The San Francisco call., 1898-11-15

down the street toward the river. What cheer went up. How, hearts were gladdened, as one coming upon cool brook in the desert is made glad. The lines of water passers dropped their buckets and cheered, too. It was salvation for Dawson, salvation on wheels. Long lines of hose were quickly stretched. Cheer after cheer greeted the appearance of the first stream of water as 1t shot from the nozzle, curv- ing as rainbow of promise and fell like a punishing fall on the fire. Where that saving stream touched 1t left a trail of black ashes behind.
 Just then, too, wonderful to relate the breath of heaven changed. Garth age was destroyed, but the gods showed favor to the new city of the land of gold. The wind wheeled around and blew off shore toward the river, con- lining the fire to the original four blocks and fifty buildings. The fire giant was beaten back just as he was about to devour the Victoria Hotel and Alex. McDonald's new $75,000 three story building at the corner of First avenue and Second street. More of Mo Donald's luck! He lost $10,00O in the Postoffice building, but saved $75, 900. In that block are the Alaska Commer- cial Company's store, the North Ameri- can Trading and Transportation Com pany's store, other big supply stores, nearly all the big variety theaters, gambling houses and sporting resorts, untouched by the fire though directly In it's path. Thus is a large section of Dawson in ashes, under an aShen sky; thus was the remainder saved.
 When the giant fire showed signs of subjugation other fires broke out in different parts of the city Incendiar- ists secretly set fire to several places. They were assisted by that class of +I,@ pilfering was too good to be lost-and Dawson has her full share of them from all parts of the earth When it was seen that attempts were being made to burn down the entire town the indignation of the people was without bounds. Hanging would have been death full of sunshine and redolent of roses compared to the punishment in fiicted had theincendiaries been caught, for the crowd cried: Pitch 'em into the fire!' Burn 'em at the stake!" and indulged in other expressions indicative of kindred, pleasant shuff1ing off of this mortal coil.
 The Aurora Hotel, First avenue and Second street, was entered, a pile of shavings dumped into a corner of an upstairs room, kerosene poured over 1t and the mass ignited.- Nellie Dudley, a chambermaid, discovered the fire and it was extinguished before there was more serious damage than a hole in the carpet.
 About 9:30 o'clock another fire was discovered in the new police hospital, as yet unoccupied. A hole was burned in the roof and part of the interior badly charred. At about 3 o'clock in the afternoon fire broke out in the Juliette, a place in the rear of the Northern Soloon. This was in the cen ter of the block north of the burned dis trict. toward which the wind was blow ing directly in the path of the big fire and adjacent to the block occupied by the Alaska CommerciaL Company. The flames were breaking through the roof when the Ahrens engine Swooped down and drowned them out.
 A second time was the food supply of Dawson saved. With the big ware house destroyed there would not be sufficient provisions for the winter. Widespread suffering from hunger and actual death would have been ineyit- able. as it is not possible to take in food enough over the ice to feed so large a population. Hundreds would have started for the coast and died on the way.
 For two days the engine poured water on the extensive ruins, and, on &C., count of danger from incendiaries. steam was kept up for a week. The most favorable time for robbery was when the fire and excitement we're at their heights, and a great deal of it was done. It is now impossible to tell