Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1903-10-20
CITY swept BY
CONFEDERATION
Flames at Aberdeen, Wash, Take
Four Lives and Destroy Prop
erty Valued at 81, 1000, 1000.
BUSINESS STREET OF The TOWN
is PRACTICALLY WIPED OUT
One Hundred and Fifty Buildings In
Than Half Covered by Insurance
Every Business Man In the City a
Loser By the Fire.

Aberdeen, Wash, Oct. 19.-Fire that
burned from nine Friday morning until
two o'clock in the afternoon caused four
deaths and destroyed property valued at
approximately 100000. 1t practically
town, which is built mostly of wood. One
hundred and fifty buildings were burned.
The dead are: Charles Ralfo, Daniel
Webster, Calvin Mckenzie, and an I'M
known man.
Not more than one-half of the lost is
covered by insurance, for the reason that
the insurance companies have refused to
carry any greater risk on account of in
flammable material of which all the
buildings in Aberdeen are constructed.
Every business man in the city is loser
either by fire, water, removal, breakage
or loss by theft. Not anticipating that
the flames could get beyond the fire de-
partment's control, many waited until
the fire was close upon them before start
ing to move out. The streets were soon
strewn and Uttered with all kinds of ma
terial and the rush and haste of teams and
people in every direction caused great
confusion.
Rapid Spread of the Flames.
The ire started in the old Mack build
Ing on Hume street, owned by Oscar
Crane, which had been regarded as fire
trap and dangerously constructed build
Ing. It was three stories high and was
occupied by numerous single men, who
cooked their own meals chiefly on oil
stoves. 1t was in room in the third
story where the flames started and the in
terror of the building was mass OF
flames when an alarm was sent in. From
the Mack block the fire spread to the fine
new hosehouse and headquarters Of the
fire department Great volumes Of
flames shot into the air and the heat be-
came unbearable block distant. In a
short time the flames had jumped across
the alley to Walkers saloon, and every
building in the block bounded by Heron
and F and II streets, including Kauf-
mans brick building, went up.
Word went along every business street
to prepare for the worst, and as
far up as the Commercial block there
were hurried preparations to get out of
danger. On the north side of Heron
street, the fire jumped from the Ander-
son block to the State bank and every
store from that corner to Hays bank
and all the buildings In the block bound
ed by Heron. G, Wishkah and H streets
were burned. Wolfe's dry goods store
In the Weatherwax block went next,
and then came the destruction of the
timely equipped Crescent hotel The
flames then jumped across H street tc
Patterson & Locke's Office, through
every block to the Pacific hotel, and this
newly constructed hotel was also de.
stroyed. The fire jumped from tn
block bounded by Heron, Wishkah,
and H streets to the splendid residence
Of Edward Hubert, on Wishkah and
streets. The opera house, all the ma
terial and buildings of the new hospita
Dudley next went.
In order to stop the further progress
of the flames. dynamite was used OF
several of the buildings, upon which
the flames were advancing. Telephon,
messages brought the fire department.
of Hohuiam and Montesona to the scene
and they did effective work. The fir,
started at nine o'clock in the morning
and 1t was two p. m. before the fame!
were brought under control.
Aberdeen has population of about
1000. and the chief industry is lumber
ing. Several large sawmills are located
near the town, but the fire did not reach
them.
Excitement Causes Two Deaths.
Atlanta, Ca. Oct. 17-As result of q
fire in the Grady hospital, the largest il
the city. two negro women died and fol
some time the lives of score or more
were threatened. The two women died
as result Of the excitement and moi
from injuries received in the fire.
Dowie Excludes Public.
New York. Oct. 1s.-John Alexande