OCR Text |
Show CREEK CAUSES ! SERIOUS FIRE Many of Best Buildings in Nampa, Idaho, Destroyed as Result of Carelessness of Laborer. Foreigner Threw a Lighted Firecracker Fire-cracker Into a Bunch of Fireworks, $200,000 Worth of Property Being Destroyed. Nampa, Ida. A Are which was started by a Greek, who threw a lighted firecracker inito a bunch of fireworks in a cigar store, causing an explosion, swept the entire business and shipping district of Nampa Saturday, Sat-urday, and was uot gotten under control until nearly midnight, after $200,000 damage had been done. Nearly Near-ly all of the principal buildings, business busi-ness houses, hotels and banks in the city were burned. The total insurance insur-ance on destroyed property is estimated esti-mated at $100,000, so that the loss amounts to about 50 per cent, or $100,-000. $100,-000. The fire started about 2:30 o'clock in the afternoon and spread quickly through the business district. The entire block between Twelfth and Thirteenth avenues, and the front portion of First street, fell a prey to the flames. Otherwise the loss would have been far greater. Only the prompt arrival of the fire apparatus from Boise and Oaldwell saved the residence district. The Boise department made the run of twenty miles on a special train in eighteen minutes. The Grand hotel, Council hotel and Alameda hotel were burned to the ground. The magnificent Dewey hotel, ho-tel, one of the finest, structures in the northwest, was saved after a terrific battle by the firemen, who displayed great courage in conquering the flames. The center of the fire was the Bank of Nampa. where the flames seemed to concentrate. The heat here was so intense as to drive the firemen fire-men back again and again, but the knowledge that great deposits of coin and currency were endangered drove them to return to the attack. The bank building was reduced to ashes but the vaults proved fireproof and the contents were not injured. Thirty-two stores and business houses between Twelfth and Tnir-teenth Tnir-teenth avenues, and others facing Fiirst street, were totally destroyed, and the fire raged so fiercely I hat it was impossible to save any of the goods. The Oregon Short Line depot was badly scorched. |