The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-07-10
FIRE AT TACOMA.
A Photograph Gallery. a Livery stable
and Four Dwellings Burned.


Tacoma, July 9.-Special.-T hottest
hre Tacoma has seen for many months
took place this morning, originating a
few minutes before S O'clock in the little
photograph gallery owned by David f.
Wilkinson, at the corner of h and
Eleventh streets. The building occu-
pied by the gallery. the livery Stable oc-
cupied by David L. Brockway's estab-
iishment. and a small dwelling house are
total loss, and four small cottages, all
occupied, are badly burned. The total
loss amounts 10 about $500, Of which
possibly 1900 Is covered by insurance.
Two fine horses. owned by the Monty &
Gum Grocery Company and kept as
delivery team. were burned in a barn ad-
Joining the livery stable. 1t was thought
they had been taken out 10 work as
usual. and the fact that they were stiIl
In the barn was not known until their
charred remains We're found.
Hard work by the fire department. as
sisted by a large number OF volunteers,
saved the several small cottages from
total destruction. Lack of water In the
mains caused the department TO be ham,
pered in Its work. II was not until the
building in which the fire originated was
hut a mass OF charred ruins that a good
stream of water was got on he fire.
Mrs. Pickering and her little son, who
occupied rooms above the gallery. had
barely time TO get out without injury,
and saved none of the effects of their
rooms. The big double lodging house
directly across the street, owned by John
Rigney, was also about TO catch fire from
the intense heat of the first blaze. when
hose was stretched and enough water
thrown on the building TO put II beyond
danger.
The big livery stable caught fire a few
minutes after the flames first broke out
from the gallery. and by the time water
was secured was blazing fiercely. When
IL was seen Mat the stable could not be
saved attention was directed 20 saving
adjoining property. consisting OF numer
Gus small cottages in the rear and south
of the seat OF fire. The first cottage ad-
ioining the stable on the south was oc
cupied by r. r. Ryan, a switchman on
the Northern Pacific railroad with his
wife and child. Nearly all the house
hold effects were moved out. and. al
though the building was ahlaze several
times II was saved.
The moment the fire was noticed TO he
spreading in the gallery the employees in
the Brockway stables began moving ont
the horses and vehicles. and they had
scarcely moved the last horse OF the
thirty-one head In the barn before the
entire building was In flames. There was
no insurance on the stock or feed of the
stable. and what was burned Will be
total loss TO Mr.. BT0ckwsy
WIN Sturgis. wife and a 1o-days old
baby, were living over the stable and
barely escaped. with merely a handful Of
small household goods. They had no in
surance. The building was owned by
John Hayes.
The fire originated in the main room of
the photograph gallery. Mr.. Wilkinson
had lighted a spirit lamp which he set
down as he went into the dark room TO
attend TO something. When he came out
the entire room was a mass Of flames
The lamp doubtlessiy exploded and the
nature Of the fittings in the room and the
fact that tho building was Of dry wood
caused the fire to spread very rapidly 4
strong Wind blowing from the north and
the lack OF sufficient pressure at the
water mains made the FIRE a hard one 70
handle. and u was nearly o'clock before
the flames were aitogother under control
and the danger of further damage
aVerted
The building and effects in the photo
graph gallery were owned by Mr.. Wilkin-
son. and were insured Tor $50 The loss
will probably reach nearly twice that
amount.