The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-08-25
WEST SEATTLE FIRE.
Myers Cannery Burned Eaily In the
Morning.

The fire which destroyed Myers cannery at
Duwamish hea1 occurred at so la G an hour yes
terdGy morning that the story OF the fire could
only be print d in the PcsT INTELLIGENcER's
o'clock edition. after the early mails and the
city routes had been sent out, ana only the pa.
pers sold on the streets contained an account of
the blaze
Yesterday there was nothing left of the can.
merry butt mass of smoldering ruins, which
were sited by ev ~ one who cros sed the bar-
Dor. Not thing was saved from the A ,mes but
three bales of new seine. which happened to
lie near the entrance. The men who slept in
the cannery DID not even have time to save
their clothing.
The building was a wooden structure and
stood partly upon piles on the most northern
point at West Seattle. The main building was
40xSo feet in size and had two wings on the
north side. These wings were each 36x6O feet
in size, the one on the east side being a shed
with frames, where the salmon were prepared
Between the wings was a small blacksmith shon
l0x2o feet, entirely apart from the main struc.
ture. The boiler. furnace and machinery were
situated in the west end of the main building
Connected with the southwest corner of the
cannery wss a small shed, in which was stored
a heap of old tarred nets, Irvine and other COM
bustible material Under this shed was a large
pile OF dry sawdust The latter point was tho
starting 20 Mt OF the fire.
Twenty five white men and Cinnamon tho
entire force, slept in the west end of the build
ing. All seung, who had charge of the Chinese
fishermen, was awakened at 4 o'clock by the
smell of tar smoke. The fire is supposed to have
then been in progress about fifteen minutes
The whole force were instantly on the ert: but
the flames spread with such lightning rapidity
the men set TO and attemp pied only to save the
goods stored within the caunery aud in the adj.
joining buildings. Meanwhile the blaze enyeI
oped the entire structure.
The ferry boat began blowing her whistle soon
after the Ere was discovered, sud kept IL IN for
some time. This notified those VINO were
watching on this side that the boat WAS com mo
over alter FIRE engines. and when il arrived ar
the slip after remarkably quick run. the
chemical engine ald engine No. ! with ten
der, were ready to go aboard. The fire depart
melt reached the scene too lats to be of anv
service, as the buildings were practically con-
sumed when 1t arrived. Charley's Chinese
lauu0ry, which stands closest the scene was ar
one time on fire and IL was feared the ire would
spread TO the ferry boat slip Everything was
moved out of the West side lodgfng-hopse
which stands 100 yards distant. The fire. de-
partment, however. succeeded in wetting down
the buildings ana the space between thereby
stopping the fires progress
The entire loss is estimated at 10000 The
cannery was insured for 100 with Hanfara G
Beach's srency, in this city, IS follows,
Meyers policy, $500 on the buildings. machin.
ry and sock; Captain L, L. Marshall from
whom Meyers leased the grounds held 81 O00fn.
suranee on the buildings: W. F. Feltu,. who rss
ifs aiug for Meyers, he'd policy fa- $500 ipspr.
ance ON tie Irvine. policy for Il 0oo insurance
on the buildings which expired August S. was
dropped by or'er Of Meyers
Two hundred boxes Of tin, which had on SAT-
urday be, delivered at the cannery were an.
usely de troyed. Captain MarshaiPs policy haa
JUS been renewed on Saturday, rs il exnired
August Is LOT OF Irvine, sured for $500. wss
transf, rred from the Seattle warehouse 10 the
eannery Saturday.
Mr.. George I. Myers. proprietor of the can
merry, arrived from Portland last pight. ard
after max ne survey of his property IN ruins
said: This is clear case of incendisrism
At twenty minutes 10 O'Clock this morning
FIRE was discovered in the south side of the
building. by the people on the West Seattle
ferry, and q man sleeping upstairs was awak.
ened by smoke, and coming down found
that the fire mp 10 that time YVES
not in the building. The man who was awaken
ed by the smoke. aroused thirteen Cinnamon
who slept on the top door, and also twelve