Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1909-07-09
THE BIG FIRE.

THE BIG FIRE.
Pipe and Tank Works Destroyed-Heat Sc
Intense Fire Brands We're Spread and
Flames Iented Many Blocks Distant.
About $50 Saturday, as many
people were enjoying their evening
meal, the scream of steam whistles
and the solemn tones of the fire bell
gave notice that the dreaded vista.
ton of fire was again upon us. \
mere glance at the eastern horizon
showed at once that it had already
attained frightful start upon the
plpe-works and tank factory, at the
foot of Jefferson street, which must
have Sprang at once into complete
possession of the premises from the
intiammable nature of the products
heated almost to the point of ignition
by the immense steam boilers. A
spark would suffice to set this aflame,
and once started it would prove a
! verltable Undertook in spread of
fame and intensity of heat.
The tiremen. as usual were quick to
respond to the call, but no human eff
fort could vie with a combination of
the forces of nature presented at the
disaster. Wonder it is that with the
volume of flame and intensity of the
heat when the hose had been laid
that our valiant tiremen succeeded in
keeping it within the bounds of the
property named at that point, when
indeed it spread distance of many
blocks in several directions from
the flying cinders. The Olympia
Door Works few yards to the west
ward, and Richardson shingle mill,
block away, and the latter direct
ly in line for time Of the prevailing
air current, were saved by these he
role efforts with scarcely a char.
Some idea of the intensity of the
heat may be derived from the fact
that cedar bolts were set atire in the
bay half block distant and the
boom logs were burned, allowing
bolts to drift away. The loss from
this cause alone was 800 or more.
Much of the heat was, however,
carried into the air. which was blow
ing to the southeast, hurting high
in mid-air sparks and cinders that
fell upon and ignited several build
ingS on the eastern water front as
well as along the course of Fourth
street to the top of the hill and be-
You'd the length of the car line. Be-
sides, the tar used for pipe cOaating
a large supply of which was kept in
tanks, was constant menace to life
besides attOrding quick fuel for the
flames. Occasionally one of these
would explode, scattering its intiam-
mable contents broadcast and pOr-
tions of the casks to the imminent
danger of all in their course. A
head of a cask struck a telegraph
pole and was bent double by the
force of its flight. Three cars loaded
with pipe were consumed, and the
remaining cars were moved by the
evening train locomotive which
passed OPPORTUNITY soon after six
o'clock.
The general store of ]. f. Bryan,
on Fourth and Eastside was the first
to ignite, in the second fire on east
side, and although a good number OF
the fire fighters were transferred tc
that position it was a mass of flames
before the change could be made and
with the two dwellings contiguous,
one occupied by ]. W. Anselm. the
owner and the other by the families
of Robert Wright and John Bailey.
were destroyed. The loss of the store
and two dwellings is estimated at
s., 800.
The residence of Mrs. Rosalie Col
denberger, on the opposite side OF
the street, was also entirely con,
Sumed although most of the furni.
ture was saved. She had just-that
evening-paid the last instalment OF
a mortgage on her premises and had
proclaimed herself the happies
woman in Olympia, when this disas
ter fell upon her, destroying the pro
ducts of much hard and ceaseles,
labor. The family were sheltered a,
night by kind neighbOrs and the fur
niture was temporarily housed in ad
jacent Out-buildings. The grocery
building was owned by Mrs. Cell;
Pix. of Tumwater, and valued a
81, 900.
All the furniture was also removed
from the Chris Donges home near thu
Goldenberger house. 1t was unin
jured except by removal, and it i.
thought some jewelry was taken from
a bureau drawer by some vandal.
This disaster throws about 80 mer
out of work, which is, of course, tn,
most lamentable result, as the com
pany is wealthy and will not feel tn,
loss like those dependent upon dali,
wages for their subsistence.
The loss of the Pipe and Tank com
panies is stated at about $3.50, 900
with an insurance of about $50, 90,
and the saving of some dynamos
material and boilers enclosed il
brick, which will probably aggregat,
about $1,000 more that was saved.