The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-09-22
$4,000 BLAZE
THIS MORNING
Pacific Coast COmpany's Local
Bunkers Destroyed by Fire,
BURNED LIKE A TINDER BOX
Heroic Efforts Of Fire Company Says 0. R
an. Col Whari--PrOpsny PrOba.
bly, Covered BY Insurance.

Fire was discovered In the coal bum
kers Of the Pacific Coast Company at
the upper end Of the o. r. & n. wharf
at 1915 o'clock this morning and in
fifteen minutes the entire building was
In flames and II was only by the siren
uous efforts Of the hremen that the
wharf was saved. The loss will aggre-
gate In the neIghbThood Of $4,000.
A few minutes after i2 O'Clock officer
seitem. who has the Uppertown beat.
noticed smoke issuing from the upper
end Of the building and thought at
FIRST that II came from the river
steamer II. r. Thompson. which was
moored along on the river side Of the
bunkers. Closer investigation. however.
showed that the smoke was coming
from the southeast corner Of the build
ing and that sparks were beginning TO
come out with the smoke. settem then
whstled to Officer Thompson. whom
he had iust left at the junction CT the
two beats near the entrance 10 the o.
II. & n. wharf. as that would be the
quickest may OF sending in the alarm.
Officer Thompson responded promptly
and Immediately turned in the alarm.
In few moments companies No. and
No. ? were on the scene and after a
brief delay had two streams playing
merrlly on the Gre. The flames. how
ever. had gotten under tremendous
headway and hopes Of saving the bunk
ers were not even entertained for a
moment. the iiremen turning their en-
tire attention to saving the wharf by
keeping the flames nearest II partially
under control. They were assisted by
the wharf ire hose and also two
streams from the tug Wallula, which
was fortunately laying In her usual
berth alongside the dock and thus
fine streams were kept playing on the
end nf the bunkers next to the wharf.
The 1remen were working over what
was practically a sleeping volcano.
Situated midway between the two
underneath the planking Is
the large gasoline tank used to supply
the engine at the bunkers. and. al
though It contained but about 30 gal
Ions. might have caused a terrific ex-
plosion had It become lgnited.
The fire burned with a most intense
heat. So strong In fact that it could
hardly be borne at the roadway some
two or three hundred feet away and a
bucket brigade Of Japs were kept busy
putting out the innumerable blazes
that kept starting M on the railroad
trestle opposite the bunkers.
An engine was called into requisi-
tlcn and soon had the cars that were
standing on nearby switches. out OF
harms way. Fortunately there was
no wind and the sparks and pieces OF
burning wood shot straight up into th-
air. instead Of drifting on buildings
nearby. A few burning brands dropped |
On the roof NJ the O. r. & n. wharf |
but the metal roofing effectually pre-
vented any damage.
The river steamer r. r. Thompson |
which had tied up alongside the bunk
ars for the night was gotten under way |
rs soon as possible and warped out
INTO the stream. The tug Wallula |
crowded on what steam she could on
short notice and helped with two fair
streams IN the blaze.
The North Star which was laying in
side the wharf against the bunkers had |
10 be pulled down out OF the way by |
nand and the Escort No. was served |
the same way. The Sue H, Elmore lay |
'arther down the dock and was steamed
ID ready to leave out IL necessary, The
several craft that lay in behind the
lock would have been in pretty un-
comfortable position had the wharf
cotton on fire,
II was magnificent spectacle as
he great pillows of flame rolled
ItraIght upward to an immense dis
ance lighting up the whole city and
eaohing far out over the water, reflect
ng on numerous fshlng boats and
hr0wing great grotesque shadows and
'ver and anon as the fire progressed
me OF the huge bins Of coal would burn
through letting the contents drop with
sullen plunge into the water, sending
lp cloud Of black smoke, steam and
parks. and making the whole scene one
t weird grandeur
The fire companies under the direc-
Ion Of Chief Stockton did some very
reditable work with the circumstances
'ery much against them. Chief of Po-
Ice Hallock turned fireman for the
line and handled the wharf hose like
n old timer.
The bunkers contained some six or
even hundred tons Of coal and togeth-
r with the building. the loss will prob
bly, be between $4,000 and $4,000.
The cause of the fire is not definite
y known but it is generally thought
hat there was some fire remaining
rom the Are of last week or else the
'ater turned on the coal at that time
reduced fire damp or sort Of spon-
aneous combustion.
The loss will probably be covered by
out as that is attended %