The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-02-16
Big WESTMINSTER FIRE
Half Million in Buildings and
Goods Destroyed.
4 GALLANT FIREMAN KILLED.
Masonic Temple. the Finest Struct-
ure in the City, Burned.
4 GALLANT FIREMAN KILLED.
Explosives Stored in . Frame Building
Blow Up with Great Force. wrecking
Structures and Scattering Firebrsnds
But One Engine, and That Useless.

/ -CcH4aETatNGn. which destroyed in the
neighborheod OF $500 900 worth OF property,
and caused the death of John McCannon.
member OF the volunteer fire brigade.
At 5 o'clock this morning George Pitten-
drigh, manager at the Bell Telephone
Company's Office. was awakened by the
smell Of smoke, which on examination was
found TO come from the rear of the prem
ises occupied by +. stirsky, matchmaker
and jeweler, on Columbia street Pitten-
dTigh at once gave the alarm by telephone.
and in two minutes the fire brigade had
turned out, though for some unaccounf-
able reason il was fully twenty minutes
before q stream of water could be brought
to play. BY this time the whole block OF
frame buildings was ablaze, along with the
stables in the rear Of the telephone COM
pany's building. and private residence.
For two hours the firemen fought the
flames, and were just getting them under
control, when an explosion in the rear Of
one Of the stores occurred. II broke every
pane Of glass within radius Of half a
mile and burst all the hose in use at the
FIRE.
/ The Masonic temple adjacent had up 10
this moment been considered absolutely
safe, but the breakage Of its windows
caused draft which sucked the names
inwards, and in moment the whole in-
terror Of the building was On lire. It was
fcur-story brick building With a stone
front, erected in 1857 at cost Of $50, 600,
and contained the lodgerooms Of the
Masons, Odd Fellows. Knights of PyIhias,
and Offices Of the Southern Railway
Company; Bourchier, Croft & Mauletfe,
real estate firm: Morrison, Barris,
Turnbull Il Co., contractors, and tie pro-
yincial registry offices, besides the stores of
u. Lyail d Co., stationery; Ogle, Campbell
Freeman, dry goods, and A. n Herring,
drugs. Not thing was saved out Of this
building but the papers from the registry
Offices
While fighting the flames at one of the
windows in the western wall the whole
fireman named McCannon was
buried under two tons of
brick He was taken ont and brought to
ST Mary's hospital, where he died tonight
Another man is reported to be buried
underneath the ruins, but no one knows
who he is, nor is it certain he is there.
Floods OF water were poured on the
Masonic block continuously, this work
being assigned to a special party, but ten
times the amount of water would have had
but little effect on the fire.
Herring's drug store caught about this
time, blazing with dazzling light In the
midst Of the raging flames about the CEN
ter OF the block, in the heart of the FIRE,
could be seen a safe standing on brick
pier. Upon il the FIRE seemed TO have no
effect except that Of peeling off the paint.
II was noted that the power of the en-
gines was hardly enough to supply the
various hose lines, and the firemen would
have appreciated stream double the
strength. Everything that the bravery
and strength of men could do was done
by the gallant fremen, but to no
avail. Their streams turned to
steam almost before they reached
the skirts Of the frighfful sea Of fame. In
the paralyzing heat, unbearabie to all
others. those noble fellows held the hose
with bulldog tenacity. Some attempt
was made TO screen them from the aeoniz-
ing heat, and such poor shelter as box lids
and fragments of sign boards was CRATE
fully accepted by the fre-fghring heroes.
The whole sky was aflame with the lurid
rejection, and it was stated that the illu-
nination was seen at Blaine and far ND the
Fraser valley and out on the gulf.
Showers OF sparks and burning timber
were cast like chaff up to the sky. while
the dull, subdued roar of the flames filri-
Gus energy struck q species of terror 10 the
hearts Of the bystanders.
Indications that the roof was in danger of
falling in were now noticed, and the vol.
unteers advised TO abandon the forIorn
hope Of saving any more at the risk Of
their lives. A hose was brought TO bear
on the front Of the building and i, seemed
TO check the IRE, but it was only tempo
re-y- The flames rushed to the windows
and in defiant way flung their long arms
far out over the street. and turning
upwards crept ike snakes ali over the face
OF the building. The terrible cry that the
roof was coming spread through the crowd
few moments later, and they began to
get out Of the way in anticipation of
tremendous collapse. Then, with crack
ling, rending roar, and mighty crash. the
roof sank IN. the shock sending dense
cloud OF sparks and burning brands INTO
the sky The roar OF the flames vas
awful. and, famed by slight wind from
the east. seemed unquenchahle.
The first story Al this stage was simply
Af-a pi AAts MicSt power seemed 1llElf-
able. and whose heat made itself felt
blocks away. Soon the second story.
which up 10 this point had been conlpara-
lively unscorched, began 10 go, and five
minutes after catching biaxed with unap-
proachahle yigor. The ladies of the city
sent down canteens of hot tea and coffee
for the iire-fghters, for by this time there
was scarcely soul in the district that did
not know OF the awful confederation. and
many feared the whole business portion of
the city would be reduced 10 ashes.
The txo blocks burned are right in the
heart OF the town, directly opposite the
new Douglas house. and within a short
distance Of Ihe Colonial hotel. However.
the exertions Of the IRE brigade prevented
any further spread Time and again whole
lengths Of hose were literally melted by
the violent htat, and time was consequent-
ly lost IN again making connections. The
only water supply was from one nre en-
glne, and il was totally inadequate, as
with three streams playing on the dame
there was not sufficient power TO raise the
stream beyond tne first story.
The Masonic temple \ as the finest brlild-
ing IN the city. and when lthe vast crowd
saw thai il vas doomed many expressions
o. regret and indignation were heard on
every hand-regrss that no suitable pro-
vision had been made for fire protection,
and indignation that "a matter SO itnpcr-
tant should 50 long he sielaved.
Captain Feel, OF the METEOROLOGICAL