The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-08-02
Whittier, Fuller & Co. and
Wadhams & Co. Suffer.
LIGHT ON THE EcUDIHEE MURDER.
Brooks, the Spokane Negro MUIR
derer. to Be Hanged September 6.
Lumber Company-Dick Cunningham,
Drunken Sheriff OF Ceur d'Alene.
Removed From Office.

PORTLAND. Aug. Especial Fire to-
night destroyed the third and fourth
floors of Whittier, Fuller & Co. IS oil house
in the Starr block, corner of Front and
Pine streets, and also in the same block
two floors of Wadhams e. Co.,
commission and general groceries.
The flames were discovered in
the third story by the watchman, and
when first seen could have been extin-
guished by small hose but soon after a
small explosion occurred. shattering the
windows and spreading the flames
throughout the large room. The floors
were stored closely with sash. doors and
blinds, which made an intense heat. The
flames soon burned through the roof and
made light in the sky seen for miles.
Nothing but the promptness and excellent
discipline of the fire department prevented
a general confagration. The lower floors
and basement of building were stored with
paints and oils and destruction of these
would have meant the destruction of many
blocks of valuable buildings along the river
front, stored with rich merchandise. In
the rear of the block is the Coloma wharf,
which is packed as full as it will hold with
agricultural implements. Although Port
land has no fire-boat, this wharf and its
contents were saved intact. A tall tower
surmounted the building and the sheets of
metal which covered the dome melted
off one by one and came down redhot, but
fortunately injured no one. The false
rumOr that tons of naphtha and benzine
were stored on the second floor kept the
crowd at respectful distance and gave
the firemen needed opportunity.
The men worked like heroes, carrying
the hose up the ladders to the very
windows through which the flames were
bursting, and sticking there at the risk of
their lives from the falling cornices and
metal work. AS soon as a foothold could
be gained in the third story, the
firemen were there. While the tower
was in flames and threatening
to fall. One man went to the top of the
Hayes ladder and turned the stream into
the fourth story Of Wadhams & Co. store
while the end of the ladder was blazing,
and it seemed astf he must be roasted
where he STOOD Fireman J. J. Flynn
suffered broken leg from falling on the
slippery street, and another fireman lost
two teeth by board falling from the roof
Lang & Co. and Frank Bros, who occu-
pied the other half of the block. did not
suffer from damage to goods. Wadhams
& Co.'s loss is nearly total, as everything
on the lower floor was soaked by water.
The Starr block was built in 1881
by d. p. Thompson, J. n. Dolph and
G. A. Dolph, its present owner. It was
named after Louis Starr, an old-timer IN
Oregon and California, who at one time
owned the ground. Whittier e. Fuller
have had three fires in the present
location, all of which were quite
serious. Six years ago their store
was fired by incendiaries, one of whom
was captured and is now doing time in
the Oregon penitentiary. Losses are as
follows: Dolph, Thompson and Dolph, on
building, $4,000, fully insured; Whittier,
Fuller Il Co., on stock, $50 900 to S75, 900
fully insured; Wadhams & Co.. loss $75, 900,
insurance $4,000 There was fully S400, 900
worth of stock in the building.