The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1911-07-14
FORTY FAMILIES HOMELESS IN 500, 900 FIRE Iss

Fifty iiremen are ssllI flooding
The ruins of the big double block
at Ninth av and Pike 81. n noon
to-day. while a score OF the dodgers
IN the devastated Airey flats and
Fairmont hotel look on.
A few acorched chairs. a charred
table or two. ard some smouidering
mattresses litter the streets near
the ruins. But that Is all that 10
left Of the three buildings that
occupied the block yesterday.
STARTED M FURNITURE STORE
The fire started at one o'clock
yesterday, but Il did not become
evident until nearly 9 o'clock last
NIGHT. Then the basement sales
rooms % the Seattle Home Furnl-
ture company were a seethins fur
mace. The Inmates Of the floors
above the street level had only
time to escape with the clothes they
wore.
lopGERs LOST EVERYTHING
One woman DIDN'T even have time
70 stop FOR her street shoes: she
stood staring az the ruins Of her
home today In slippercd feet and a
vivid.hued kimonc. like so other
little families In the block, she had
lost everything. Only two Of the
families who were burned cut man.
aged 20 Get their trunks TO the
street.
NO CASUALTIES.
Tho fire could be seen from all
over Seattle last night. More than
10000 people were attracted to the
scene Of the blaze. but In spite Of
the crowded streets. the fierce heat
and the darkness. no one was allied
and only one fireman hurt. He
was later allowed TO return 20
work.
The fire started In the basement
Of the Seattle Hcme Furniture |
COMPANY. An alarm was turned In |
for blaze there yesterday after
noon. but this was hastily ex.
tinguished.- Il was believed
The Fairmont hotel filled with /
smoke at S:tS last night and an
other alarm was turned tn. soon 1
after the arrival OF the apparatus +
great clouds OF smoke issued from
every door. window and crrvice IN /
the building. and general alarm
summoned every piece OF appafar
tus In the downtown district
evlldirn FaIIs.
The whole building. which hy this |
time had been vacated BY the panic. I
stricken tenants. suddenly burst l
t~sx ffap.a Thar skn kf~aw gfas Il
building. a three story cement strue
ture. suddenly collapsed. Twenty l
firemcu were at work under the /
lee OF this building when II fell. /
All escaped but Fireman George A. /
Gelber OF Hose Company No Z. lie /
vas badly bruised but returned TO /
his work later on.
Dawn found the flremcn stiil on 1
the job. also a Thousand spectators |
who seemed anxious TO stay to the /
finish. The tenants OF the Airey /
about In groups. trying to Identify /
the places In the ruins where their
little homes had been.
Loss 10 Heavy.
The loss will easily reach ti00..
600. on the greater part OF which /
property only low Insurance was
carried. Here are the firms who /
suffer loss by the fire:
Lambert a weir's cigar store and l
pool room.
Fslrmount hotel. occupying two
floors.
Harper q Norman. plumbing and |
heating shop.
Gus Maiwald. musical InsirtI-
ments.
Joseph s. Hahn. millinery
Continental ladies Tailoring
company -store.
Airey apartments. two upper
floors Of building
Seattle Auction company's store. |
]. f. Munson Furniture company.
stoferooms.
Seattle Home Furniture com.
pany. basement Airey building.
Il was about TO go to bed when
Ne found that the whole building
was burning said Mrs. W. Nc
EVAN. who had apartments with
kar huabaud NJ the ktrav A mart.