The record-union., 1891-09-04
THE DALLES CONFEDERATION.
FAR MORE SERIOUS THAN AT FIRST
REPORTED.
Eighteen Blocks Reduced to Ashes
Not Less Than q Thousand Peo-
pie Left Homeless.
Special to the RECoRD-UNroN.


THE DALLEs, Sept. 3.-As a 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 1000 people are left homeless.
| The fire started about l o'clock in a one
story dwelling. Before the engines began
to work the fire had spread to the houses
on each side.
For hours after the fire started the wind
blew gale from the northwest and the
town was completely at its mercy till it
calmed down, about 4o'clock, and gave a
lighting chance to the citizens to save the
entire city from ruin.
As many as seventeen or eighteen
blocks are in ashes: The Vogt Block.
Opera-house, Methodist, Baptist and Con-
gregational Churches, large implement
warehouses and the stores of Gibbons.
McAllister IL Co., Fillo0n Bros. and f. p.
Fitzgerald, and the handsome brick block
OF L. {. Nickelsen, besides five or six
hundred residences, all succumbed to the
devouring flames.
Every building between the railroad
track on the north, the bluffs on the
south, Madison street on the east, and
Laughlin street on the west, save the
depot building and two residences, are
gone, and nothing is left but dreary
waste OF ashes and charred trunks. The
handsome Shade-tree region, too bounded
by Third street, Washington, the bluff,
and Union street, is cleared out, save
only the brick SchOolhOuse and the resi-
| dence of George Ruch, and these were
only saved by an almost superhuman
effort.
Not much less, if any, than a million
Of hoe
in flames. Fortunately the Cosmopolf-
tan and Umatilla Houses were saved.
and these two hotels furnished shelter
last night for hundreds whom the fire
had rendered homeless. Others found
lodging in the homes of their more fortu-
nate neighbors, and still others spent the
night on the bank 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 in
surance covering the property destroyed.
Many who were well off yesterday morn
ing are to-day ruined or badly crippled.
while many poor people who had no in
surance lost all they possessed
The only serious accident, so far as has
been learned, happened TO Joseph p.
Fitzgerald, son of f.. p. Fitzgerald. who
was seriously burned about the arms,
hands, breast and face while making his
OSSipC CAICuS IL JllS l1di1l0S III MS 1at6Gr'S
residence. 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, under arms, pa
raded the town all night for the purpose
OF protecting property saved from the
flames and scattered almost everywhere,
but which it was found impossible to
transfer to place of safety. A number
of suspicious characters were thrown into
Jail for the night, but were released this
morning and ordered to leave the city.
This morning the Mayor revoked his
order placing the city under martial law,
and appointed Relief Committee to re-
celve contributions for the needy.
In response to q call Of Mayor Mays.
The Relief Committee met this afternoon
IN the courthouse, and appointed num-
Der Of leading citizens to solicit aid for
those who are in need. 1t is found that
there are a number of families entirely
destitute, and immediate aid must be had
Secl etary NJ. A. Moody has already re-
ceived several contributions.