Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1910-02-25
ALBION HAS
A BAD FIRE
TOWN HAS NO WATER
SYSTEM
ORIGINATED IN THE HOTEL ALBION
Hotel, Post Office, Butcher Shop,
Confectionery Store and Resi-
denCeS Burned.

Monday evening the town of AL
bion, six miles northwest of here on
the O. r. & N, was partly destroyed
by fire which originated from an ov-
erheated stove in the Hotel Albion.
The hotel stood in the middle of a
block and the fire spread both ways.
taking everything in the block, but
was prevented from crossing the
streets into adjoining blocks. The
town has no fire department and no
water system Only buckets could be
used in fighting the flames. Fortu-
nately there was no wind and the
roofs were all covered with snow,
otherwise the entire business section
of the town might have been de-
stroyed.
The Ladies aid Society of the
Methodist church was serving a din
ner in the hotel when the flames were
discovered. too late to save the hotel
AS the heavy snow prevented the
flames from spreading rapidly, there
was time enough to get all of the
movable goods out of the lower floor
of the hotel and from the neigh
boring buildings which were destroy
ed. The townspeOple turned out and
fought yaliantly to save the town.
Everybody worked, carrying water or
carrying out goods and removing
them again as the flames advanced
to other buildings. The citizens cared
for those made homeless by the
flames, and there was no suffering,
other than the Inconvenience of be-
ing wet and cold for a few hours,
until the fire was under control
The fire spread to the north and
the south from the hotel destroy
ing -nomas Farnsworths dwelling
and the store in which he kept the
post office, on the south. To the
north it destroyed the residence and
confectionery store of II. Manning,
and the butcher shop of j. Slower.
For a time it looked like the fire
would jump across the street and
continue on its devastating way
through the remaining business sec
ton, but heroic efforts saved the
bank and the blacksmith shop, which
were threatened several times. Had
these caught fire it is doubtful if
any of the business section would
have been saved.
The hotel was owned by George
Howell and was occupied by l. r.
Dendurant Mr.. Dendurant saved
most of his personal property. The
mail and some of the fixtures of the
post office were saved. Mr.. Manning
saved most of his household furni-
ture and the stock of his cOnfection-
cry store DR. Clearwater saved most
of his furniture and office fixtures.
The heaviest losers are George How
ell, Sr, who owned the hotel and the
residence occupied by DR.. Clearwater.
His loss is about $4,000, partially
covered by insurance. Postmaster
Farnsworth lost on stock of his store
and fixtures of the post office fully
$4,000. ether losses bring the total
to about $4,000. The total amount
of insurance is believed to be about
$4,000.
Some of those who were burned
out will rebuild. Others will come to
Pullman. 1t is understood that Mr..
Manning plans coming to Pullman
and will engage in business here.
Mr.. Dendurant proprietor of the no.
tel, will either come to Pullman or
20 to Plummer Idaho The loss is
serious one on our sister town, for
it is feared that many of the build
ings will never be replaced by others.
The people of Albion did all they
could to care for those who met with
losses and their homes were thrown :
open TO the homeless in an open
hearted manner. Albion has been
sorely afflicted by fifire, having lost
the flour mill, one of the leading in
stituuons Of the town four years ago
last November, and 1t was never re-
built.