The record-union., 1895-08-05
THE BIG FIRE AT SPRAGUE.
CAUSES A LOSS OF ABOUT a
MILLION DOLLARS.
STARTS in q Livery Stable and the
Flames Famed by Wind Which
Blew q Hurricane.

SPRAGUB, Aug. 4.-Y esterday's fire
which caused loss of about 81 100000,
started in Morton's livery stable. on the
corner of First and streets. on the south
side of the Northern Pacific tracks. The
wind was blowing a hurricane at the
time From the stable the flames jumped
across the tracks to the station and grain
elevator. and from there the fire was
communicated TO the railway company 8
ice and storage house. and soon the hand
some headquarters building was IN
flames.
The ire continued to lick up the build
ings on the north side, including the Ia
citic Hotel, until only lew scattering
dwellings were left standing.
All the time the devastation was going
on on the side OF the tracks an arm Of the
fire was fast making for the main Dusl-
ness portion of the town. Starting from
where the fire broke out, the flames in
tw1nkling licked up two blocks OF build
ings facing the track, and then the I'M
mense car shop.
The fire at that point was terrific. The
flames soon communicated to the i'm
mense oil tanks in the rear Of the shops,
and with loud explosion they burst,
scattering the burning Oil In all directions.
1t was fortunate the intense beat had
driven everybody back out of danger
from the explosion. The oil scattered
and spread the fire in all directions, and
then it was that all hope of saving the
doomed city was given up.
First the Commercial Hotel succumbed,
and it was soon followed by the Holland
Block and the Sprague Opera House
From there the fire spread to X and
First streets, and in a very short space OF
time every business house, with the ex-
ception of the First National Bank, the
store Of Generes q Hatch, general mer-
chandise; Jensen IL Kings hardware, and
q smalI drug and harness store, were re-
duced TO ashes.
The CONFUSION and excitement during
the IRE was Intense. Wagons and eX-
press carts were flying around hither and
thither. trying TO move goods and mer-
chandlse from stores to places OF safety,
but the fire came with such rapidity that
little if anything was saved. Many OF
the merchants moved their goods out in
the streets, only to have them licked up
by the fire.
AT the roundhouse three engines were
destroyed. Seven having steam up were
saved. Many cars and cabooses were
burned. In two hours the railway COM
pany had lost eyery building it owned in
town, and every building in Sprsgue east
OF K street was burned. with The eXcep-
ton of those noted.
Sprague is city of tents tonight.
Nearly two thousand people are home
less. Every available tent to be had in
this vicinity has been sent to the stricken
town, the hillside tc the south of the city
and away from the still smouldering
ruins is dotted with canvas houses.
Many are. however. without this shelter.
Fifty coaches sent down by the Northern
Pacific are being utilized for this purpose.
The supply OF provisions is far short of
being sufficient to feed the sufferers, and
Sanderson has appealed to outside cities
for help, and good supply of food will
reach Sprague by tomorrow from sur
rounding towns. The Northern Pacific
loss is $50, coo. The inha bitants are
stunned with the blow that has struck
them, and it is extremely doubtful if the
town is again rebuilt.