1913 Blaze Destroys Block

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.