The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-04-07

The entire fire department was called
out at I o'clock this morning 70 suppress
what promised 70 ne the greatest hclo-
caust since the great ere OF iS%. At the
LIE The Post-Inte!,iSeDeer goes to press
there Is a fair prospect Of saving part Of
the block
The alarm. was sent ia from box D. First
avenue and King street. The department
responded quickly. but by the time the
scene was reached the Overland house. ad-
joining tire Salvation Army shelter, and
the wood yard was roaring mass Of
flames. which spread through the finder
ike structure as though following fuses
OF powder.
The IRE soon communicated 10 the ad-
Joining building in which the Salvation
Army shelter was located. and the sounds
OF crashing glass announced that thar
building was doomed.
As quickly as possible furniture and prop
erty were removed BY oystandsrs. who did
their best 20 assist the nremen. For some
reason X was fully fftesn minutes before
water was turned on. and by that time the
remaining portions OF the block were
threatened. and the occupants who were
not already awake were aroused and
warned of their danger.
A general exodus from the block en-
sued. and with the approach OF the flames
such things as were movable were taken
to the streets. which by this time were
crowded.
The police patrol came 10 the scene and
removed a man known as "Dag0 Tony"
who mad been caught in the burning Over
land house, and whose face and extremi-
ties were fearfuily burned. the flesh drop
ping from them He was rescued from the
building by Officers Grant and Powers. the
latter rendering acts OF genuine heroism in
going through the burning Overland house.
kicking in doors and looking for such stray
dodgers as might not have been disturbed.
In one room Powers found an old blind
woman named Mrs. May. who was utterly
helpless In her surroundings and who was
uazed and almost frightened TO death by
the noise and yelling in the street and
through the house
Powers took some quilts and wrapping
the old woman in them. carried her TO a
fight of stairs. down which he expected
TO take her. Before he had a chance 10
set his foot on them the stairs fell with
a crash into the fiery sea below, and
Powers shrank back with the blind
woman toward a window. which he kicked
out. AS the air rushed In part Of the
roof fell on another stairway. and Powers
saw no way down. There was only one
chance besides jumping from the third
story window and Powers took the
chance. carrying the old woman down the
flaming stairs. which fell almost as soon
as he had reached the lower story. Mrs
May was taken TO the patrol wagon and
sent TO the police station.
BY this time the achievements 10 the
firemen already on the ground had reach
ed the place and water was turned on
The flames had spread TO the Palace
lodging house in the block adjoining the
Salvation Army shelter. all being three
story buildings and the prospects for the
entire block going UP In smoke were good
the wind blowing the flames toward the
old frame buildings which compose the
block. The streets were filed with prop
erty Of every description. much of which
was ground into the mud. People thronged
the walks and railroad tracks in the
neig21boTfaood watching the flames and
black smoke as they rose in the air. car
rylng great sparks and blazing pieces Of
wood in every direction.
The Overland house was conducted by
Mai. Edward VI. Shrack. The fire Is be-
iieved TO have originated by the explosion
Of lamp. IL was impossible at the late
hour TO obtain estimates OF losses or In
suranoe.