The Washington Republican Washington County Friday July 6, 1900 Part 1 of 2: Fire Licks Up Property. Washington Visited Annually By Fire. Business Men Are Determined To Hold The Fort And New Buildings Will Be Put Up. It seems that Washington is doomed on account of fires, for we have had our annual fires now for the past five years, each time wiping out some important business portion of the city Last Saturday night the unwelcome alarm of the fire bell was heard about 10 o'clock, and a small blaze of fire was discovered back of Algie's grocery store. Just how the fire started there no one knows, or if they do they have not told it. Many theories are out as to the origin of the fire, but nothing definite can be learned about how it started. It is quite certain the fire started from the outside in some straw and banana boxes, and when discovered was then being drawn, by a brisk breeze, into the basement of Alige's store where there was oil and other things easily set on fire. For a time it was thought the fire might be controlled, in fact it was almost extinguished, but the oil in the basement had ignited and for an hour a desperate fight was made to stop the flames but of no use. The Alige store burned first then the fire spread both ways, extending south to S.A. Varney's hardware and north to the Racket store. Before midnight both these stores were in ashes, and the ! fire went on wiping out Barley's grocery store. On the south the fire was checked when it came to Oberndorfer's store, but it was a very close call, and people really expected that store to burn too. On the north the fire wall between J.A. Brown's building and the Barley grocery store proved sufficient to stop th efire, but only after a desperate fight by at least 50 people on the roof of Brown's building dashing water on the roof and keeping the wall wet. It was a glad surprise to all when it was known that the fire had been checked when it was, for the wind was strong from the southeast, for the Meader buildings, Bullis buildings and rink were sure to go, and there was a possibility that the fire migh have crossed the street and taken the First National bank building, the Republican office and no one knows where it could have been checked, but possibly not until it had wiped out two more blocks. The Loss. No one can tell what the loss is, it is enough to give Washington a set back and possibly cripple some of her business men financially for a time. Possibly Mr. Algie will suffer more than any other, not because he lost more goods, but because he had but little insurance and was not financially able to meet any loss. His stock and fixtures were insured for $1,000 and his stock would invoice more than $1,500, so his loss will be about $500. The building he occupied belonged to Frank Wolf and was insursed for $2,000. Mr .Wolf will rebuild, but Mr. Algie says he does not know whether he will start in business again or not. S.A. Varvey, the hardware dealer, says his loss will be about $3,000. His buiding and stock would invoice about $7,000 and he carried an insurance of $4,100. He says he will rebuild and open up business. Fredendall & Walker were quite heavy losers, but Mr. Walker says they can give no estimates at this time. Their stock of goods was insured for $24,000 and their fixtures for $1,000. Mr Walker says they expect to build a better building and have a better store than before. The room their clothing was in belonged to Col. Choate and it was insured for $2,900. Mr. Fredendall owned the other building and it was insured for $3,000. W.H. Collins and wife lived over the Racket store and they lost abotu half of their household goods. They had no insurance. Barley Grocery Co. lost about $3,000. They carried an insurance on stock, fixtures and building of $5,000 and they estimate if all the insurance is paid they will lose at least $3,000. They expect to rebuild as soon as possible.