davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-12-11
AMUSEh ENTS.
The ..U and T., COMPANY show.


The "U and T. company, with John T. Kelly
as star, introduced to the public at the Seattle
opera-houss last night one of the best and most
amusing speciality organizations that has ever
been seen on the Coast. In the three acts there
was an endless variety of entertainment,
made up of comical dialogue, clever dane
ing and good singing. The work of
John T. Kelly as O'Donovan Innis, rollicking
lrishman, was as eomical as could possibly be
imagined. He assumed many different guises
and did them all in an amusing manner. Dutch
DAILY as Professor Underblotz was also good In
the last act he rendered some limitations on the
concertina that were gems in their way. Charles
F. Walton, he dude, was the tallsst man ever
seen in Seattle, ana possibly the thinnest Harry
Kelly made an active and grotesque policeman
All the ladies in the company were clever, and
many OF the special dances were new and nicely
done. Miss Florrie West, the maid, was specially
good The encores were frequent and one of the
performers called attention 10 the fact that the
same company would appear again. Kelly, as
is his usual custom, spent yesterday morning in
looking about the city, aud the result was that
last night he got of a number OF local hits that
were greatly relished. The ~. & l." company
will appear again tonight.
The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-12-11

MeAilep said he expected that men would be
sent down from the hook and ladder trucks to
help handle tbs hose, but none were sent The
two streams, after the boat got to work, afforded
good protection to the saw mill and in reality
this the only thing that saved il, ~ 1t could
not be reached by any OF the other apparatus.
Chief kellogg, when ask cd why men were not
sent from the balance of the department to help
handle the frebost hose, replied that the balance
OF the city needed protection, and no more men
than were necessary to handle the engines
hook and ladder trucks, he said they would
have to be held in reserve to relieve those at
work, as it might take week to get the Ere
completely out.
At 1:S0 the slabs and riling were still burning
rapidly, and engines Nos. 8 and and the fire.
boat were playing away on them. Chief KEEL
logg said he had not the slightest knowledge
that there was no water supply near the mill
until the engines had reached the spot and the
hose had been run out
The company had q good-sized fire pump on
the outer end of the wharf, which was run by
the boilers Of the factory and sswmill, and as
the sawmiil was shut down, of course the power
had to come from the factory boiler. The fire
occurring in the boiler-roop7 shut of this sup
ply and fire had TO be started under the
pump boiler before it could be used BY this
time the fire had spread so that seven lines of
the hose were burned, and only one line Was left
to do service. The pump did some service, how
ever in giving protection 70 the sawmill.
The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-12-11
THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE.
A Loud Explosion Suddenly Followed
by Outburst of Flames

George Chapman. one of the night watch.
men, was in the dryhouse at the time the Gre
broke out aud, as soon as he dis
covered ii, he turned in three or four
alarms over the auxiliary system he
said he had not the slightest idea of the origin
OF the fire, but thought at first 1t must have
been lamp explosion in the boilerroom, but
on reflection he knew there was no lamp there
except lantern, which always hung near the
steam gauge,
T.. F. Wood is the regular night Waterman
with Chapman. Wood was the engineer OF the
sawmill, and has been employed as one of the
night wstchmen when the mill was not run
ming. Both men are old employees. and the COM
pany had the utmost confidence in them. Chap
man said:
Ward had sore thumb tonight and nv
brother VIII. also an employe of the COMPANY
had come down and relieved him whiie he Nci,t
up town 20 have hts thumb fixed IN Viii
was up stairs in the factory cleaning
up, and had gone 10 the drv
house 10 start the dryer in accordance with
Woods orders, when the explosion look pIace
Ii sounded like the explosion oi powder and
when ran 10 the boiler room the whole inside
of tue building WAS abaze.
Dry cedar dust catches fire like -four dust
AMI evidently it was but a short space of time
until the whole factory was wrapped in flames
The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-12-11
GETTING BACK FIRE LOSSES.
1t VIII Take Ten Years Earnings to
RecOup Insurance Companies.


RecOup Insurance Companies.
AS nesrly as can be estimated, it will take the
insurance companies ten years to get back from
the city in premiums the losses paid on the
great fire with interest, unless the city grows
more rapidly than seems probable. The total
amount of insurance on losses in the great fire
was about $2,50o,ooo, of which from 100000 to
$4,000 was not paid. The prem ums paid in
the year 1890 amounted to nearly Si00, 900, and in
1891 to nearly $780, making $780, 600 recovered
in premiums by the insurance companies to the
end of this year.
While there has been q great increase in the
amount OF insurance carried since the
rebuilding of the burned district, it has
not been nearly enough to Offset not
only the absolute reduction in rates
made by the Pacific Insurance Union. but the
reductions due to the change in the character
of the risks Thus q firm which Immediately
after the fire was paying ~ per cent. on $4,000
OF stock in tent and per cent. on SIS, 900 in q
brick building IL now paying 81 20 on $4,000 in
new brick building; yet it 10 paying only 81 100
in premiums on the larger amount, while 1t
paid 1875 on the smaller amount Even where
the amount insured is doubled, the increased
amount paid in premiums is not large. Thus
firm which paid $500 premiums on s25, 900 two
years ago is now paying $3.50 premiums on
$4,000 In the case OF large firms the outlay for
insurance has been little, if at ALL reduced any
saving due to reductions in rates having been
usually expended on additional insurance.
The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-12-11
DRY DOCK WORKS IN DANGER.
Ready Zeal Saves 1t From Burning
Tug Biz Sc0rched.

rug BIZ ScOrched.
The dry dock and the wharyes and piles of
lumber surrounding it had an escape SO narrow
that for some time the immense crowd expected
every moment to hear the cry above the noise OF
the cracking flames that the shower of cinders
had started another blaze. Every one felt
that II one of these huge cinders started a fire
nothing could save the dry dock with its ada
cent buildings, and perhaps many more wharyes
almost in line toward the city. 1t was only
through the faithful services of the men who
used the buckets and the small hose that the
dry dock was saved. The wharf leading out
from the dry dock was in a shower of burning
cinders from the first, but the workmen in the
mill and foundry got TO work and with buckets
of water they soaked the wharves, and, ii an
unusually large cinder fell, they would run to
it and put it out. 1t was sitting work, but the
members of the bucket brigade paid no atten-
ton to the smoke and sparks and the ciuders in
the air, but kept at their posts until the danger
was over. 2
The logs lying between the fire and the dry
dock wharf caught fire and many of them were
considerably burned. Occasionally big sheet
OF corrugated iron roofing would shoot up into
the air from the Are and drop down on these
logs Ike so much paper. The noise they made
was drowned in the roar of the flames
The tug Biz on the marine ways, had mar
row escape frem catching fire, and it was only
through the efforts of q number OF men on
board that she was saved. As it was the paint
was all blistered on one side and the shower
of cinders fairly covered her. Assistant Engi-
neer Tanner saw the fire few moments after it
broke out He was sitting in the piot-house
OF the tug and ran out and shouted
"Fire." He said that it spread with wonderful
rapidity, and i'll few seconds the flames had
wrapped the planning mill in seething mass
that showersd huge cinders all over the wharf
Captain Donate, OF the barge Ajax, assisted Mr..
Ia a
that received ready help As it happened, there
was good supply OF water in the tank on board,
and one OF the men got at the hand pump on the
inside, filled the buckets and passed them out to
those on the outside. For an hour the little tug
stood up in the blizzard OF sparks and smoke
and ciuders
The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-12-11
PERSONAL.

Hon. A. V. Ragsdsle, of Spokane, was in the
city yesterday.
Mrs. c. L. Hubbard leaves by the Northern Pa
cific road for Chicago today.
Mr.. and Mrs. G. K. Fink left yesterday for St.
Louis by the Northern Pacific road.
Manager John F. Cordray arrived In the city
from Portland yesterday afternoon.
Mr.. c. L. Hubbard starts East today, to be gone
three weeks. He win spend most of the time in
Boston.
Mr.. and Mrs. John Kelly, Dutch Daily and
wife, Mr.. w. F. Fslk, Mr.. Maurice Levi, Miss
Florrie West, Miss Lizzie Ennis. Mr.. Harry
Kelly, Miss Fairbanks and Mr.. Charles F. Wal
ton, of the "U and |" company are at the North
eru hotel
The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-12-11
OUTRAGE AT GILMAN,
The Vendetta Carried as Far
as IncendiariSm.
ROWLEY is AGAIN A VICTIM.
His House Burned and Abuse Heaped
Upon His Head-Windows of
Stores Smashed.

From information received in this city yester-
day it appears that the disturbances frequent of
late IN Gilman have not altogether ceased. On
Wednesday night, December 8, some unknown
parties burned the housa OF Thomas Rowley TO
the ground. This house is situated near the
forty-hve-mile post on the railroad above Gil
man, and was valued at 500. Monday night
following Thomas Mullarkey, q well-known
character in Gilman. started on spree and SIAN
dered kowley and endeavored to provoke an as
sault. About Ii O'Clock gang made an assault
on Rowley's place OF business with stones break
Ing two large window panes and smashing
glassware behind the bar to the value OF about
$l6. several shots were fred during the ARRAY,
but no one was injured. Rowley stayed in the
room all night, and no further damage was
done. Once during the night head was stuck
through the broken window, but no mischief
followed
On Tuesday night, December s, a saloon
owned by ]. Cooper was broken into and SIX
glasses were broken. At about 1915 O'Clock
Wednesday morning the figure of man was
discovered skulking under the Seattle
Coal and Iron Compa1y's coal bunksrs.
The gnsrd shot four times at the
man, but without effect From the appearance
OF the man the authorities have strong suspi-
cions as to his identity.
Rumors OF the depredations going on at Gil
man reached Sheriff woolsry's ears las, night,
but no active steps have been taken to cause an
inyestigaton of the troubles.
The following dispatch was received by the
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES last night from Gilman:
Tom Rowley's dwelling house, situated on his
homestead claim, about three miles above Gil
man, along the Seattle, Lake shore & Eastern
railroad, was burned on Wednesday night.
Rowley claims 500 loss. 1t was evidently the
work of an incendiary, as the house was vacant
This is the same house in which Nordstrom, the
suspected murderer, stayed the night before his
capture.
breaking windows has become a common oc-
curnence here for the last few nights. The win
dows OF the Rowley house have been broken in
twice with slaves The windows OF the Gilman
house were broken in once with billy, and
those OF the Cooper house were smashed IN
once. 1t seems impossible to find out " no the
offenders are
The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-12-11
Suit Against Chicago Brewery Octopus.

CHICAGO, Dec ia bill was fled in the cir
cult court today attacking the validity of the
Milwaukee and Chicago Breweries Corporation,
limited The bill declares that the corporation
was unlawfully organized in that the sole pur-
pose is the holding OF the stock in other cor
porations contrary to the statutes and against
public policy. The complainant is William J.
Marks, a promoter who claims a first
lieu for $500 some OF the largest breweries
as his commission for negotiating the sales to
English syndicatcs Marks asserts that his as
soeiates were various Boston and London peo-
pie, who conspired TO freeze him out OF the deal,
and by false pretsnses induced him 70 assign
his interests for ;2o,Oo0 although they realized
more than 100000.
The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-12-11
Mechanics Mill Plant Almost
Totally Destroyed.
THE LOSS MAY REACH 500, 900.
Lack of Water Allows the Flames to
Rage With Undisputed Fury.
A Mysterious Explosion Sets Fire to the
Der Piles Devoured Boiler Shop
Damaged-Dry Dock In Danger-In-
surance, Distributed Among Many
Companies, About SCI 900.

The greater part of the plant OF the Mechanics
MIL and Lumber Company, on the tide fats.
was destroyed By fire last night, entailIng loss
of $4,000 to 100000. The Seattle Boiler Works,
OF the Moran Bros. Company. was also damaged
70 the amount of s2000 to $500. The tug Biz,
on the marine ways, was slightly damaged.
Several persons around the mill discovered
flames pouring from the sawdust pile in the
engine-house at the sash and door factory about
s:25 o'clock. All ran to the auxiliary box in the
Office, connected with box IL at Moran Bros
foundry, and turned in an alarm, and the fire
department instantly responded. But before
the engines arrived the flames were spreading
rapidly, attacking one after another of the range
The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-12-11
AS SEEN FROM THE CITY.
Tens of Thousands Witnessed the COST
Bonfire.

Bonfire.
To those on the hill the FIRE presented a
beautiful sight 1t so happened that the Vie
torian and the Flyer were coming in from Taco.
ma just at that time, and there was general
blowing of whistles in the harbor to welcome
the racers Many eyes were turned 10 the water
front to learn the CAUSE of the unusual noise;
but as the people watched the flashing lights of
the vessels, the windows of the Mechanics mill
began to glow As If the building were filed with
red hot Goals. Adense cloud of dark smoke rose
above the building, and in few moments the
bright streaks Of fame shot through the roof
making the black pail luminous. The wind
from the southwest rolled the fiery smoke over
the city, scattering the lower streets with Gin
ders and sparks. With great rapidity the fire
spread until a stretch of several hundred feet
long seemed a mass of flames.
Those who were familiar with the water front
were able to locate the trouble. but many were
inclined to think that the dry dock, the Moran
foundry and even the Myers salmon cannery
were in the flames. At one time it appeared
from the hill If everything as far north as the
coal bunkers would go. for the glowing smoke
swept over all the wharves south, and the high
trestls OF the bunkers stood out in bold relief
against the red background.
Thousands hurried down to the scene of the
conhagration. The wharves and piers were
crowded with spectators, and the long trestle of
TINS oregon improvement Companys bunkers
was covered with eager onlookers. Men, women
and children tramped through the mud and
water OF Commercial street, while a few hundred
who were well acquainted with the locality took
the dryer path over the railroad ties.
OF course, Front and Commercial streets-the
main thoroughfare toward the sceus-wera
jammed with men and wagons in frantic haste
to reach the spot, but all the streets leading
down from the hill were unusually lively The
Yesler avenue, the James street, the Madison
and the Front street cable cars coming down the
hill were loaded mora heavily than they ever
are for the O'Clock rush for home; and the
electric cars from Lake Union, fremont, Cedar
street, North Seattle and Ballard were equally
crowded.
Notwithstanding the enormous number that
came down TO the water front every vantage
point on the hillside seemed taken. Women
and children gazed out OF the windows, or
gathered by hundreds at such places as the
Rainier hotel porch, the grounds in front of the
Central school, and Seventh street just north of
the courthouse.
The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-12-11
FEARS OF FOUL PLAY.
A Stonemason Has Been Missing for
SeYeral Month";

stonemason and railroad contractor named
Peter Nelson, who came to Seattle on the LIST OF
June from Denver, has been missing since June
z, and his friends have about concluded that
something has happened to him. rs he left his
trunk, clothing and tools with an acquaintance
here named L NJ West and has never called Tor
them. On coming here Nelson went TO room
with West in the Fifth Avenue house. West
was night telegraph operator at Boulevard, and
on the evening OF June Nelson went out to see
him, and told him he was going to Tacoma the
following morning on the steamer Greyh hound
to look for work. Since then nothing has been
heard OF him. West thought nothing OF 1t for a
long time, supposing Nelson had found work In
some out-of-the-way place, and would write to
him after time. Finally, becoming suspicious
that things were not all right, West wrote his
brother in Denver. Nelson's former partner in
railroad work, and several OF his other friends,
but they replied that nothing had been heard
from him.
West now feels certain that his friend has
been drowned or killed in some manner, and is
anxious to hear from any one who may Lave
seen or heard of him since his disappearance.
Nelson had some money, and West thinks II was
on deposit, but he has been unable to find
record of II at any of the banks.
The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-12-11
THE WORK OF THE rIREMEN.
Lack Of Water supply Causes Delay
WHY the Eire hoat Mns Slow.

Why the Fireboat Was slow.
In ten minutes after the alarm was turned in
all the IRE apparatus in the city was on hand
and punched 81 theAcorner near the boiler
works, and the Wharves were covered with lines
of hose running in every direction, but when
the suction hose from engine No, wss let down
through the plsBkiuy it Was found T. be
almost two feet too short. as the tide was ve.y
low Then the WORK OF gathering up all the
hose began snd caused considerable delay BE-
fore the engines could be moved TO points where
they could render some service.
The nearest city water hy draut was at the cor
neT OF Commercial and Weller streets and when
the hose was finally picked up q line az nearly
2,o00 feet was laid t. tbs hydrautsnd engine No.
was stationed there, while Nos aud were
stationed on the iuCaae running down along
side the marine ways, where Their suctlons
could reach the salt water. The horses could
NOT be gotten down the incline so the engines
Sers run down by hand
At gil the first stream from the engines was
turned on from engine No. 1, and in few mia.
utes a.terward Nos and got 10 work Both
sucEonS on No. y engine gave ont about SO aat
the engine was crippled for some time. but the
hose was connected direct 70 the hydrsnt and
the water turned Oh again in the meantime,
From the time the water was turned on IRON the
engines, the. progress OF the ire in the boiler
shop was stopped.
The water VAS SO low that the frebOat ran
aground cat near the end Of the wAar. and
could not get near the Ere, though she was on
the scene before any OF the other apparatus
having seen the blaze and started before the
alarms were turned IN. A nozzle was run
straight ont and stream turned on but after
brief trial IL was found nothing could
De done III Inst way, the water was
turned OF and line OF hose was
run cut along the wharf. This took some time
as TIE oost was several feet away from the
wharf and the hose had 70 be run out with q
rowboai. IL wss about forty minutes from the
time the stream from tie straight nozzle was
shat OF before the second line Of hose was
run eni and the water turned on. Then the
hose had 70 he handled by volunteers. princi-
paliy employees 81 the mill, as there were not
safneient men on the beat to handle IL Captain
The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-12-11
HISTORY OF MECnANIos' MILL.
1t Escaped the Great Cenfagration of
June, 1889.

hbc1poo tue OTeat S0nnakrAtion OF
June, 1889.
Before the fire OF 1899 the Mechanics mill fac
tory was ON Ysslers wharf, and the principal
owenrs were l. n. Biselow and his son. They
began building larger mill on the present site
in 1885 and by the spring of 1889 everything was
nearly ready for operation. About that time
Edwin Louderback and G. +.
Conant came here from the East
and bought into the concern. Three days after
their purchase heavy wind blew down part of
the mill, and caused considerable loss and de-
lay. The mill was about ready for operation
again when the big fire of June 6, 1882 came,
but did no damage TO the plant. Since the
Mechanics mill was the only one ready fer
business then, il had large trade and was
crowded with orders for months. /. \.
Bigelow was president and manager. but he
had a disagreement with Mr.. Louderhaek and
Nr. Conant. resulting in his retirement. r. N.
Hurd aud w. B. Goodwin then bought an inter
est in the enterprise. The present officers are:
President, K. NJ Hurd; viee-president E.
Louderback; secretary, A. w. Consnt; treasurer,
c. NJ. Prichsrd
The company has been running not only
sawmill but sash and door factory. During
the last year the company has sawed only the
logs needed for its own use in manufacturing
house fnishirrs
The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-12-11
"a Wife,s Hanor.n

AS the week grows older "A Wife's Honor" at
Cordrays grows in popularity and in drawing
qualities Another fun house witnessed its
production last night, and those present ex-
tended an enthusiastic greeting to the perform
ers. The auditorium programme is also strong
and draws q full hall nightly.
The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-12-11
LOSSES AND INSURANCE.
About 100000 Burnt Up-The Com
panies Which Suffer.

The loss by the fire is variously estimated at
from $4,000 to 100000. Nearly all of this loss
falls on the Mechanics Mill Company. Moran
Bros. loss is about $1,000, and it will require
about 500 to repsint the tug Biz Besides these
Losses about sixty tool chests belonging to the
mechanics who worked in tae factory were de-
stroyed. The value of these tools is estimated
at $3.50. The insurance foots UP $4,000 on the
property of the Mechanics MIL Company. The
companies represented, the agents and the
amount Of insurance held by each company fol-
low:
The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-12-11
WATER STREET.
MAP SHOWING MECHANICS MILL PROPERTY.

The FIRE began In the hoiler-room of the factory
building, which is 75xl50 feet The territory
burned over Is 500xlol feet. Dry kiln, 75x25
feet, lumber shed, a1x75 feet; storage house. 90
xI1 feet; elszugshed, ~ feet square; otiice, DIX
81 feet The bulk of the remaining space was
occupied by piles of lumber
The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-12-11

Mrs. Cora Bell Smith has secured divorce
before Judge Shepard, Of Chicago, from T. f
Smith, TO whom she was married March 10
1893, on a tug5oat of San Francisco She al
legeg haLitual ill.treatment
The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-12-11

I Federal officers have destroyed two Illicit
stills and several thousand gallons OF the pro-
duet near Stevenson, Ais, but did not capture
any moGlshiuers.