The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-11-15
Disastrous FIRE.
RACES IN DAWSON.
CONTINUED From Page One.

Continued From Page One
naturally hastily built and were htrnsy
in construction The bes. buildings on the
one business stree. Q. Dawson, which skirts
the water front for more than mile. are
situated CT the side farthest from the
river. Those on the other side are small
and inexpensive buildings. TIE Are orig
mated In the back room OF the Green Tree
saloon q few minutes after o'clock IL the
morning. The place contained a few late
carouseFs, most Of whom were drinking IN
the back roouls. Two women Of the town
occupied one box They quarreaed and one
Of them known as Belle Mitchell. seized
lighted lamp from a table and threw j.
with all her power at her companion
The lamp struck the -four with a crash
and almost Immediately afserwart it ex-
ploded sending sheets OF burning oil over
the walls Of the narrow room. The people
rushed from the building. which quickly
became a prey TO the flames,
While the streets was being filled with
an excited throng the flames broke through
the roof and shot ten feet into the air. The
Canadian mounted police, and after them
stalled at Dawson. responding to the alarm.
quickly organized a buckle. brigade. The
store houses of the trading companies were
ransacked for buckets and with water
taken from the river the men worked like
buildings as possible.
Il was quickly seen that the means adopt
ed would not serve TO control the flames A
volunteer fire team was organized and the
newly arrived. fire engine. made in the
United States was brought into reauisiton
The machinery was still covered with the
stiff grease from the factory. The fire box
had never contained fire, but the needs
OF the moment were great and the men
who worked TO get the engine in shape
knew their business.
Aid Given BY a Seattle Fireman.
While nearly 2,uo men worked with
buckets, wet blankets and other appliances
to check the onward progress Of the fire,
the Little crew Of volunteer hremen was
pegging away at the engine. Among those
who were thus actively engaged were Jack
sears. formerly member OF the Seattle
fire department.: William Kerr. formerly
member of the Victoria fire department:
II. b. Matchett, Charles Busch and Lon
Griffin.
Another volunteer crew manned the
chemical engine which threw a stream, of
water on the burning buildings half an
hour after the fire broke out. The hook
and ladder truck was brought into good
use by ex-fremen who were familiar with
the apparatus
According TO eye witnesses OF the fire
who arrived from Dawson yesterday on the
steamer Cottage City, the flames leaned
from building TO building. almost I'M
checked by the fire fighters until the steam
fire engine was finally steamed I'D and
started TO pumping freezing water through
long line Of hose. From o'clock till
the coniiagration grew greater steadily.
until a whole block was enveioped. and the
sparks from the blazing buildings carried
by the wind started the fire on the river
side of the street. The small buildings on
this side OF the street burned Esn tinder
The approach OF dawn found Almost two
blocks Of business property being fast de-
voured by the fire demon. The flames
which had lighted up the surrounding hills
for miles around lost some OF Their bril-
hancy by the approach of day, but they.
burned more fiercely than ever. Men be.
gan to give UP hope Of saving the town
The wind was against them. and despite
the heroic efforts OF the 1000 workers in
the bucket brigade and in the volunteer
corps. the fire was making steady head
way. II had started three blocks from tho
big warehouses OF the Alaska Commercial
and the North American TRANSFORMATION
and Trading Companies. The representa-
tlves OF these corpora tons with their en-
/ p!oges. Joined the fighting army IN the
J hattie against The fian mes early In the fire
rendering every assistance In their power
~ : o'clock the steam fire engine began
u throo from Il spot near the bank of the
river. cheer Went Up from the working
hundreds as they heard the sound. for y
meant volumes in the fight to save The
town.. Presently through the hose thai
stretched 700 feet from the river 10 the
place where the FIRE was hotties. a stream
% muddy water sp.uttered and then carna
fun and strong through the nozzle
The effect Was instantaneous, and & was
evident that The Are fend rad met A worthy,
adversary. tnder the powerful pressure
or TIE engine The stream was thrown where
IL would 90 the most effective work. ar,I
gradually. a ht,le a. time. the flames
were stopped III Their devourinr wav
ny hamtte t@eN with Good Effect.
Amid the decorating o. dynamite as one
building after another was Blown down in
the pathway oc the fire. the men with tra
hose became more aggressive. The volun-
teTTs in the bucket brigade took hear; ard
worked with even a greater energy than
* first. At 2 o'clock the fire WAS begin
ning - he confined 10 the two blocks of
ground, and half hour later TIE wind
having charged IA TIRE meantime. 8. was
under complete control.
TIE postofnce building ;he Worden no
eel the Vancouver hotel. the New M
lsni saloon. tae Mai%sa Tortoa. and NJ
Fhersen & Johnsoa's store wcye the 9r.n.
cipal business hC'laes destroyed + sret.
number q smaller buildings were also
lurued
The pos;ofa.e. Ike ~ Green Tte- ga
loon. was ore % the frss b1IIjaes 70 e.,
Nearly al the mai matter was safe,,
removed from the pos:offce. aIsaoueh ire
work q SORTING /; ca; bad 10 bs dous MI
over again.