The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-06-20

utes the roof fsn IN. ~ the same time
the last remnants OF the once in The south
west corner OF the building fen into the
common Pile OF ashes OF tae floor. taking
H1fA its many valuable records. The COM
pany safe was In the Office. bat SupeTira-
tenceat Danes. who stood across the
street watching the destruction. said that
ne believed II would so through all right.
After the roof fell in and the big. jagged
pieces O. tin that formed part OF the roof
co0ld De seen hanging down from differ
cit points, there was a mouenfary squirt
OF the IRE again. and IL seemed 20 gain
As matter % fact. however, il was the
aeath struggle so far as the upper story
was concerned
On all sides OF the building the windows
were out and within the valuable nachin-
cry Of the company had been given up 20
the names. Below, however, the fire was
sun eating rs way and keeping the FIRE
men busy from windows trying 20 con-
qner them. At the hack end OF the build
ing there was considerable wood and this
furnished food for the firemen's foe.
With the dimming OF the fire after the
nrst big break-in Of the roof the crowd
found Itself In darkness and commenced
70 90 home
Receiver Backus reached the scene
about , O'Clock. and found Manager
James OF his own company and Manager
y.
ready on the ground He estimated the
loss 10 his company a. $so.eo0 AZ least,
while Mr.. GranBos placed the loss 10 the
Third street line at S1op0. The fnsur-
ance on the Second street property was
$4,000, while the Third street machinery
was fully covered
The Second street company loses all its
machinery, all ats cars except two. one
Of winch Is off the track al Eighth and
itowell streets and the other Is al Green
Lake, While the Guy e. Phinney cal Is
also saved. The Third street company
loses al its machinery except one dynamo.
having lately moved II IN a general con-
soliuation OF the plants. As the Consol-
dated company was also furnishing power
10 the Grant street line. X will thus ne
seen that the fire completely paralyZes
the largest Individual street railway sys-
TEN IN the city, including twenty-seven
miles OF track, cuts of the street Lights
from the northern half OF the city,
the Third Street and Suburban company
having succeeded to the contract held by
the Rainier Power and Railway Company.
Mr.. Grambs. who is receiver OF the
Grant street line. as well as manager OF
the Third street line no sooner met Mr.
Backus than they began devising remedies
for the disastrous effects OF the fire. Mr.
Grambs sent a force out to the Grant
street power house near the race track 20
start the machinery. which was
only operated for short time
after the completion of the road.
lf 1t can be speedily put in or
DER II viii run the Grant street cars and
perhaps those of Third street, while the
Union Trunk line may be able 10 furnish
some power for the Second street cars
The one dynamo which the Third street
company saved will probably be transfer
red 10 the Union Illuminating Company's
plant on Grant street. In this way, and
with the aid of the Union Illuminating
Company, it is hoped that at least an ir-
regular service can be given on all three
car lines today and light furnished to the
northern half of the city.
At the time of the removal OF the offices
of the Trunk and Second street road from
the Masonic building the records of the
Second street road were transferred to the
frame office in the northwest corner OF the
power house. and all except a few locked
in small safe and those which were in
the possession of Receiver Rackus. were
destroyed by the fire. The insurance poll
cies were fortunately among the papers
saved