1913 Blaze Destroys Block

Spokesman-Review 29 July 1913 p11 c5:

DAMAGE BY BLAZE AT REARDAN, $1500
Flames Originate in Paint Shop and Spread Quickly to Other Buildings
---------------------------------------------------
THERE IS NO INSURANCE
---------------------------------------------------
Sleeping Tramp In Supposed to Have Set Fire to the Structure In Early Morning.
REARDAN, Wash., July 28. Fire was discovered in a paint shop at the rear of a lot owned by John Meyer shortly after 3 o'clock this morning and the alarm promptly sounded. So rapidly did the fire gain headway that nothing could be saved from the building and attention was then directed to an attempt to hold the fire in check and save other buildings. The flames quickly spread to barns belonging to John Davidson on the south, then across the alley to F. M. Moore's barn, and only by heroic effort were the residences of John Meyer, that occupied by C. H. Cline and Mr. Moore's home saved from the fury of the flames.

The loss is estimated at from $1500 to $2000, with not a cent of insurance. The Meyer building contained besides painting tools a brand new motorcycle, nearly all the family's winter clothing, bedding and furniture. The Davidson barn contained several tons of new hay. The Moore barn contained 10 tons of new hay, 25 bushels of oats, two sets of harness and a single harness and a wagon.

It is supposed that a tramp sleeping in the paint shop accidentally set fire to the building. He had been seen loitering about town a couple of days and Sunday evening had been seen walking past the property as if to spy out a place in which to sleep.

Spokane Chronicle 19 August 1913 p1 c1:

Reardan Suffers Big Blaze
---------------------------------------------------
Hotel, Jewelry Store, Livery Stable and Other Buildings Are in Ruins.
---------------------------------------------------
Fire which started this morning from an unknown cause in the livery stable of Travis Brothers at Reardan, 24 miles west of Spokane, destroyed, with one exception, every building in the block bounded by Broadway, Lake and Maple streets and the Northern Pacific right of way .

The loss is variously estimated at $20,000 to $25,000.

The biaze was first discovered at 4:30. The town was quickly awakened and a large crowd of men and boys was soon fighting the flames to keep them from spreading to other blocks.

No persons were injured, but three horses and two mules were burned.

The losses are partly covered by insurance in nearly every instance.

Those Who Lose.---

The livery stable was owned by O. B. Gates and was used by Travis Bros. The latter also owned the other livery barn which was the only building in the block to escape the blaze. It was in the stable which burned that the animals lost their lives.

South of the livery stable was a two-story building owned by George Farwell and occupied by a Japanese restaurant.

North of the livery stable in the following order were buildings owned by Mr. Switzer.

Two-story building occupied by Thomas Lavell's barber shop with lodging house on second floor.

One-story building occupied by A. P. Luntsford's saloon.

One-story building occupied by J. B. Byrd's jewelry store.

Two-story building occupied by the Reardan hotel, managed by George Bursell, who moved into the place July 1.

North of the Switzer buildings was the one-story structure owned by Peter Tramm and occupied by the West Crescent Farmers' Telephone company.

Fought to Save Warehouse.

These buildings were a total loss, but in most cases portions of furniture and fixtures were saved. The fire fighters devoted much of their energies to protecting the warehouses of the Puget Sound and the Tacoma Warehouse companies.

I do not believe the total loss will run over $15,000 at the outside, said E. E. Noble, cashier.of the Reardan State bank. "The buildings were all old structures and while I have no reason for reckoning the loss down, I do not believe it will exceed that amount. In most cases, there was some insurance.

Spokesman-Review 20 Aug 1913 p9 c3:

BLAZE AT REARDAN DESTROYS A BLOCK
Animals Burn to Death When Fire Breaks Out in the Travis Livery.
REARDAN, Wash., Aug. 19. A fire broke out in the livery on Lake Street conducted by Travis Brothers, at 4 o'clock this morning and before the alarm was sounded and a crowd collected to help combat the fierce flames, they had spread to adjoining buildings and gained such momentum that almost the entire block was swept clean. Six mules and a horse were burned to death. Besides the barn other buildings that were reduced to ashes were the George Farwell building on the south of the barn, the row of buildings on the north owned by J. Switzer, a Davenport farmer; the Peter Tramm building, in which was located the West Crescent Farmers' Cooperative Telephone company exchange, and the W. H. Capps barn on the northwest corner of the block.

The Farwell building was occupied es an eating establishment by S. Maksmoto, a Japanese, who lost all his clothing, stoves, cooking utensils and supplies, only tables and a few dishes being saved. In the livery barn a large amount of hay and horse feed and an automobile belonging to an extract vendor were consumed. The mules belonged to a stranger, who had stopped in the night before to secure work in the harvest fields; one horse belonged to George Travis, brother of the liverymen, and had been driven in by Oscar Caretens, who lost also a harness and buggy.

The Switzer buildings were occupied by Thomas LaBell with a barber shop, A. B. Luntsford's saloon, J. B. Byrd's watch repairing shop and the hotel conducted by George Pursell.

All buildings burned except the Farwell corner and Capps' barn were insured for small amounts.