The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-07-24

A fierce fame haring through dense VOL
urnes OF black smoke gave the nre depart
naent yesterday afternoon the hottest
hours work II has had for many Gays
The Seattle Soap Company's factory ana
the stable Of A. W. Presley. on Western
avenue near University street. were en-
f{yeIv DESTROYED, while in the adjacent
foundry Of the Vulcan Iron Works every
thing combustIble vas eaten up by the
hungry blaze. The loss OF the soap COM
pany was SO 90. insurance $50 the de-
struction OF the other buildings Will
amount to about $3.50. Buildings two
blocks away felt the warp Of the heat
and the dying cinders started small nres
in many places The entire ire depart
ment was out, and with the aid or the
areboat Snoqualmie succeeded in getting
the flames under control inside OF a hail
hour. The effective work Of the men won
the admiration Of the vast crowd which
was gathered at every point OF vantage.
On Western avenue, north Of the street
bridge which runs between First and
Railroad avenues, were two frame DuI!d-
iugs, blocked On the north By the CORFU
gated iron foundry OF the Vulcan Iron
Works. All day the furnaces OF the foun-
dry had been red with the intense heat
needed in molding. Sparks shot from the
chimney in d stream and were carried for
some distance by the wind. The breeze
yeered to the north in the afternoon and
DANGEROUS cinders were blown over the
shingled roofs OF the Seattle Soap Com
pany and Presley's stable. Shortly before
3 O'Clock a thin line OF smoke was seen
issuing from the roof OF the factory. 1t
was observed by Foreman George Colludi,
Of the soap works, and ne Immediately
turned in an alarm. Ii was responded TO
by engines Nos. l. and ). trucks Nos. !
and 2 and chemical engine No. /.
The dry roof of the factory was BY that
time throwing out thick rolls OF smoke
and tongues OF fire were tapping the edges
OF the shingles. n general alarm was
turned in at 500 O'Clock and brought the
freboat and the rest of the department.
n
About 90 barrels Of taIlow and rosin had
now been seized upon by the fire and the
soap factory wore a fantastic bonnet OF
brilliant red. with steamers OF gray and
black. The refreshing north wind laid
over the tops OF the flames and their points
rricked the stable adjoining and worked
through the chinks 10 revei in stack OF
hay. The foundry. from which the ire
started. was burning from the inside ana
the factory and stable were masses 81
flames Water dropping on the neatea
buildings seemed 10 sizzle without the
least effect.
Bcgrimed and perspiriug firemen rush
cd about with lines OF hose. The thicke1-
Ing crowd pressed about on all sides. In
every window OF the tall buildings on
First avenue above were eD1ted faces. II
looked az though the bridge which spans
Western avenue. and IS the public thor
oughfare from First avenue to the water
front. was 10 be involved in the spreading
fire. and with such breeze as was then
blowing that would have meant the de-
struction Of the United States bonded ware
house Lehman Bros mills. the kl0ndke
feed stable and the Seattle Roofing ara
Sheet Metal Works. The most vigilant
work was required TO keep the Arlington
and Nendome hotels from catching fire
from the flying sparks. The shutters -
the windows facing the pit Of fame were
bl8 kened and bent by the smoke and
heat
Runors that boiler in the soap works
might explode ~ any moment kept spec
tators at il respectful distance, though
many pushed 10 the trent AMI greatly as
sisted the work Of the tirenen. Twelve
horses were led during the midst Of the
excitement from PreSley's stable Their
rostriis were widely dila:ed and as they