The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-04-13

81 100000. It was at almost the geo.
graphical center of the city that the flames
started, and, like the terrible disaster Of
twenty years ago. begah in stable In
this case the stable was the property Of
the well-known furniture manufacturer
and politician, John NJ. Smythe, and was
located in the rear of his big house-fur-
mining establishment on West Madison,
near Halstead street
The flames speedily communicated to
the furniture establishment, and moment
later to Kohl & Middleton dime museum
A general alsr1n to the FIRE department
was soon followed by a special call for
extra engines, as the FIRE was seen to
be gaining ground with extraordinary
rapidity. In less than i've minutes
smoke was pouring from every win
huge six-story building occupied by
Snaythe, and when IN a marvelously short
time both structures had turned into q
mass of fame, great fiery tongues darted
across the street and lodged In the upper
stories of buildings on the north side Of
Madison street. A moment later the fire.
men found themselves working between
two towering walls of hame.
For time it looked as though the con-
1axration would get beyond control, and,
a. In 1871, sweep towards the lake. To add
TO the trouble the wind was blowing stiff
gale from the west. Probably 1900 peo-
pie gathered in the neighboring streets
watching the progress OF the possibly inn
pending calamity.
At this critical juncture. however. the
thorough discipline of the fire department
became magniticently apparent. The men
obeyed orders, stood steadily in the street
where the flames scorched them from
either side, aud after a fierce battle at
length brought the ire In ameasure under
control The immense blaze. however,
continued to rage in the buildings already
partly destroyed. The museum was moth
ing bat \ heap of rsiins and the walls Of
the Smythe building were falling one after
another. Fortunately they all fell inward,
and no persons were injured.
Across the street also the walls soon sue
cumbed to the furious onslaught. The
upper story of three-story building on
the northwest corner of Madison and I'm
ion streets caught fire. and the flames
lodged around the windows Of the fifth
story of the Haymarket theater building
and soon were stretching along under its
mansard roof. just west of the Haymar-
ket, the five-story building Of the Peoples
Quitting Company caught FIRE in front.
Despite all efforts, the buildings between
Union street and the Haymarket block
were wiped out, as well as those on the
south side of the street.
In the Haymarket the FIRE was confined
to the upper story, but the whole building
was filled with smoke and water.
The first intimafion the inmates of Kohl
& Middleton's museum had OF the close
proximity of the fire was when one opened
a window on the third floor, through
which volume of smoke poured. A
wild panic followed among the 400 persons
in the building, most of whom, FORUM
ately. were on the first door, watching the
variety performance. They were apprised
floors, and as they arose 10 their feet and
fed precipitately toward the front door
FIRE appeared at the rear windows, increas-
ing their terror.
The emergency brought ont hero in
the person of Policeman Patrick Sheehy.
Forcing his way through the frightened
people, who were madly retarding each
other. he stationed himself at the head OF
the stairs. and drawing revolver declared
his intention of killing the person who
refused to obey his instructions. By
GOODNESS and determination he succeeded
in quieting the panic and. with one excep-
ton. everybody reached the street in
safety. The exception was c. II. Messen-
ger, young man who leaped from win-
dow before Ofhcer Sheehy reached the
stair landing, and was frighffuily injured.
Several persons following him stopped,
horror stricken. long enough TO be cor
rallied by Sheehy and his revolver. One
old lady fell when near the bottom of the
stairs and broke her arm.
As soon as the officer cleared the people
out, he went up TO the third floor, where
scores OF monkeys were Gagged, and
wrenched apart the iron bars OF the cages
that the little animals could escape. but
with chattering and grius they can,ped
upstairs and were burned TO death. The
policeman nearly lost his own life getting
down stairs
The excitement among the freaks. who
were on exhibition on the third foor. was
pitifnl. They were practically unable TO
help themselves, and were with difficulty
restrained from throwing themselves from
the windows. Madame Carver. DoLpound
woman. seized her midget son, dragged
herself TO the rear window and vas about
to throw the child ont of the window,
when she was restrained by Manager Bel
mont, who with difficulty escorted them
down stairs. A. d. Lafayette, father of
the big-headed boy. who was 50 sop-heayy
he could not navigate alone, seized the
10y. and while leading him out found the
Alhino girl almost blind and cropping about
in the smoke With the big-heaied hoy
under his arm. he seized the Albino and
dragged her 20 the stairway and soon
reached the street.
The fire in the Hsymarkei theater was
discovered just 3 few minutes before the
last act. The smoke was barely percep.-
ible when the manager stepped upon the
stage and enlieayored TO persuade the
audience 10 file out IN order. At this
moment some one shouted ERE" and a
panic seemed imminent. The excitemen,
was partially subdued by prompt work on
the part OF the usher<, and the Iheater was
soon cleared without casualty.
Just before the west wall of the museum
fell . yenturesone boy climbed np 10 the
third floor of the building a6ioininy. and
sfccd watching the flames. When the
wall TOPPED over and the smoke had
cleared away he eeUld not he seen, and il
is feared he went down in the mass Of
debris