tho flames
which was still raging in the Coleman
row At0;l5 they succeeded in doing
this,
The oregon improvement Company's
private fire department also placed an
engine on the wharf, and throw two
strong streams of salt water into the
heart OF the fire and helped to drown it
out At 0.20 the tire was completely
under control, and at o;3O 1t was out
Had th,ro bccn wind blowing tho
fro would have been worry serious.
ruE LossEs.
Tbs losses arc stated by the owners
a. follow; J. VI, Coleman. building. loss
$1,000 Insurance $500; knapp & Bur
sell, agricultural implements, loss Sil, -
0O insurance s2iO)D; 5. b. stewart &
Co., commission merchants. loss Si2. 600,
insurance 5000; y. X. sanburn, com
mission merchant loss 5000.
Insurance 5000; Charles Powers ~
Co., photographers supplies. loss
5000. Insurance 5000; Dixon &
liorgesan, loss $500; insurance $1,000;
Mechanics Mil Lumber Company,
doors and sashcs, loss $1,000, insurance
sl,GOJ; John \. Amcs, rubber stamps,
loss 5000, no Insurance.; Koch & Oak
leN printers loss $4,000, insurance
$500.
In Tho adjoining building the damage
by water l. estimated ~ follows; North.
western Fruit Company 5000: insured;
Nutun Ice & Co, fruits, damage 5000
lisdou, Canon ~ CO., damage 5000.
The owners estimate their aggregate
loss at SlOl, SOD, and the insurance at
$4,000 Tho underwriters estimate the
loss Mt $4,000 and the Insurance at
Sl3, 600