The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-05-22
DAWSON FIRE SWEPT.
The Entire business Centre of tho
klondike Metropolis Wiped out.
Loss VIII Aggregate S4,OOO,OOO.

q
Loss VIII Aggregate S4,OoO,OOO.
VICTORIA, B. c., May 2l.-An extra
edition Of the Skagway Alaskan, re-
ceived by, the steamer Tees ct midnight.
contains the following report, wired
from Bennett to Skagway, just previous
to the sailing OF the steamer:
Another disastrous fire has visited
Dawson City, this time fairly Wlping
out the entire business centre of The
town. creating loss that will aggregate
81, ,90o, 900, with not dollars worth Of
insurance. The news was telegraphed
from Bennett this afternoon by the
special correspondent OF the Daily Alas
Kan, who received 1t from q man named
Tokales. who had Just reached Bennett
from long and perilous trip out from
Dawson over broken trails, open rivers
and dangerous lakes"
Mr.. Tokales reports that the fire oc-
CURED on April 81 In the very heart OF
the business centre of the city. All the
buildings burned like tlnder, due to the
fact that they had been standing for
nearly two years and the logs were rs
such rupldity that the people were un-
able to save anything In the way of
furniture or personal effects.
Another dispatch says the loss by
fire amounted to si000.00 In all III
buildings. Including the Bank OF Brit
lsh North America was burned The
news was brought down by L. S. Hume,
q son Of Mayor Hume, OF Seattle.
The flames spread with such rapIdity
that the citizens appeared panic-strick-
en- and unable to save anything In the
way of furniture, goods and clothing.
Among the most prominent firms
burned ont were the Bank Of British
North America. the Canadian Bank os
Commerce. Mcclellan 6 McNcely (ot
Victoria, Vancouver and Dawson). the
Parsons produce company. OF WInni-
peg: the Royal Cafe. Donahuc & Smlth,
the Aurora saloon, the Bodcga. the Mad
den House. the Victoria hotel. the Nc
Donald block and the California En-
change
The fire was caused by a drunken
woman upsetting 4 lamp In notorious
house. None OF the big warehouses of
the Alaska Commercial Company or the
North American Trading and Transpor-
tation Company. was touched by the
fire. so there Will be no shortage Of pro-
visions, even II the lakes should not
open before the middle of June, which
is now predicted. The heaviest losers
by the fire are Messrs. Mcclellan &
McFeely, of this city and Vancouver,
who had On immense stock OF iron and
tlnware and miners supplies taken In at
heavy expense, and the Bank OF Brit
ish North America. whose rather fimsy
vault did not withstand the heat, the
papers In 1t being destroyed.
The bank also lost large amount of
gold dust. 4 rough estimate places the
loss In gold and paper money alone at
Sl.o0O.000 Altogether the burned area
comprises quite three-quarters Of the
area OF Dawson. On their trip out three
courlerS were forced TO every eXpedient,
walking, running with the dogs, swim
ming for life on two occasions and
breaking through the ice repea atetily.
They passed the river steamer Flora
cutting her way through the ice with
her steel PROV at HootulinQua and
found the telegraph wire to Skagway
completed. at Carbide Crossing, seventy
five miles inland.
a letter which was brought out By
the messengers notes that before the
ashes Of the bank had had time to cool
men were working on the spot with
rockers. there being q good probability
that much of the lost gold would be
recovered In this manner.