The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-06-07
r. j. GRANTS BRAVERY.
An Incident Of the Great Fire. in 1850
of seattle.
Seattle Times.

Seattle Times.
On June s, 1888. the great fire of Seattle
oroke out During this trying
period a great many acts OF bravery wor-
thy of place in history, but still unre-
corded, were performed. This anniver-
sary recalls Interesting incidents that
have never been published. The name
OF +. j. Gram. the editor of the Post
intelligencer, who last fall found a rest
Ing place a the bottom of the ocean in
some spot unknown, with the wreck OF
the ship Ivanhoe. will perhaps always be
a part OF the city's history for the patriot
ism he had for the town of his adoption
and also for his work In building up her
institutions. At the time OF the great fire
Mr.. Grant was the hero of an incident
that is known to but very few people
AT that time ne was an officer in the old
seattle Rifles which afterward became a
part OF the state militia. During the fire
the county jail, located where the city
nan now is, was threatened with destruc-
ton, and the prisoners, from twenty to
thirty In number. and some of them
charged with murder and other grave Of
lenses. were marched out. and under es-
cort of a detachment of the Rifles COM
manded by Mr.. Grant, were taken to the
Armory for safe keeping. 1t soon became
dark and the position of the guardsmen
In charge OF the prisoners became try
ing. There were but two or three men,
including Mr.. Grant, TO watch the pris-
oners. who were crowded in a corner,
while the guards. with rifles on their
shoulders, marched In front of them. the
two walls and the guards serving as a
prison.
AS night came on the gas was turned
up, and the tramp of the guards as they
marched back and forth sounded dismal
for the roar of the flames and the excited
shouts of the populace could be heard in
IA If=fo ID haf
had forgotten the guards and their pris-
oners. and the guards realized their peril
and watched every move of the criminals.
for they, too. were getting uneasy and a
break appeared imminent. Mr. Grant saw
what was coming and told the prisoners
very calmly that the first man of them
who made a suspicious move would be
shot dead.
About this time, as the blaze from the
burning city cast its fantastic lights and
reflections on the Armory windows, the
gas began 10 go out The fire was ap-
preaching the gas works. and the light
giving vapour was shut off as a precau-
ton. AS the pressure lessened the light
weakened and the guards well as the
prisoners were intensely alive TO the sit
uation. But Mr.. Grant only hesitated a
moment He ordered one of the men to
hurry up stairs and get some candles he
Remembered to have been stored there
long ago. Luckily the candles were found
and the man came running back with
them. The gas was almost out. He struck
one match, but II went out Another sec
ond and they would he IN darkness with
a vicious band OF criminals, who would
carry all before them. The eyes of the
prisoners dilated with excitement and
hone. Another match was struck and
applied to the wick; the candle sputtered
and little fame came up. Then the gas
went out altogether. Other candles were
quickly lighted. and during the whole
night the prisoners were kept there, not
one escaping. When It was evident that
the county jail was not going TO be de-
stroved the criminals were taken back
and the vigil OF the brave guardsmen
ceased