The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-10-03
TWOSUBURBANFIR
Houses Destroyed on Queen
Anne and Beacon Hills.
NO ENGINES OR WATER NEAR.
Fire Commissioners Propose to Reor-
CANINE Firebost Crew-Kellogg De-
mics Abuse OF Horses.

Two serious suburban 5res occurred yesterday
In the city, one on Queen Anne hill in the
northern, and one On Beacon hill In the southern
part, and both out of reach of fire protection.
The fire in the north end of the city occurred
shortly after s o'clock in the morning, and that
In the south end at about the same hour in the
afternoon. The total OF both losses amounts to
about $4,000
Atabout o'clock in the morning the hand
some new residence of William w. Swank,
at Marion and Third streets, three-quarters Of
mile north of Queen Anne town, caught fire
and was completely destroyed. Only part OF
the furniture and household goods were saved,
the family having only few moments to spare
after safely escaping from the burning build
Ing. The origin OF the fire Is unknown. The
house was built during the past summer and
cost about So 600. and the value Of the furniture
destroyed Is estimated at something over 81 600.
The building was insured.
No alarm was turned In to the fire department,
and no help could have been given If the de-
partment had been called out. As the city
mains do not extend to the locality, only q
chemical would have been effective in any case,
and the fire was too far advanced when discov-
cred to be put out with chemical engine. The
second fire of the day completely destroyed two
two-story residences about half way up Beacon
hill, a mile south of Pioneer place.
Mrs. Daniel Mahoney, the wife OF the one
armed fiagman, whose station Is at the railroad
crossing at King and Commercial streets. was
taking a walk with her little child about 8
o'clock In the afternoon, having left the house
after building good fire and putting bread
in the oven to bake. On several previous occa-
sions the lids OF the stove had been blown of by
miniature explosions OF gas, and 1t is supposed
that such an explosion occurred after Mrs. Ma
honey left the house. Not long after she went
out neighbors saw flames issuing from the
kitchen window. They Immediately began to
nf
ceeded in saving part OF the furniture.
The house was large two-story structure and
the flames soon spread to the two-story frame
residence of z. Cooper, about twenty Five feet
distant
James Hopton, q neighbor, climbed up on the
roof of Cooper's house, and, with bucket OF
water and a broom, vainly battled with the
shower of cinders and the little blazes starting
at different points. He was forced to beat re-
treat.
Officer Mefford telephoned to the fire depart
ment from the Bayview brewery, block dis
tant, and truck No. !, chemicals Nos. and 8, and
engine No. responded. The chemicals kept
the fire from spreading to some sheds near by.
but the engine turned back when It got to the
end of the water-works system. The truck had
to run three miles TO get to the fire.
Mahoney's building cost 81 800 and Cooper's
$50. On the first an insurance of $500 was car
ried and on the last an insurance of $350-both
in the Home Fire Insurance Company, of Seattle.
Mahoney also had $500 insurance on his furni-
ture. All Of the furniture was taken from the
Cooper house, though much Of IL was broken In
getting It out
The blaze of the Mahoney and Cooper houses
was plainly seen from Second street and from
many other places but owing to the inaccessible
location OF the fire very few went out 1t was
not more than an hour when the flames went
down for want OF food and the knots of spec
tators on the business streets dispersed.