The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-05-08


It was the general opinions in the begin
ming that the flames would not get beyond
the supply store, but soon: II became APP
parent that the inside of tse three-story
building next ami occupied: oy the Union
Meat Company was smoking.
The aerial ladder of the Preston truck
was raised, and after a while two streams
were started toward the buil.ing from the
top of the ladder. out this Was only kept
up a few minutes. No one seemed to be
anxious to work On the ladder. Both the
front and rear walls were washed with
water, salt and fresh, but thu inside, to all
appearances. was never reached.
In the midst OF the fire. snd when the
danger was highest, an aiarm came in
from box IS. and caused apprehension of
another fire on Pike street. Chemical No.
was ordered to the scene, only to find it
to be a mistake in the signals.
In the rear the men worked hard, but
could not keep back the SLOW but steady
gain of the fire. IN the front;ihe crowd was
by this time laughing at tbs feeble efforts
OF the 6remen. Suddenly \ small light
was seen in the second stors Of the three
story building occupied b. Fleischner.
Mayer & Co, a dry goods finn, who rent
the whole three floors, but kublet to the
Conner Bros, who carry Aarge stock of
groceries in one Of the store rooms. A
stream from The frebeat was di-
rected at the window Sad when the
glass did not break, Captain McAlep was
asked to give her more stea.'n. One hum
dred and TWENTY-FIVE pou'ads was put on
and the water came hark and strong.
Several more streams coI!id have been
used from the fteboat if called for, but the
chief did not want them.
Scaling ladders were thro Sn against the
walls of the last building in the front and
a firemen mounted. He directed stream
through a window on the: second story
where the flames had eviaently broken
through from the adjoining building.
The effect was apparent at once. 1t was
the first good work done.
Suddenly there was a cres king, and the
crowd took up :he cry that the walls of
the frail structure were falling. Amid the
smoke and mist close to- the building a
large object Was seen Is fall, and it
was thought lireman has, been killed.
Wild rumors went round and while some
had the man dead others we're sure they
saw him being taken to the hospital in the
patrol wagon. The fact was that the hose
had fallen from the ladder, but the fire.
man had chung on.
The TWO upper stories of the last build
ing on the alley were nGw thoroughly
abiaze. In every window could be Been
the flames. They walkeS around the
caves, and shot out through the roof.
Driven back In one spot, they shot out in
another. In a short timo it became ap-
parent that the fire woula stop when the
last building was Quilted. The dry goods
stock, the groceries of the Common Bros.
and the samples of Buckingham & Hecht
were burned Or ruined lty water. The
battle was fought on the lis;e laid down by
the fire itself, which had its course stopped
by the alley.
After having its own way for over two
hours the fire reached tbs alley on the
east and went out.
The Willard house is not badly Quilted,
but the other parts of the row are practi-
cally worthless. The stocks of goods are
ruined.
At 80 O'Clock the fremea left the scene
and the police took charge.
Phillip Felitz. of Felitz Eros, is the only
one who knows anything shout the origin
OF the tire. His story is as follows:
During the afternoon went down to
the office to write, but the BOYS about the
place made such a racket that quit and
went home. Early III the evening l took
my wife to Turner halt and left her
there to go to the: office and
finish my interrupted writ,ng l entered
the store and passed Though into the
| office beyond, closing the sloor. worked
for some tine and ,sas just about
through, when, glancifsy up, l saw
smoke. Upon looking into the front part
of the store ] Jaw the wsole place in a
blaze. / grabbed my co:t and went to
the back door. have no. idea as to how
the fire started, and knoA nothing more
about it than this"
The front part Of Felitz 3ros' establish
ment is occupied in par. by S. +. Barnes
& Co. 5 fruit stand. A stuNe stands in the
center of the room. 1t is though: a
fire was in it, as one had been
during the day. A. coal NAV
have dropped out and ignited
some pieces of paper or waste or a smoul-
| dering cigar ar cigarette: stub may have
done the Same. When NJ. felitz went out
the back door Re left 1t ,pen. creating a
draft. which famed the flMmes toward the
intiammable material stored about the
room.
ltwas almost impossbls during the con-
fusion TO ascertain anything concerning
the losses and insurance: The buildings
were ali owned by the ieSer estate and
were erected i'm mediatelys after the great
fire. They were worth asout SIS. 600 and
were not INSURED, so far as could be
learned.
Common Bros occupied the basement
| first and third doors of tbs building AT the
| corner of the alley and Nesler avenue
Their $4,000 stock is almosi entirely ruined
by smoke ana water. Ths goods stored in
the third story we're badlyH harmed.
q. 7. Mordsn, representing Bucking.
| ham & Hecht # San Fr:ncisco, occupied
desk room next door TO Cannon Bros. and
the second floor of their building. Sly
hundred dollars' worth OF: samples OF boots
and shoes are destroyed, but the loss is
covered by insurance. Cir. Mordep got
his office Il fixtures out saiegy.
+. l.. Mayer, representing Fleischner.
Mayer & Co, of San Francisco. has hi,
Office with Nj Morden and lives over
head. His pe:sonal effects, including a
piano and much valuable fNrnilure. is
practically Destroyed. NJ Mayer's house
loses 81 500 worth of sam :les. which were
also insured
The Union Meat Comr2.nv succeeded in
| removing its ctilce furnitsre, but its estab-
lishment was Quilted with water. The
company's asentlast nigs.t said he did not
know how mu@A insurance there vas nor
how heavy the loss was
FehtZ Bros establishment va, COM
pletetv gl,ta1