The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-09-04
THE CITY AMID RUINS.
Hundreds at The Dalles Who
Are Without Shelter.
THE INSURANCE ONLY PARTIAL.
Relief Committee Organized and Call
for Aid Issued.
One Cane Only of Accident-Many Lost
All They Had-suspicious Characters
Thrown Into Jail Martial Law
Order Revoked.

The DALLEs, Or. Sept. 3.-As result of
yesterdays disastrous fire about one-third
Of the residence and business part of The
Dalles is in ashes and perhaps not less
than 1,000 people are left homeless. The
fire started about O'Clock in a one-story
dwelling on the south side of Second
street between Madison and Jefferson
streets. The house was occupied by J. III.
Larsen, and at the time of the fire no one
was in it. Before the engine began to
work the flames had spread to the houses
on each side, and in less than half an hour
1t had started in the old Grimes feed
stable, which was nothing but huge two
story fire trap, and from that moment till
or o'clock in the evening it carried
ire started the wind blew gale from the
northeast. and the town was completely at
its mercy until ii calmed down about
O'Clock and gave fighting chance to the
citizens to save the city from entire ruin.
As many as seventeen or eighteen blocks
are IN ashes. The Vogt block, opera
house, Methodist, Baptist and Congrega-
tional churches, the large implement
warehouses and stores Of Gibson. McAllis-
ter d Co., Filioon Brothers and E.
p. Fitzgerald, ana the handsome brick
block OF ]. G. Nicholson, besides so or 60
residences, all succumbed 10 the devouring
flames. Every building between the rail-
road track on the north, the bluff on
South Madison street on the east. and
Laughlin street on the west, save the de-
pot building and two residences, are gone,
and nothing is left but dreary waste of
ashes and charred trunks of the handsome
shade trees. The region. too, bounded by
Third street, Washington, the bluff and
Union street, is cleared out save only the
brick schoolhouse and residence of George
Ruch, and these were only saved by al
most superhuman efforts. Not much less.
if any, than 81, 900, 600 worth of property
has gone up in the flames. Fortunately
the Cosmopolitan and UmatiIla houses
were saved, and these hotels furnished
shelter last night for hundreds whom the
fire had rendered homeless. Others found
lodging in homes of their more fortunate
neighbors, and still others spent the night
on the banks of the river, keeping watch
over what little they had rescued from the
flames. 1t Is impossible, at this time, to
make any correct estimate of the amount
of insurance covering the property de-
stroyed. Many who were well off yester-
day morning are ruined or badly crippled
today, and many poor people who had no
insurance lost all they possessed
The only serious accident, so far as has
been learned. happened TO Joseph P. Fitz-
gerald, son of E. P. Fitzgerald, who was
seriously burned about the arms, hands,
breast and face while making his way
through the flames from his fathers resi-
dence. As he did not inhale any of the
flames he may recover.
Early yesterday evening the mayor
placed the city under martial law in
charge of the sheriff and city marshal.
About thirty citizens and members of the
Oregon National guard are under arms
and paraded the town all night for the
purpose of protecting the property saved
from the flames and scattered almost
everywhere, but which il was found i'm
possible to transfer TO place of safety.
A number of suspicious characters were
thrown into Jail for the night and were
released this morning and ordered to leave
the city
This morning the mayor revoked his or
der placing the city under martial law. and
appointed the following persons as relief
committee to receive contributions for
those needing help, and TO whom all an
plications for aid are requested to be made:
Mrs. Thomas 5. Lang, Mr.. Smith French
Mrs. J. o. Kay, Mrs. J. o. Bennett Mrs.
B. S. Huntington, Mrs. Hugh Glenn. Mr.
George A. Liebe, Mr.. George Ruch, Mr.. NJ.
A. Moody, Mr. D. II. French and Mr.. C.
n. Thornbury.
The list of losses and insurance as far az COM