The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-10-18

slons. OF the 8 so people that iuhab-
ftated the place. few have homes Of their
own tonight Over $3.50 have been taken
by the residents Of the surrounding eoun-
try and neighboring towns. while the re-
naasnder OF the Sufferers have gone 70
Halifax or are sheltered in tents erected
In the vacant lots by a detachment ~
British troops from a garrison city. The
disaster is appalling II its extent.
The fire started In a barn behind the
Marine block. IN the heart OF the bust-
ness district. The high gale prevailing
carried the flames 20 other buildings be-
fore the firemeu had time 10 get AZ work.
and in a short time the showers of sparks
carried in all directions had ignited a
score OF buildings. The occupants OF
dwellings had time TO hurry on some
clothing and 10 drag some household
goods into the streets but there was net
a place of safety 70 which anything could
be removed quickly enough to save il
from being destroyed or damaged
The flames cat a clean zap from the
waters edge or the business front TO the
forests IN the rear. bounded by FervyhiI
81 the south side and by Fort Edwards
on the north During the past few years
many handsome brick structures have
been erected. but these were generally
contiguous 70 old wooden buildings. and
All went together before the furious
flames. The origln of the fire IS some
what mysterious.
A severe lightning storm passed over
the town before the flames burst forth
ard some think the barn f. which the
dre started may have been struck BY
lightning. but many strongly suspect that
the connag grafton originated through the
careIessness Of some drunken ner
when morning broke he sight of Wird-
scr was a scene of desolation. with hun
sreds Il frantic thiniv clad and destitute
rneu and women and children rushing
hack and forth through the smoky
streets. Fortunately no lives were lost
although the streets were psrllous with
fyirE bricks and slabs which the fierce
hurricane drove frona the roof like fhun-
der bolts n the hurry and excitement
horses ard cattle n TIE stables were s1r-
gotten. ard many perishef ~ the flames
or were suSocated from smoke. The
-uirs y he fre are ahlaze tonight the
erioul1srirw eranerv having heen famed
int0 q blaze ard ;hs heavens are llt win
ths aanes whfch cast their reflection
across the Ffver CT either side as far as
IRE eve can SEE The occupants o the
few houses that renain are keeping
awake tonight fearful sha. the fre vii
| srrf7x up again The FIRE has moderated
| sarewhat and there Is 10 likelihood q
further disaster.
Relief measures were started II Hall
Tax a. ar early h9gr- ard tbs afternoon
a train load q provisions te-ts blank
a.s etc. arrived from IRE provincial car
.al Ah,ara the trasn ware Gen Mont
xamery Moore. Gov Dslv. Navor Ste
-nsr ard Ins r7en q the Royal Berkshlre
regiment ara ROYAL engineers. who were
r-ourN- 20 .s-d 20 thA erection % tsrfe
svs s}A iu the relief werE- TIE totaa 37ss
a estimated A. 3 aea 80 The hes*'es,
toas~s a-p -a-tfaf,v Insured The total IT.
s.f-anes Ga calculAtet 20 ~ rot haf =
million The principal lesers are
II shsw'n Nartne block ~ Cur
- z c. e. res Sraw Eres-. 3 a60- Pay
sa~r'z r59-k s-s ~. Graasua's hlock S2a-
rs victoria a,tet f1s aoa Blanchard
Afo-k ~ sN. c A g. Wilson's block fls-
u.s. us-r~~k r Armstrong - ffi- p
S~suxss rs-~k a. Ee r. II TarocE's boo <,
sf4 az huHafaz a. Murphy & Wocas III
~ Commercial sIock SIS % q 2. saw
.nr - skra5aToa 3gzW a11saa =
1 R@assrcn. Sc nose CaaTchslEs block - eeas
wafth.s budding g. -. WEsCn Bros. * :
sa. Cserrssh Nfeex 81 'aa- BarGau's esock.
"a ss.7- pestnfsI-e ard custom hcs2ae. = =
s-rars-e BLOCK Es s0s LTach S2os.
Fa@e. Avon hcs~E 3 W Sc-erees EoGse.
81 -. Gerr.sh haH e. afs), coFlrtna1se r.
se MeehcvsasE church s5s#H Hapttst
-ke--n E1- SO. Presbyterian esEzTch. e.
-. CatnaGr churcn. 81 80 Nr Ess1S res
atsrea xs95a g. 3. W0fs sE.th's resi-
serea. g. one War5so- Fcgn1ry Company
81 Ga C.. =. Gea3ert s. Co. s. 80, a L
W-rsso- Plaster CoUEsay. F--3oa
AEa-g tie 4Es- Fesa1ezceS cs=NEo! e