The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-06-06
THU STORY told AGAIN.
How the Great Fire Started
and How 1t Burned.
SCENES FROM A SEA OF FLAMES.
Memorable Incidents of the Birth Of
the New Seattle.
inscription OF the Giant Destruction
which sprang From Tiny Flame
Davs Following the Confagration-
RebuiIding the City-Munincent Aid
From Other Cifies-work OF Relief.


rebuilding the City-Munincent Aid
from Other Csfies-work OF Relief.
Two years ago-June 6, 1SS9-shortly
after Q o'clock on Thursday afternoon,
blaze was started, and before nightfall the
entire business district was in ruins.
The fire was caused by the oyerturning
of glue pot in Jim McGough's paint shop,
under Smiths boot and shoe store, at the
corner of Front and Madison streets, in
what was known as the Pontius block.
In an instant the whole paint shop was
in flames, and the fire burst through the
floor above before single thing could be
carried out of the room.
The Pontius block was frame structure
extending along Front street from Madi-
son half way to Columbia, running back to
the alley. The other half was known as
the Denny block The basement and hall
ways in the building seemed to serve as
fues to draw the flames, tor black clouds
of smoke poured from every window, door
and crevice in the structure from one end
to the other, within five minutes from the
time that the alarm was first given.
The flames, however, had only burst
from the north end of the building, and
the fire department set to work to check
the fire, which at this juncture seemed
easy to control. Engine company No.
attached to hydrant at the corner OF
Front and Columbia streets, and laid two
lines of hose. Another stream was run
from the hydrant at the corner of Front
and Columbia streets, and engine company
n IA. -. 4 ho nff ho httr
ing building and commenced pumping salt
water.
A cheer rose from the crowd as the beat
of engine No. ! was heard. and two
streams of water were turned on to the fire,
but the cheer of hope died away in wall
of despair when, after q few minutes
pumping, the streams became so weak that
they did not reach the top of the building,
showing that there was no water with
which to fight the fend of fire, which by
this time had reached the center of the
building. 1t was volunteer department
in those days, and as it happened, the
chief, Josia Collins, jr., was in San Fran
cisco.
Then 1t was that the possibility Of gen.
eral confagration first struck the crowd,
and the alarm being caught up, people far
off from the then burning buildings began
TO move their goods.
The PosT-INTELLrGENcER force Of report
ers was stationed so as to observe every
point as the flames extended, and from
their data was written q concise and ac-
curate description of the scenes of the day,
which was published next morning. More
elaborate accounts have since been written,
but the record of the day as written then
may stand as complete so far as the Incl
dents are concerned.
According to that no thought was given
to the opera-house block, whose solid
looking walls were expected to check the
progress of the flames.
Suddenly came the cry of 1.-THE opera
house is on fire." and an arrow of flame
shot up from the mansard roof of the build
ing in answer to the cry. By this time the
Denny block was in a seething sea of
fame, and it was out of the question for
men to stand in front of the wall of fire to
work on the opera-house. The whole
block of wooden buildings north of the
opera-house had by that time shared the
general fate and were fast disappearing in
ire and smoke. Virtually nothing could
be done toward saving the opera-house.
Men tried to brave the intense heat from
the burning row across the street, but were
driven back with scorched faces and burn
ing garments. The very hose melted, and
the firemen were forced to drag it back and
reach the fire from Second street.
Up to this time Marshal Murphy had
been the only head of the fire department;
but Mayor Moran and Councilman Durie
appeared on the scene and attempted to
bring order out of confusion. Parties
were organized to carry goods out of the
buildings in the path of the flames, and
the side streets in few minutes were
blocked with merchandise. Chief Butter
field swore in over one hundred deputies,
and instructed them to arrest eyery man
found stealing, and in few minutes the
rabble had become working crowd, led
by intelligent men.
The flames hung onto the Denny block
and the firemen. who covered the north
end of the Colman block, next to il on the
south, could have checked them there had
II not been for the lack OF water. At $50
the big Preston hook and ladder truck
came tearing up Front street and turned
up Columbia to go ~, d to the rear end
OF the opera-house ol X but before II had
reached there tie Big Auilding was skele-
ton. with every W dow showing flame
and smoke.
At o'.looA he flames leaped across
Marion Get aud the Colman block ON
the wes' aid the Renig block on the east
side e 'front.' we're soon in the center OF
the ..e sea.
Al eiicrt was made at O'Clock to blow
up the colmsn block by placing large
cnMgesg dynamite and other explosives
unser VS. center, but it proved abortive.
ana ~ q ding burned from one end to
'ne &. The explosions shattered the
a'naq p the big brick blocks south of
ool.s "a and several persons were badly
rs1t ne falling glass. At i've minutes
p@ c'esock the kenney brick block on
.ne ~ 4ef OF Front and Columbia caught
nIs y ne top. Engine No. l was then
ISss - q pull up and attach at the corner
OF ystreet. Before a stream could
oe led again every building north of
Coluh - street was on fire.
ife ~ Francisco BUILDING. occur;sd hv
german & Co., was the next
app a& farrier to the progress of the
nan Every window of the buildipo
Wa af ashed with heavy wet blankets
a n fgs g powder was placed under the
ass t9ark across the street, but il did
no oseshe building. which in a few
:. caught on fire. from the Kennev
"a &ae walls of which fell inward a, On
ysD O'Clock. sending up cloud of
sau burning brands that scattered
@ 1e roots of the adjoining block.
49,. Is. Metcalfe led party IN tho
avsi u the building and a l;na &c - s"e