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TOLD by the PIONEERS - Washington Secretary of State

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Told<br />

<strong>by</strong> <strong>the</strong> Pioneers<br />

Fa<strong>the</strong>r took us to Vashon Island until conditions in Seattle became<br />

more settled, and later, when we returned, he built on Tenth and<br />

\Vashington.<br />

Lela has a picture <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Central school as it was before <strong>the</strong> fire in<br />

1889. Guy Post, a fellow student, was a dreamer. He became an actor,<br />

but in school days 'was called a "sissy." He stayed in Ne,,' York<br />

after he went east. Sedonia Firth, ano<strong>the</strong>r schoolmate, married Fred<br />

Strew. Anna, <strong>the</strong> older sister, married Terry. The Friths were living<br />

at <strong>the</strong> Hotel Seattle at <strong>the</strong> time <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> fire, and it burned.<br />

MRS. AUSTIN MIRES<br />

Kittitas County<br />

EllensbuTg's F0111'th <strong>of</strong> July Celebration and FiTe<br />

On July 4th, 1889, <strong>the</strong> combination <strong>of</strong> kerosene and fire crackers<br />

blew up <strong>the</strong> general store and destroyed practically all <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> town.<br />

i\lr. ::\Iires was away, and I had just returned from a buggy ride<br />

with my two children and had left <strong>the</strong>m in charge <strong>of</strong> our German ser~<br />

vant girl while I put <strong>the</strong> horse away. The children were undressed<br />

and in bed when I returned. I was putting a flax seed poultice on my<br />

little daughter's bruised chin when <strong>the</strong> fire bell rang. I told <strong>the</strong> German<br />

girl, who was panicky with fright, to dress <strong>the</strong> children. She did,<br />

but dressed <strong>the</strong>m over <strong>the</strong>ir long night gowns, and <strong>the</strong>y couldn't walk.<br />

Our house was one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> few that did not catch fire. One corner <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> Masonic temple was saved and it was incorporated in <strong>the</strong> new<br />

structure which was built later.<br />

SPOKANE DESTROYED BY FIRE<br />

(CoU1-tesy <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Spokane Falls Review)<br />

Spokane County<br />

The most devastating fire that ever occurred in <strong>the</strong> history <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

World, according to population, swept over <strong>the</strong> business portion <strong>of</strong> this<br />

city Sunday night, August 6, 1889.<br />

It originated at 6 :15 P. M. in <strong>the</strong> ro<strong>of</strong> <strong>of</strong> a lodging house on Railroad<br />

avenue, <strong>the</strong> third door west <strong>of</strong> Post street. A dead calm pre­<br />

"ailed at <strong>the</strong> time, and spectators supposed <strong>the</strong> firemen would speed-<br />

113

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