The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1915-01-01
BJORK BLOCK BURNS-LOSS $6O,5OO

WHICH JOINS on 10 lne rear Vi INC stOlC-
rooms of the restaurant and the Over
land bar, one part Of which is used by
]. B. Violette as a storeroom for his
liquor. In a very short space of time
the fire reached the liquor, bursting
dozens of barrels OF whiskey stored
there, the flames spread very rapidly
and soon forced their way into the
rooms on the second floor of the brick
building.
It was probably thirty minutes before
the volunteer fremen had the hose
connected up and began pouring
streams OF water into the building
which was by this time seething mass.
By this time it was quite evident
that the Bjork building was doomed, as
would be the two adjoining brick
buildings owned by Tom Burke and
o. S. Sampson, and probably others in
the next block would burn if there was
not concentrated effort to save them.
II was then that every hose was
pointed toward the wall separating the
two buildings. By hard work the fire.
men succeeded in extinguishing the
blaze in that side OF the burning build
ing, and sigh Of relief went up from
the crowd, for from that time on the
fire was confined to the Bjork building
alone. In the other side Of the build
ing the fire still ragged and continuous
stream of water was poured into it, but
it did little or no good.
The west side of the building was
reached last by fire. Here the gasses
had collected and a terrible explosion,
blowing out large portion OF the wall,
occurred. By S o'clock the building
was practically in ruins.
One of the most unfortunate occur
rences in connection with the fire was
the burning to death oil John Johnson
who occupied room IS in the hotel.
According to Jack Heaton who roomed
at the Overland, he entered Johnson's
room and tried to awaken him, but the
man appeared to be in stupor and
would not get up. He says he then
went on down stairs as the room had
already filled with smoke. That was
the last ever seen OF John Johnson
alive. A body was found Thursday
morning which is believed to be that Of
Johnson. Mr.. Johnson, who had spent
many years at the Blewett mining camp
was we'll known here and had many
friends. He had bought supplies to
take back to Blewett on the following
morning and had made arrangements
for rig to take him home. But alas,
John will never go home as he had
planned. One or two other loggers it
is believed perished, but this is not
known for certain.
At the present time it is not known
whether Mr.. Bjork will rebuild in the
spring or not, but it is not believed he
will. The room occupied by F. H.
Hutching can be fixed up so it would
be habitable and it is more than likely
that it will be repaired and Mr.. Hutch
ings will open for business again in a
few weeks. This is the second fire
that Mr.. Hutchings has passed thru
in less than year, his other place
burning down in the conhagration Of
May 80, 1914.
What Mr.. Violette's intentions are is
not known at this time. At the time
OF the fire he was at North Bend,
Wash, his former home, settling up
some business matters. Storerooms
are scarce at the present time and it is
likely he will have some trouble in find
ing place to open up in business
again.
Chas. Nickel has stored the rescued
goods from his store in the Magyar
building where he may again engage
in business.