The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1890-01-18
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE
One of the Best Corners in the City
goes up In Flames Saturday
NIGHT.

he One Of the Best Corners in the Cit
Y. goes up In Flames Saturday
N Night.
IN From MonGay's Daily.
st About half past 9 o'clock Saturday nigh
an alarm OF fire was sounded, and quc
m response was made by firemen and othe
n citizens. On arriving at the engine hous
n flames could be seen to shoot up from tn
roof of the Chapman block, corner OF Wash
i ington and Second streets, and soon
: steady stream of water was poured upol
I the devouring element. The first discover!
of the fire was made by Mr.. d. L. Gates
i. who, while sitting IN his room in the secone
story of the Chapman building, heard
noise as If flames were raging. Mrs, Gates
went to her kitchen and wood shed, and
found the latter a furnace of flames. She
Immediately notified her husband, who gave
the alarm and commenced to carry out his
goods, He did not have time to remove
only a few valuables until the heat became
30 intense as to be unbearable. 1t Is sup
posed that the fire caught from defective
f1ue, and soon communicated to the wooden
partitions and closets, where water could
have but little effect.
The fire department. did noble work from
the first, and the dauntiess members
mounted the roof and poured into the sea
of flames steady streams of water. 1t was
impossible to place the fire under control, as
it found a lodgment in unseen recesses and
gathered force from the draft furnished by
every aperture through which air could lind
a passage.
The fire plugs at the corners OF Union
| and Main and Front, did not work readily
and 1t was some time before these streams
reached the flames. " hen they did they
| done very effective work, and was entitled
! to considerable credit for keeping the fire
| under control.
For awhile it was believed the fire would
creep through the alley and destroy the
block. But the roof of the buildings were
covered with about three inches of snow,
and this stopped the coniagratlon from
spreading by means of sparks.
About half-past one the IRE was con-
sidered controlled, and the people breathed
freer. The firemen had kept it to one
building. and starting aboye and burning
downward it dia not gather the force as II
it started below and burned upwards.
As soon as 1t was ascertaIned that the build
ing was doomed. the firms of w. II. Moody
Co. and L. Rorden & Co. commenced to
move their goods. The crowd which ran
into these stores with the best motives I'M
aginable, in their excitement, handled goods
in very careless manner, and considerable |
loss resulted therefrom. Their losses con- |
ho Iarn IL.
omon, although occupying brick adjoining |
the burned buildings, had a large quantity |
of goods damaged by water. The occupants
of the upper rooms lost large portion OF
their furniture and personal property.
Some friends went into the offices OF DIR.
Waters and DR.. Boyd, and took cut the
surgical instruments, medicines and hoods.
The same good work was performed for DR..
Rinehart. Dufur & Watkins, occupying
the adjoining room in the brick on Wash
ington street, had all their valuable papers
desks and library removed, but with con-
siderable loss.
Chief Munger stood at his post like
Trojan, directing and experimenting mat
tiers in the coolest and most careful manner.
He is entitled to great deal of credit Tor
the able and efficient manner in which he
managed the department.
The ladies OF the city are entitled to
the highest commendation for their fore
thought and kindness in furnishing hot
coffee to those at work on the engines and
in fighting the flames. Some of these
ladies walked through the snow to hand the
men at work this stimulating beverage.
We have only heard of one Instance IN
which any person offered them anything
but the most respectful language, and his
conduct has received the severest condem-
nf ho fro do. |
partment Our firemen are gentlemen, and
appreciate the self-sacrifcIng spirit mani
tested by the ladies' in doing all they could
to help those who were using superhuman
efforts to save our city from destruction.
The militia were ordered out, and afforded
ample protection to goods left on the side
walks out of the range of the destroying
element. There was little pilfering during
the fire, and we have heard of but one case,
and he was quickly arrested aud locked
up.
Our people generally kept cool, and there
were very few cRses of unnecessary excite
ment. Work done was done effectively,
and we have heard of none who removed
goods where the necessity did not exist.
The firemen were the true heroes of the oc-
casion. Whether on the stone walls in the
face of the Flames, or in rooms almost suf- ,
located with smoke, they knew their duty
and performed it willingly and gallantly.
The citizens appreciate their gratultous
Efforts on such occasions, and hold them in
nigh respect.
Yesterday we walked over the building !.
and found the lower stories in good condi-
lion; but the upper stories nothing were
eft but charred rafters. If the council will
not permit Mr.. Vogt to repair the building,
le will erect a substantial brick. Mr.. q
Vogt is one Of our most enterprislng citi- t
,ens, and neither fire nor water can DIS 7
courage him. i
The losses as far as they con be estimated
re as follows: O
Max Vogt, building. $4,000; insured. :
W. H. Moody & Co., $50, 600; insured. !
L. Rorden & Co., $40, 600; insured. :
H. Solomon, damage by water, 5000;
insured.
d. L. Gates, 5000; no insurance.
DR.. Waters, 500; no insurance.
DIR. Boyd, $500; no insurance.
Jno Cocker, 500; no insurance. L
DR.. Rinehart, SlO0; no insurance.
Dufur & Watkins, $500; insured.
James Webster. $500; no insurance. n
s. F. Boyer, $3.50; no insurance.