The record-union., 1894-09-24
Special to the REcoRD-USIoS.

disastrous fire in the history of this city
broke out at 4:30 o'clock this afternoon in
the dock of the Pacific Coast Elevator
Company, and ragged for three hours, de-
stroying property valued at nearly 3D.
100000. All day long a heavy wind has
been blowing. and nine alarms had been
turned in. The Fire Department was
scattered about the city, looking after the
small fires, when the alarm from the ele-
vator was turned in. The scene OF the
fire is in lower Albina. across the river
from the main part of the city, and it was
at least fifteen minutes before more than
one engine could respond 10 the general
alarm.
When the engines arrived the fire was
beyond control, and in half an hour from
the time the fire started the docks for
half mile were on fire. Nothing could
he done but let the fire burn itself out.
The fire started il the dock below the
Pacific Coast Elevator Company's main
building, and the wind soon drove the
flames 10 the elevator itself. The flames
shot into the air 200 feet, making beau
tiful sight in the twilight. The coal
bunkers Of the North Pacific Terminal
Company, on the west, were next at
tackled, and soon were a seethlng mass of
flames. On the east was the Oregon Rail-
way and Navigation Company's wharf,
400 feet iii length, and this, LOO. was soon
on ire. There was no means OF getting
water on the fire except from the river,
and the fire boat is an improvised old
scow and of very little service.
The elevator contained nearly a half
million bushels of wheat. The new plant
of the Portland General Electric Com
pauy, which had just arrived from Lynn,
Al was standing in the wards of a
Terminal Company on the cars, not yet
having been unloaded. The plant occu-
pied an entire train, and the machinery
was of the most expensive kind. The
most of it was destroyed and the remain
der damaged. One hundred freight cars,
eighty OF which were loaded with wheat,
We're destroyed.
In the .. II. and n. Company's dock
there were l,500 tons OF freight, consisting
OF wool, salmon, general merchandise
and cement, all OF which was destroyed
with the dock.
There were stored on the dock about
1900 cases of salmon from the Lower
Columbia and Puget Sound, awaiting
shipment to the East. it was valued at
about $4,000 and was partially insured.
Every available locomotive was set
TO work moving the freight cars out OF
danger, but the ire burned so rapidly
that all could not be moved away. Sparks
from the fire went across the river, and
set on ire the bone yard, but the ire was
eXtinguished before any serious damage
TO the yard was done.
The large steamboat, Willamette
Chief, moored at the yard, took tire and
was burned. She was used as d tow boat
and was valued at about SO. 900.
Three men are supposed to have per-
lShed in the elevator. Charles Anderson,
a man named Brown and one named
Murray were seen at an upper-story WIN
dow OF the elevator, and it is thought
they were all burned.
The losses, as near as can be ascer-
tanned at this time, are as follows: North
Pacific Coast Elevator Company, $780,
0J0; Portland General Electric Company,
machinery, 500, 600; coal bunker OF the
North Pacific Terminal Company, S40,-
coo; Oregon hallway and Navigation
Company, on dock, freight cars and
steamer Willamette Chief, $3.50, 200; mer-
chandise on docks, 100000.
The insurance carried will reach more
than S500,000. The Liverpool, London
and Globe Insurance Company has "a
large share of this.
When the fire broke out the British
ship Maxwell and the Zinita were at the
elevator, and the steamship Willamette
was loading wheat at the Oregon Rail-
way and Navigation dock. All were cut
loose and dritted into the stream. All
three vessels were somewhat scorched,
but were not seriously damaged. A
wood scow caught fire and drifted down
the river to Swan Island, where il
was beached.
FIRE IN OAKLAND.
OAKLAND, Sept. %. = Twenty-Five
thousand people saw the handsome
St. Mary's College building, Broad
way and Plymouth avenue, COM
pletely gutted by ire this evening.
a poor water supply from Inadequate
mains, lack of fire hose az proper points.
and bad management OF the fire depart
ment officials, contributed to a loss oi
fully 100000 worth OF property, on which
there was $780, 900 insurance.
1t was $40 P. NJ. when a student, who
was on the third floor of the college,
scented smoke, ana heard the roaring OF
the flames. lie opened a trap door near
schute, and found the interior mass OF
flames.
Fifteen minutes after the fire was dis
covered the mansard roof of the north
wing was blazing. A north wind drove
the flames along the roofs OF the main
building on the Broadway front, thence
into the south wing. The great heights OF
the college, the shortness OF hose, and the
scarcity OF water contributed to the tacil-
ity with which the fire spread uncheck ed
to the roof. instructors, students and an
army OF assistants began to remove the
ooIlpoe library, books, furniture and all
fire was discovered. The studedts' eff.
fects were taken out first. and then the
Christian brothers did what they could
in the way of saving the property of the
college.
The structure was built under the
supervision of Christian Nohn. The
outer walls Of brick and stone, which are
left standing, are massive and can be
used again it is now believed. The in
terror was finished in pine and cedar.
and all the appointments OF the various
departments were first-class.
An insurance of So 500 was carried. II
is estimated it will require fully $780, ,00C
to restore the college building. There
were I'D students and about thirty in
structors in the editice when II was dis
covered on fire.
FIRE NEAR ST. HELENA.
ST. HELENA. Sept. GA fire occurred
at White Sulphur Springs, near here, a
O'Clock to-day. A bathhouse, laundry
and Sunnyside Cottage were destroyed
Loss. $4,000; partially insured. The
cause is unknown.
BLAZE AT 0AKDALE.
OAKDALE, Sept. %. The Reeder Hotel
a brick structure on the east side OF the
railroad, was burned out early this morn
ing, and only the four walls remain
The building was owned by man wht
lives in the mountains. and was occa
pied by George Lancaster. who lost al
his property. The, loss is 5000, and i