The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1903-10-17

Aberdeen. Oct. 1g.-Fire this fore-
noon destroyed the most valuable part
of this city. consisting Of 10 blocks Of
business houses and residences.
Four people lost their lives In the
Games and six were injured. The dead
are
Charles Roifes.
Daniel Webster.
Calvin Mckenzie.
Unknown man.
The Injured. John steen tfataily).
II. W. Lacey, both kicked by horses
J. y. Hansen. bruised: A. Britberg,
cut; John Mills. Of Hoquiam, and VIM.
ogiesby. suftocated.
The damage is estimated at not less
than si.00e.000.
The fire started In the old sMaek
building. on Hume street. owned by
Oscar l.. Grain. and which had long
been regarded as n flre trap. II was
three stories high and occupied by
numerous single men who cooked their
own meals and were not over-careful
OF the old stoves they used. The flames
broke out In room on the third fior
and the interior OF the building was
already seething when the alarm was
turned IN.
Frm the Mack block the fire spread
10 the lew hose house and headquar-
ters Of the fire department. The IA
loon next % the engine house was soon
blazing and then the flames jumped
across the alley and every building IN
the block went down. BY this time
every body was getting anxious and
the word went along the business
streets to prepare for the worst. and
hurried preparations were commenced
TO get out OF danger.
The fire next caught in the block
north, and all the buildings In this
block was soon afire. In quick success
sion the flames swept block after block
until the general hospital and Crescent
hotel were included. The flames,
which had jumped across the street IN
another direction. continued to the Pa
cific hotal.
The opera house and buildings of the
new hospital association were consum-
ed. In order to stop further progress
Of the flames dynamite was set In sew
era / OF the ouiliings on which the
flames were advancing.
Telephone messages to Hoquiam and
NIontesano brought the fire depart
mcnts OF those cities TO the scene and
they did effective work after their ar
rival. The scenes in every direction
we're those Of excitement and terror.
Men, women and women and children
ran every way with all the goods they
could carry, Many were in tears and
several men were being carried along
with blood streaming from their faces.
All sorts OF reports OF death or injury
NJ well-known business men contribut-
ed to the distress. While two, and per-
haps more, deaths have resulted from
the fire, accidents during the reign Of
havoc were comparatively few.
At Q o'clock this afternoon the FIRE
was under control and the collection Of
wits and goods was begun.
AT II o'clock several men were hurt
by wall Unexpectedly giving way,
among the injured being Fire Chief
Eloehler,who was rendered unconscious,
but later pluckily returned to his
duties. At about the same time. Call
vim Mckenzie was injured by the fall
ng walls of another building McKen-
lie was caught under heavy tlmbers
and his back was broken. He was at |
,nce taken to the hospital where his
,ase was pronounced fatal.
The other fatillties were at the Mack |
building, where Chas. Rolfes, one-leg-
red man, who, being unable to get out
vas cremated. Here the most exciting
Incident OF the fire occurred. When the
lanes had completely enveloped the
doomed structure the spectators We're
by seeing Daniel Webster, a
we'll known character about town, APP
bear at one of the burning windows,
Before ladder could be raised to his
lid he jumped; when picked up he was
,nconcious, He died at the hospital
Ifter two hours Of suffering.