The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1895-08-08
DEVASTATED BY FLAMES
City Of Sprasus a Bed Of SmOEldsrinS
Ashes.
THE RAILROAD CAR SHOPS GONE
People Destitute and Homeless.
Lssses over $1,000, 0OO-May Not
Ne Rebuilt-Onty = Few Houses
saved From the ConfIagrasion.

~ RH1tet w eohst ao6s Ah~ -sA.tNN
business portion Of sprague is in ashes,
hundreds are homeless tonight and the
losses win aggregate q million and q
quarter.
The town Is almost destitute of food
and Mayor Ssnderson has sent messages
to the leading cities appealing for aid.
The people are appalled, by their fright
full losses, and it will be several days be.
fore they will know whether to try to re-
build the city.
At noon to-day the FIRE alarm was
sounded for blaze in Bryant's chop and
feed mill, corner of Railroad avenue and
D street. The department responded
promptly, but the blaze was quickly
famed into roaring furnace, and the
fire boys were driven back from the scene
almost as soon as they arrived. With
lightning-like rapidity the flames leaped
from one building to another, and inside
of five minutes It was seen that the en-
tire town was threatened. As the flames
reached the corner of C street they forked,
one branch going north of the railroad
track and consuming in its wav the
Northern Pacific grain warehouse. the
National hotel and the entire row OF
wooden buildings to the corner of B
street. Here it turned off to the Pacific
hotel and the row of wooden buildings to
the rear Of 1t. From there it jumped to
the old Headquarters building and Porak's
brewery, totally destroying it and his
residence.
Meanwhile, the southern fork, with
equal rapidity, consumed the buildings
on Railroad avenue, First and Second
streets, including the Commercial hotel,
the Herbring opera house, the city bali,
r. Newman & Co.'s and the Masonic
hall.
From here the flames leaped to the
buildings west of the car shops, and in
another minute they burst forth into
flames. It was impossible to do any
thing to save the railroad buildings, as
the water pipes had burst in this part Of
the city. Five minutes later terrific
explosion occurred, as the oil tanks
burst, and the timbers and flames rose
high In the air.
The FIRE was checked on the west side
by the brick buildings of the First Ma
tionol bank and Jensen, King & Co., the
occupants Of these buildings placing wet
blankets over the windows and fighting
the flames desperately.
Mayor Sanderson at this time arrived
from Medical Lake and ordered the build
ing Of Ben Ettelson, on the corner Of c
and First streets, blown up with dyna-
mite. This was done and the entire row
Of business houses on G street between
First and Second was saved.
The flames here took southersterly
direction and Destroyed the drug store oil
w. P. Putnam, the Masonic hall, the
county jail, the old opera house, the resi-
dences of r. r. Jones and E. H. Stan.
ton. The flames were checked here by
blowing up the old opera house, and the
row Of trees 10 front OF H. w. Bonne',
residence were deluged with water tc
such an extent that the FIRE was checked
in westerly direction.
The fire swept east as far as the stocl
yards, completely obliterating in iii
course every residence and business house
IN that x,o~t;rx, Of kha ,;tv
Fully 800 acres of land was burned
every building being completely wiped
out.
The scenes at the fire were indescrib
able. Families rushed hither and thithel
with household goods and wearing ap
arel, seeking some safe place TO deposi
them. A few minutes later the SAT-
place had become dangerous one, ant
they would grasp what they could ans
leave the rest to be destroyed by the de
vouring flames. Fully one-fifth OF th,
5000 inhabitants Of the city lost not only
their household goods, but most OF thei
wearing apparel.
The excitement was terrific, especially
at the time of the burning of the armor,
Of Troop A, when the ammunition wal
discharged and bullets were whizing GU
through the windows, frightening th,
crowd and driving them back to the mex
block. Although the fire ragged will
great fury, and travelled with remarkable
velocity, there were very few accidents.
Archie Mcintosh, blacksmith, wa
knocked down by falling timbers, an,
before he could be rescued was severed,
burned about the face, neck and arms
James Montgomery, a young brother o
Foreman Montgomery, broke his leg il
jumping from one of the engines on tn
turn-table. Charles Moore. member O
the fire department, stepped into hol
back of the roundhouse and sprained hi
ankle 80 badly that he had to be carrie
away.
The prisoners in the county Jail wer
released when the FIRE was about on
block away, and they did excellent worl
in assisting the neighboring bushes
houses to get their goods to place q
safety. But after the Ere was under con
troll they disappeared.
Among the first buildings to go wa
the Northern Pacific railroad station
AS many of the books and papers as pos
sible were taken to place of safety, an
Operator Young lost no time in connect