The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-10-29

mate the loss at not less than q, 900 900. The
flames, which started in the Enion Oil COM
pany's building on East Water street, near De-
troit street. famed By a furious Die, swept east.
ward across toward the MeHominee river,
and nothing could stay their resistless
rush Dynamite was used, but without effect
The mighty pillows OF fame swept over
blocks of buildings, jumped across streets and
leapcd over the river Thousands of people
viewed the grand spectacle. All sorts of con-
yeyauces were hurrying about the Third ward,
loaded with belongings of people on whose
homes the flames were rushing. The entire fire
department was poweress. Chicago Racine
and other cities were asked for assistance, and
by 10 o'clock engines and fireIaen from out OF
town were beg .naing to arrive.
More than eleven blocks OF solid territory, in.
cluding most of the extensive " holesale dis
trict, have been burned over. Neariy 700 build
ings. two-thrds Of which We're frame residences,
faded into smoke as fast as tissue paper.
The fire started between $50 aud $40 o'clock
in a store at 2l5 East Water street. At the time
three fires IN various sectionsseof the city had
called many engines out, so ii Tas fifteen min
utes before a response made to the alarm
from the corner of Detroit and Z ,st Water
strests. In short time ssven or eight
streams were directed up4R the flames
There was series OF explosions, but
i'll hall an hour after the fire tug and dozen
streams were playing upon tha fipe. The belief
was general that the flames were under control.
1t seemed as if the very current of Milwaukee
river was being empsied upon the red brick
block. 1t was stated that the fire was caused by
the explosion of an oil barrel; how. it
is not known. Thousands OF leople attracted
by the continued alarm reachedthe conclusion
that 1t was not much OF fire aft4s all, and went
home. That was about 6:40 ps m, aud only
black smoke issued from the bAildings Fiji
teen minutes later the tired fifemen began to
feel the enemy getting out OIL their grasp. Re-
newing their efforts, they fought with despera-
ton; but it was useless. A gale blowing fifty
miles an hour was driving the ecorching heat
and the smoke of burning Oil ouk onto each fire.
man, delying all the water in Milwaukee river
and seeming only to gain in pow>As the stream
was emptied into it's jaws. 1t " too much for
the iremen. The tire gained7 footing in the
adjoining store OF Dobmen e. s&s 1t was then
beyond all human efforts to stayM At o'clock
the big upholstery factory of Bad & kipp Com
pany, facing on Broadway, atm(nt full block
away. began to blaze. ii
The fire had started with tho Ewind I'm the
northeast, but it now veered ali Dst due east,
and merchants in the business bection OF the
ksst Side sraR ieArfv&- ~ -4ssa4 B66seGRN of
water could not stay the coniiagration in its
march OF destruction toward the lake. The
walls of the three-story brick building on
Broadway formerly occupied by the cracker
trust, but then vacant, began to totter and a
warning voice urged the crowd back Just in
time. The whole front OF the building pitched
into the street. few moments later the rear
fell outward with crash.
People in that part OF the ward realized that
their homes were doomed. There was a STAN.
pede OF residents into the street, all armed with
furniture, eats, dogs aud all manner of house
hold utensils and bedding, and vehicles of
rart,
belong ngs of people whose homes were soon to
be In ruins.
The flames had jumped across the stores on
the east side of East Water street, and had
taken newer grip in Bubb & Kipp's factory In
five minutes more Jacob Wellauer & Co.'S
wholesale grocery store, on the east side of
BroadwTy directly opposite Bubb 4 Klpp's was
In flames. 1t seemed as If a mountain of fire
rol ed across Broadway. In Que instant eyery
building on the east side of Broadway was in
flames, and in the next instant a rolling wave
OF fire swept across the street and descended on
the buildings opposite In a moment these
were wrapped in flames.
Meanwhile the flames had gone over the
ground they formerly missed, the store of J. p
kissinger Co., and the Milwaukee Art Glass
Works, opposite the block in which il had
originated. The Wellauer block. seven
stories high. Was soon in flames, with
the Milwaukee Chair Company, vacant
building owned by the Pfister d Vogel Leather
Company, and the wholesale grocery store of
Peckhan & Co. and all others on the broad ave-
nue.. The next building TO succumb was the
National Distillery Company, the Whisky Trust
supply depot OF the state. ou Buffalo
street The wind still carry
ing whirlwind of seething flame
On toward Lake Michigan in a direct line with
the starting point, and scramble began Chief
OF Police Jansen ordered the entire force tn ths
fire. and they assisted in getting out furniture
aud household goods OF the luekIes.
families who wsre forced to fee
from the path cut out by the flames,
a dozen frame buildings along Mil.
waukee and Jefferson ests, between Datroit
aud Chicago. as well ss those on BuffaIo and
Chicago streets, were !cked up as il they had
been outlined on paper. All these buildings
were consumed within half an hour of the time
when The flames leapsd over Broadway and
started in the WelIsuer block.
suddenly tho wind swept around as unex.
pectedy before. Where it Wa. no,thess,
when the first alarm rang, le was now aImost
due south, cutting out broad ave.
nue. OF destruction toward the Mil
waukee river aud Lake Michigan. In IT,
path lay the big freight sheds anu the wards ot
tae Chicago Il Northwestern railroad, toyethsr
with the roundhouse and its valuable contents
OF rolling stock. 1he end OF the freight ,heds
at the corner OF Jefferson and Chlcapo
streets was the first to ignite and the
flames soon spread al over the yards. burning
freight cars snd everything before IL The conn
pany soon had a force at work saving IL nron
erty- Locomotives and many freight ears
were taken out of harms way. Having
eut lis path over TO Jackson street from
Broadway, the fire was now following the
soujh wind down Broadway. down Jefferson
s;Ieet, down Milwaukee street Along Broas.
way II swept u the Weisei 4 Bo!det Manufant.
ur.ng Companys plant, at Chicago street and
10 No. ID engine house on Broadway.
When 4 reached the Weisei K Bollct niant
The department. had prepared an atternt In
cut IL OF with dynamite Three kegs
were placed In the building. having been
stored there TO await the coming OF the
volume OF flames As each vent OF in
close succession "A cry went up from the thou
sands " ho blocked the streets for Il radius OF a
mile thai the gas works had exploded IL Was
about 9 - O'Clock. when the first building an
the northeast corner OF the Milwaukee
Gas Companys plant began to burn. The
gas woras occupy the territory bounded by
Milwaukee. Meuominee and Erie streets snd the
asley between jefferson asd Jackson st.ee,s
Ihe gas went out IN many parts U! the eitv and
Il was !eared the works were doomed but =,
II o'clock the great OIL tanks were stilL intact
Tae Bethel home, nesr the gas works, caught
hre soon alter. Nlehi & HsmMei. livery
stable, ca Broadway, containing hundreds o.
horses, Was IN the path OF tna aaEui Ag cyclone
some horses were taken away. while nuEaber
s;Nmpeded- The Cai,in kindergarten succulnbee
despite dynamite Around ETie street the
"a 1s<r faa,n nny.s anT