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LEAVENWORTH ECHO Vol. 1. N0.2. SIX BUILDINGS BURNED Leavenworth Again the Victim of a Destructive Fire Third Time in Seven Years the City Has Suffered LOSS REACHES NEARLY $25,000 Covered by Insurance-.--Already the Work of Re-building Has Commenced—Brick Blocks Will Take The Place of The Burned Ones—The Want of Fire Protection Very Much in Evidence. Leavenworth's third fire in seven years occurred on last Sunday morn ing at 4:30 o'clock. Six business houses were consumed, all of which were •occupied. The total loss will amount to approximately fifty thousand dollars. Plisch & Bliss and John Ujork were the heaviest lossers. The lire started in Adams & Burkes hall, which was occupied by the Wen-. •ntcliee band boys who gave a dance on Saturday night which broke up, sup posidly, at 12 o'clock, but in /act about •one o'clock. Just exactly how the (ire •originated is not definitely known. John Adams, one of the owners, said all was safe when he locked up. J. Nel son says when he first discovered it,tho | entire interior of the building was I like a roaring furnace. A number of people think the place was set on fire from beneath. Just how it originated will never be known. The first to dis cover the lire were the Great Northern oar inspecting crew, John Nelson and Jay WyckolT, who gave the first alarm. At the time the writer got there about live o'clock, the American hotel which adjoins the hall on the west was on fire iind'of course without water" or lire lighting appliances of any kind it was idle to think of saving any of the build ings in the path of the Humes as they were all frame and of course dry. When the firo reached the Overland hotel 11 half hearted effort was made to save it but with little water and no organization it was not possible to do much. When one stops to think how easily not only the Overland hotel but Bloom'! market and Plisch & Bliss's Ixiilding might have been saved, had the town been provided with some kind of fire protection it would appear as if the town could be indicted tor criminal negligence. A Spci'tululur DlNplay Considered purely from the pictorial standpoint the lire has never" been equalled in this state. It was theatrically a spectacular masterpiece. The people looked upon it with an appreciation of its tragic character. Those who took up positions on high elevations and . some distance away saw the buildings j j^converted into a pillar of flame that seemed itself to be on the point of top pling. Such was the effect of the fluttering mass of lurid light that played around it from the base to a point far above the roofs. ■ Those who ifxtf their station so that the broad strwtch of the valley was before them, .seejnied to bo in the midst of a blaze, if •-, included every building within ■ vit i, for ilames danced in every "fMiow in reflected beauty, Mid the sky gave out the hues of a tropical ■sunsjt a thousand times intensified. .. A Picture of I HIT Mill By six o'clock the people who stood without the fire lines along the street were regaled with a view of ruin such sis is seldom seen in a small community. Only two chimneys remained and only for a moment when they too toppled over and nothing but a black smoulder ing ruin remained and for the third time the people of this city have been warned that a first class system of water work* for lire purposes must be had and at once. • While the Overland hotel, which was the largest and highest was burning the Great Northern depot was threaten ed. The Jap section hands were kept busy shovelling snow on the roof and thus kept it from catching fire until the fire burned down, and in a short space of time was out of danger. At the .same time L. H. Laden, Jay Wyokoff and Harry Curtis were working like i Trojans to save the store room belong ing to the car department, situated just /-4tt of \\t depot jay \Vy.*i>ff who.. Leavenworth, Wash., Friday, January 29, 1904. the roof with a hose plnying upon the building despite his effort* at times the roof was smoking but the boys below were doing good work with buckets and kept the sides wet down and saved the building with its contents. The buildings destroyed were six in number. Commencing with the Lobby saloon, which is at the *est end of the row, and which belonged to W. W. Walker, loss on building and fixtures *2,700; on. stock, Si/iOO. In surance $1,500. M. H. Cahill, American hotel, loss on building, $2,f>00, on stock and furni ture $1,000. No insurance. Adams & Burkes Hall. Loss on building $-2,O0l). Insurance $1,000. Plisch * Bliss, dealers in general merchandise. .Loss on buildiun and fixtures 81,000; ou stock $o,r>oo. In surance 88,000, L. W. Bloom, meat market. Loss on fixtures and stock $1,200. Insurance $400. John Bjork, Overland hotel and building in which meat market was located. Loi-.s on buildings (3,800, on furniture and hotel fixtures $1,500. No Insurance* About two hundred dollars damage to the roof of the Adams & Burke build ing. Fully covered by insurance. Fortunately there was no wind at the lime or the fire would have .spread to adjoining buildings. TJie Adams & Burke saloon building, which is brick and was completed about December lirst last acted as a barrier and stopped the further progress of tlie lire. In the same block, east of the Adams & Burke building are three other frame building! which owe their salvation to the brick. On Monday morning Pllsch & Bl.ss promptly began the erection of a temporary frame building which will be ready for occupancy by the last of the week. L. W. Bloom will also begin at once the erection of a new market. Others have not fully decided yet what they will do. lii'inlnlM rut. The lirst lire in Leavenworth that tlr> oldest inhabitant remembers occurred iv November 181)4. A frame building on the big rock corner, occupied jointly by Hill .lames with a barber shop and T. C. Owens jeweler was burned. The loss was small and there was no insur ance. 'The next fire occurred on Thanksgiv ing day In 1890, and was almost a knock out for the town and some of its people. Seven buildings were consumed, all oc cupied, and not a dollar'of 4 insurance on either buildings or contents. , The buildings were all located in the same block whore the »first fire occurred and also where k the fire of last Sunday morning took f*rplace. -lohn Hjork's Ovcrlaud Hotel, l Bisbee A x Donahoe's saloon, Posey'i barber shop, Sererton's saloon, Mr*. H. A. Anderson's restau rant, J. M. Duffy's (Saloon mid a dwel ling occupied;^ by Mr. 'Bglvel^John Bjork was one of the heaviest lowers in this fire, which started in his hotel, and he saved nothing and carried no insur ance. His losaalone was close toileven thousand dollars on building and fur niture So far us we have been able to learn there was uo insurance on any of the property destroyed in this lire. With one exception however all managed to rebuild and go into business again, and on last Sunday morning the tire swept over almost thes*anie,f ground 'j The lots by this fire ha* been variously esti mated at from $2S,ooo'to 180,000dollaas. The next fire occurred on Sunday' afternoon, Dec. 28th, 1902. The suffer ers by this lire were G. C. Merriam, dealer if? cpiicv?il; m<'rpliiindis<','jyhose loss (ill stock and building was over $'-.'O,OOO, without insurance. Mrs. Bea mish, millinery: IMH small. No insur ance. .1. W. Poag-. restaurant and con fectionary; hJM "» •took and fixtures estimated at $(i()0. No insurance. Dr. Hoxsey, loss on library and instru ments about $800. No insurance. C. C. Christensen owned the building In which the millinery store was located, and carried no insurance. As near as the Echo reporter could the historical fnets in regard ii> the tires that have visited this town from such old-timers as John Bjork, Talk Smith, ('•. C. Mcrriam and Mrs. H. A. Anderson, they are hero letdown with the hope that they may pr«»\e in teresting to the old-time residents. No doubt the perusal will recall many lon^ forgotten incidents, somo that, will lie remembered With pleasure while others will cause pain and regret, Ah, well! Of such is the thread of life spun. Mr. Al Ililbron, of Mission, spent Sunday last in town. ,T. L. Wheeler left Tuesday for We natchee on business. Old papers for sale at this office. 2'h; per hundred, all sizes. For fjood bargains in real estate call at the Echo business office. Mr. T. Morarily, of Everett, made a business trip to to town last Tuesday, Mr. Hicharils proprietor of the We natehee bakery was in town Monday on business. Unless a long cold snap arrives soon ico will have to be shipped in for next summer's consumption. The west bound passenger trains were delayed the forepart of the week on account of snow in Montana. John Henry the genial road master of the Cascade division made this office a pleasant visit last Thursday. A good eighty aero ranch for sale at a bargain, close in. Call at the Echo ofllce for further particulars. George L. llopp, who recently bought out Messrs. Dully & Bloom Will shortly move his family to Leavenworth. Found —And left at this office a gold ring which owner can have by describ ing and payingl for this notice. Home seekers rates will go into pflfecl March 1. The Great Northern expects to carry more home seekers than ever before. If you don't think the growth of the Echo will keep pace with tlio growth of the town, iust watch and pray, but be sure to watch. C. W. Gibbs, one of the prosperous ranchers from Peshastin, was in the city Tuesday and had his name enroll ed on the Echo list. Fred Staub one of the employees at the Lamb-Davis Mill had his foot very severely mashed by a heavy timber fal ling on it this morning. Ira D. Kdwards, of Wenatchee, was in our town last Monday settling his fire losses in Lcavenwortli's last blaze and while here called on the Echo. Mr. Hugh Buchanan departed last Thursday for Alberta, Canada, where he expects to take up a homestead and settle down to the quiet life of a far mer. Mr. F. Lane, of Seattle, passed through on his way to Wenalchee, his former home. Mr. Lane met a num ber of friends while the engine was be ing changed. Business on the Great Northern has picked up considerable the past week due the fact that wheat is moving more rapidly. The farmers have shown a willingness to sell. E. It. Bell, of St. Paul, a decorator and house furnisher, arrival in town the forepart of the week and may con clude to settle here, at present he is vis iting with his sister, Mrs. Frank Sut ton. W« regret to state that Mrs.Kd Mills, the eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Martin, was taken with diphtheria lust Monday. The lady is at the home of her parents and is rapiilly recover ing. The Forresters lost their charter and a picture of the founders of the order in iho fire of Sunday morning. Fortu nately F. S. Taylor had the balance of the paraphernalia in his store and it whs saved. O. C. Moore, of Spokane, has been here for the past ten dajs relieving the Great Northern storekeeper, A Walk er, who has been (juarantined fin ac count of diphtheria but Is now out iiyain, his children having recovered. A Handsome Boy EDWJN WYCKOFF, Two and a half years old. The. little daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. L. Sprague met wit]b a mishap last Monday morning. The little lady trip ped and striking her face against some furniture out a deep gash over the right eye. Five stitches were taken and she is now doing well. "Unclo'Dick Giblin arrived here last Sunday to visit his numerous friends. Ho was enroute to his home at Chiwau kum from Wenatchoe where he had been visiting for some three weeks. He becamo a member of the Eastern , Star. The local lodge Degree of Honor will not give the dance scheduled for Feb. 15, a notice of which appeared In last wteje's issue. This step has been found necaisary owing to the burning of the hall last Sunday. Among the Wenatchee people who came up on the band excursion aud cal led on the Echo were: Major Lindsey and wife, Leonard Fowler, of the Re public, Ed Ferguson, Mrs. Cole Web ster and Henry Crass. Mr. and Mrs. Charles L. FrUld de parted the first of the week for Seattle where Mr. Fridd has accepted a posit ion. They closed their bakery owing Mrs. Fridd's hcatlh, she being troubled with rheumatism. The best wishes of their many friends go with them to their now home. The family of Mr. Huxtable have had diphtheria for sometime. The children are improving and out of danger. The mother was taken down with the disease last Sunday and this makes it very hard on the family. Mrs. A. J. Martin is nursing the family and if good care will pull them through Mrs. Martin will do it. I'lisch & Bliss, the energetic and en terprising business men of this city who were burned cut in the big lire last Sunday started iv Monday morning to build a temporary building and will be in business again in a day or two. It is the intention of this enterprising linn to build a brick building in the spring. A live business linn can not bedowned. The Echo acknowledges a pleasant call from Mrs. .!■ J. Griliith and Mrs. C. 11. Zinkey, of this place and Mrs. Thos. Stewart, of Peshastin. Mrs. Stewart tells the local editor of the Echo that Peshastin is on the high load to prosperity and now has three sawmills, a literary society and a pray er meeting which meets each week. Mr. Okey Algreen, of Wellington, arrived in town last Saturday to see his girl and visit old acquaintances. He put up at the Overland hotel and in his hasty departure forgot a valuable over coat which was burned in the tire. Mr. Algreen kubwribed for tive copies of of the Eoho for which he has the thanki of the publishers. The friend* of Mr. and Mrs. C. B. lleed, of Rock Island, will regret to learn of the death of their daughter, Mrs. E. T. Balch, which occured in Seattle last week. Mr. Dalch is well known in this city. Mr. Balch and Mr. and Mr*. Ueed have the sympathy of their many friends in Leavenworth. The interment took place at Wenatchee last Sunday. The man who advertises gotl the trade and luu go competition. $1 00 per Year ,> f ■• t• ! ■ ■ */ >J ft *' '' i- ' r*. »! 1 M ' 1 • - ,'Mr.C. H. Lamb, Minneapolis, Minn., Vice J President' of 'J the Lamb-Da Lumber Company, and G. E. Lamb, Clinton, lowa, Secretary of the wm« company, arrived in the oity last Tues day morning. j They will spend about a week* in and "around' Leavenworth. On Wednesday, accompanied by Petrel Davis, the > General ' Manager for the company, they drove up to Lake We natchea, where the company is having a large and elegant, private hotel built for tbe use of the member* of the com pany,'which will be completed' in the early part of the coming summer. 'l I,ak<u Wonatchee Is sure to become quite a resort! for hunters »nd fisher men, i It has been for a*i}ii»b»r/>f ear* the resort on each recurj^iig dimmer of an ever increasing number of seekers after health and pleasure from the west side of the mountains who camp about, the shores of the beautiful lake civ in the pleasant i summer clays, and [ who when thoy.rftiirn- to their , homes give such glowing accounts of the beauty of \ the spot and the delightfully invigorat ing atmosphere it that results in an in creased number of visitors the following year. ; W. T. Blankenship, who owns a large hay farm on the shores of Lake Wenatchee is building a large and com modious hotel near the lake. It will be on the rustic order and will' be con structed of hewn logs and j thoroughly finished and fitted up on the inside. The Echo is In receipt of J a commu nication this week from one of its read ers to which the writer has failed to put his own proper name. When writing to us for 'publication you must * sign your name to your letter. Not' neces sarily that we may j publish it, though we would in*,, all cases prefer to do so, bat that we may lie assured of your good faith. "'Always sign your name and if you do not wish it published, say so, and we will decide if we can print your matter .without a name to it. ; ;,r : Subscribe for the Echo and, get all the important news,personal, social and general.'*'. ■'• • o.ioa i ,*; :i : , Dr. W. M. McCoy's j article in this issue contains valuable information to the people and i his advice should bo taken and acted upon. ]; t>'i.;j;l Tumwater Lodge, No. 71, A. O. U. W. held a very interesting meeting last Wednesday- night. A large -r number turned out and a good; time was had/ Mr.Frank Sulton was initiated into th/« mysteries of the order. • It was de< ii I to hold asocial meeting on the cvenituf of February 10 when a reception will Ml tendered the members of the Degree of\ Honor and their .families. It will be a reunion of the two lodges, and the en tire evening will be given up to enter taining the ladies.. It is, expected that that both lodges will ! turn out In large numbers. A banquet will be an attract tion.— Two -applications' for member ship are awaiting action..; Mr. A. M. Phelan presented the members of the the lodge with a box of choice Havana cigars and at the conclusion of the meet ing a smoker was enjoyed by those for tunate enough to be •: present. The social meetings will be held often in the future It is intended to bold joint meetings with the ladles of the -Degree each month.! 'U, tiso fag i';,' U. f Mr. Bosford, of Wenatchee, arrived in town the first of the week and may decide' to reside here in the future. ' Keep posted on what is going on in this city and district. •> Thii can only bo. done by subscribing for the Echo, only $1.00 per year."