The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1922-12-08


So great the decentralization which attended the dsa
the fire sent out in dispatches, but details were
phone and by United Press leased wire.
The dead Morris Staples president of the Bank OF
Commerce and also of the Staples Motor Car Co., and w H.
Feman head Of the largest furniture store in Astoria The
of neither death has been established but IT s believed
that both succumbed to heart failure brought on by
shock Staples dropped dead while pushing automobiles out
Of the Staples Motor Car Co.'s garage, and Feiman also
died while attempting to save property
The fire believed have been started by furnace
ploson in the Thel Brothers pool ROOM at about m
A heavy wind blowing at the time and the flames
spread with amazing rapdity Before the Astoria fire de-
parment could really get into action the fire had eaped
both Commercial and Bond sts. which bound the block
where started attacked the Mason-Eh wholesale
house. Allen Lewis the Bee Hive department store the
Palace restaurant the Astoria Hardware Co., the Bank of
Commerce. the American Railway Express Co. and many
BY o'clock two hours after the explosion which started
It, the flames had gained such headway that the fire depart
ment was absolutely helpless
PORTLAND DEPARTMENT
RUSIIES AID TO ASTORIA
appeal wired Portland and the fire department
A. G. Long Fire Apparatus Co. sent another In addition
5000 feet of hose and eight rushed to the
from Portland.
Even the arrival of the renforcements however failed
to bring the fire to halt The flames spread from build
ing to building eating them in spite of the most heroic
The Star and Liberty theaters the Owl drug store the
office building formerly occupied by the Astoria Budget
the Budget and Astorian newspaper plants were all de-
Isroyed
Both the Western Union the Postal Telegraph offices
were also consumed by the flames thus cutting off COM
munication for time.
The Weinhard Astoria hotel and the Northern hotel
burned to the ground but the managers and clerks
able to their guests in time to permit them to
with most of their personal belongings
The lives of dozens of roomng house dweers saved
by Patrolman Ener, who rushed from to in
several establishments, awakening the residents.
HOSPITAL is THREATENED;
PATIENTS BEING REMOVED
After the fire had spread north of Bond ST. two big
houses and also the NJ Nelson Furniture Co. and the Dixie
Baking Co.'S plant wiped out. The Sanbom dock and
other docks in this block threatened but apparently
there is possibility of saving them
The telephone exchange has escaped the fire far but
because the phone is the cys only of
ncaton with the outside the ongdistance offices
moved to the city hall precautionary STEP
The burned-out at present from Eighth St to
16th and the railroad tracks the north the
hills distance of eight blocks but it may spread consid-
eraby farther At IL m. word received that the
fire fighters barely holding their own and that the
blocks on Commercial ST.. between 10th and 17th were
slowly being consumed The city hall has caught fire
atho seriously threatened it may be saved The Catholic
hospital which is now in the line of the advancing flames
abandoned and all patients have been taken the
high school for temporary shelter.
In view of the fire in the city hail. where the phone
change located the city is threatened with complete
isolation
seemed be the irony of fate that fire insurance u
derwers recently reduced their rates in the city because
Astoria had fire. This in face of the fact that the
fire insurance companies recently paid S000000 loss
covering the destruction of the Hammond Lumber Co.'s
plant in Astoria.