The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-06-06
cation Immediately following the FIRE en-


tailed great hardship on many.
Store hands, clerks and mechanics were
thrown upon their own resources for q
time, lasting from day to two or three
weeks.
The situation was described that night
py the PosT-IsTELLiGEScxR, which said
editoriaiiy: Great as is this calamity,
there is good fortune in the fact that it is
attended with comparatively little per-
sonal distress. The residence districts re-
main practically untouched, and even
those whose money losses are terrible are
comfortably housed in their accustomed
homes. 1t Is another fortunate fact that
the heaviest losses will fall upon those best
able to support them and to replace the
property which has been destroyed. On
the part OF those who might be called poor
there is scarcely any direct loss"
Nevertheless, the inevitable delay in
starting up work entailed hardship on
those who depended on their daily labor
for their daily bread. Within a short
time, too, laborers began to flock in from
other places, seeking work, and these soon
swelled to formidable proportions.
One incident of that chapter is worth re-
peating. AT the meeting of citizens held
the day after the fire, Governor Ferry
moved the appointment of relief COM
mittee OF five. He said he heard that Ia
coma had raised $4,000 for sufferers by
the fire In an hour. This brought three
cheers and tiger for Tacoma. "Now,
don't let rs turn suppliants," said the
speaker, "let us pay our own way out be-
fore We ask for dollar. TCheers.l We
can accept proffered aid; but, ask for it
never!" Applause and cries of "Never.'
George S. Adair, president of the Board
of Trade, announced that he had 1858 in
his possession subscribed for the relief of
the sufferers by the floods at Johnstown.
1t had been suggested to him to ascertain
the extent of the domestic calamity before
sending it away.
LET it CO." was the shouted answer,
and the money was sent.
The militia were doing patrol duty, and
it was necessary to make some provision
for feeding them. Blankets, tents, food,
etc., began to pour into the city and a re-
lief committee consisting of Mayor Moran,
Governor E. P. Ferry, Judge Thomas
Burke, Judge J. r. Lewis and Mr.. G. III.
Hebron was appointed to attend to their
distribution.
Meantime, the ladies had been organ
izing with view to preparing food for the
militia and those who were unable to get
employment. No list was made in the
great confusion and excitement of those
who took turns in the work, but among
those remembered were Mrs. NJ. e. Hand
saker, Mrs. Maud Clark, Miss Emma Allen,
Miss II. E. Haskins, Miss NJ. I. Scott, Miss
Lottie Scott, Mrs. d. III. Callahan, Miss
Lulu Hendry, Miss M. E. Robson. Miss
Lille White, Miss Nettie Perrin, Miss
Lottie Swanson, Miss F. Parsons, Mrs.
Frank Lee, Mrs. K. L. Bryant, Miss o. NJ.
Bailey, Mrs. Jennie Parron, Mrs.
A. P. Venom, Mrs. L. A. Maburg,
Miss Ella Patton, Miss Minnie
Schlegel, Mrs. Judge Greene. Miss
Matte Kilworth, Mrs. s. N. Alexan-
der. Mrs. Robert Russell. Miss Ida Vroo-
man, Mrs. Hazard, Mrs. Clark Davis, Miss
Jennie Houghton, Mrs. Clark, Miss New
bury. Miss Kelly, Miss Helen B. Paige,
Mrs. G. w. Boardman, Mrs. I. ]. Talbert,
Mrs. w. II. Bogardus, Miss I. Parsons.
Mrs. Frank Lee, Mrs. L. Bryant.
The committee secured q vacant lot on
the corner of Third and University, near
the Armory, and there erected q tent 30 by
100 feet in dimensions. There they dis
pensed meals to as many as 5000 people .
day. "Better feed dozen bad men than
let one good man 60 hungry" was the
motto, and it was lived up to until work
became plentiful and discrimination could
be made between those willing to work
and those disposed to take advantage Of
hospitality.
The officers stationed at the Armory
were Colonel J. G. Haines. commanding
the First regiment; Colonel s.
w. Scott, First regiment; Captain James
Green, Company B; Captain e. NJ.
Carr, Company E; Captain w.
J. Fife, Company C; Captain
James Phillips, Company G.; Lieutenant
w. T. Sharpe. adjutant; Lieutenant L. R.
Dawson, Company B.; Lieutenant Brown,
Company D; Lieutenant Gorham, Com
pany D; Lieutenant Thornell, Company
E; Lieutenant F. J. Grant, quartermaster;
Lieutenant A. J. Hatfield, commander;
Lieutenant Davis Dickson. Company G.,
and Lieutenants Freeman Smith, P. P.
Walsh, I. NJ. Howell.
At S o'clock in the morning the Quick
step brought load of provisions from Ia
coma, the Clara Brown followed at
O'Clock and the Quickstep again at 6 in the
evening. The steamer Fairhaven and the
revenue cutter Wolcott arrived from Port
Townsend the same day.
kilograms offering money, provisions
and any other aid were received next
morning from Spokane Falls, Portland,
Montesano, Vancouver, B. c., North
Yakima, Ellensburg, New York, San
Francisco; and within o few days contribu-
tions began to pour in.
"The people of Seattle will never forget
the noble generosity Of the people
of Tacoma" said the PosT-INTELLI-
eEYcER of June s. ''They have
raised an enormous relief fund; they have
sent to our stricken city tons upon tons Of
provisions and bedding; they have sent
their most prominent citizens to aid in the
work of relieving the suffering-they have
done all, and more than all, that an open
hearted and open-handed generosity could
suggest for our suffering and destitute
citizens. Such evidences of sympathy and
friendship at such time as this viii not,
and could not, be forgotten"
On Saturday, June s, over 10000 good,
substantial meals were given out. Sup
plies continued to pour in from all parts
of the state, and Captain Hatfield, acting
"a commissary, with detail of military,
was kept busy storing away provisions.
Twelve hundred Cinnamon, many of whom
had been without food for two days, were
fed. A committee of sixteen was organ
ICED for the purpose of searching for desti-
tute families. They were rewarded by
finding large numbers of women and chill
dren who were without food or shelter.
The COMMITTEES consisted of NJ. V. Rine-
La-4 chairman. z w. Melse. SECRETARY