Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1904-11-18
DEPLORABLE EVENT.
LOSS OF OLYMPlA'S LEADING
HOTEL BY FIRE

II Was the Pride of Our People. and Admirably
/ Adapted to the Wants of State Capital
Origin Of Fire UnkEOwn-lts Presence Made
Known BY Dense Smoke The Big Flames
! Showsred Burning Faesots All Over the Bust
/ ness Part of Town-By the Heroic Efforts
/ of Our Firemsn, Buildings in Close Proxim-
| ty We're Saved-Prsparaton for Entertain
ment Of Legislators Now Being Made.
Probably no more astounding calam-
ity could have happened at this time
than the total obstruction Of the COM
modlous and thoroughly equipped lead
ing hotel OF this city, on the eve of a
meeting of the State Legislature.
Up to 1889, our town had two draw
backs which not only seriously inter
fered with local growth, but threatened
loss of the progress already made.
One of these was want of adequate
hotel accommodations, and the other
the menace to communication by
water from distractions over tide. flats
The loss OF at least one Federal office
was attributed to the delay and I'M
certainty OF water communication,
but that difficulty in the course of
time, was eliminated by Government
aid in Dire dying deep-water channel.
The other obstacle was overcome by
the resolution and self-sacrifice of a
number of our philosophical citizens,
headed by the late Gen. T. /. Nc
Kinney, who organized a joint-stock
company and built hotel in all re-
spects equal to the demand for first
class quarters, which though available
only once in two years for sccommo.
dation of our lawmakers and Sena-
torial aspirants, with that irrepressiblo
adjunct, the lobby, which, in whatever
light it may appear from q moral
standpoint, is from business view, TO
be graciously tolerated, if not warmly
welcomed, was provided.
In 1889, a corporation was founded
and the hotel built, at a cost Of $780,.
600, and of about $4,000 additional
for furnishing. 1t was four stories
high, with a basement in which club
room, bar, laundry and electric light
plant were installed. 1t was specially
equipped for legislative service, and
the accommodation Of such tourists as
tarried only where they could find the
accommodations OF home, with a gilt
edge service in all its departments.
For their accommodation the wide
veranda was provided, and cosy hooks
and quaint slcoves prevailed, wherein
hours could be passed with ideal sur.
roundings for sociability.
The Olympia possessed every re-
quirement for the objects to be sub
served. The spacious parlors and
splendid dining rooms, were lighted
by windows that afforded delightful
view of our beautiful bay and its shore
line, for distance of twenty miles;
its lobby was larger than of any other
hotel in the State; its suits OF rooms
spacious and we'll arranged, with q
view to privacy or easy communica-
ton, rs desired. 1t had lis rooms,
and much available space for Donna.
tory accommodations in possible emer-
gencies.
The alarm was sounded from No. AZ,
at 10 AS, which was thrice repeated,
and was then followed by a general
alarm. before many of our citizens
realized the dreadful significance OF
the call. A still alarm had been sent
in before this, and the firemen were a.
ready searching for fire amid the smoke
which pervaded the corridors, before
the bell rang. It was quite IL O'Clock
before the flames became visible and
five minutes afterwards the whole
building was mass of fire, so rapid
was the progress OF the flames when
they ceased to shoulder and broke
forth in their mighty strength. For.
tunately the wind, which had been
blowing briskly, subsidized. and the
rain, which had prevailed at frequent
Intervals the past week. again became
q deluge, and it is probably owing TO
these conditions that a general con.
flagration did not ensue. This ex-
perience has shown that danger is not
limited by distance, when a large
building is ahame. The cinders fell
from the doomed hotel like the frey,
spray from an immense roman-candle,
rising many hundred feet into the air,
and hurled over the business portion of
town. Some OF these cinders were
several inches square and an inch
thick, and after falling upon the
ground or roof. blazed for several
minutes. despite the complete satura.
ton of all outdoor substances and the
falling rain. 1t is safe to say that had
the fire occurred during the dry season,
or even week or ten days ago, our
town would have been swept ont of
existence in whatever direction the
prevailing wind might have blown.
The Mckinney building, on the north.
east corner of the same block was
saved by the superhuman efforts of
our firemen. headed by Gov. Mcbride,
who showed himself to be a true fire.
man in resolution and practice. A
small building to the south of the
hotel, occupied by the Sapp sisters,
was saved, but in q badly damaged
condition. So intense WAS tie heat
that it broke glass in the windows of DIR.
Wyman's Office opposite, the paint on
the Harris residence a block away.
and on the depot and cars standing on
the track 200 feet distant, was Bills.
tered. At one time it seemed probable
that the new Mitchell hotel would be
consumed.
Had the fire been few hours later
| it is hardly probable that loss of life
could have been averted. As it was
many of the guests had not retired.
Some appeared in scanty night dress
and others lost their personal effects.
Quite number of those who had not
retired lost all but the clothing they
had on. Mrs. N. H. Owings had two
furnished rooms, but was away at the
time OF the fire and lost all her furni.
ture and many keepsakes and personal
effects. Misses Holgate and Aver
likewise lost the contents of their
rooms, being away. O. c.. White.
about the last guest to leave the
/ h., mr. hnsl.1;uu hoI a ,1or.o- $780,