Jasper County Democrat, Volume 2, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 May 1899 — FIRE WIPES OUT DAWSON. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

FIRE WIPES OUT DAWSON.

Klondike City Swept by Flames, Causing *4,000,000 Loss. Dawson City, the famous capital of ths Klondike, has been practically obliterated by fire that destroyed the entire business section and many of the residences and caused a loss in all of not less than $4,000,000. Nor is the financial loss the most serious consideration involved, for, save tbe American Camping Company’s and North American Trading and Transportation Company’s warehouses, no supply house is left to the district, snd more than three-quarters of the population of the mining townfin4 themselves without food or clothing supplies snd homeless, and with the opening of river navigation that will enable fresh stocks to be received yet more than a month away. News of the greet fire, the fourth of an expensive series In the Klondike this season, was brought out by three couriers— Thos. P. Reilley, Commissioner Ogilvie'a special messenger; L. F. Humes, n ton of ex-Mayor Humes of Seattle, aud Frank Tokales, a Russian scout. They took their lives in their bands to carry Dawson’s tale of misfortune to the outside world, and, with the assistance of the mounted police facilities and co-operation, got through without disaster. A veritable panic reigned in. Dawson the day after the fire, because hundreds of tons afcprovUiona were burned up and it w'UT wat fifast five Weeks before any conBMcuWe anfaant of provisions eon be obtaiiMsffrom the out side. 4 An .area of gronner three-g’ualters of a mile long and four blocks in width was eaten over by tbe flames, leaving absolutely nothing but

ashes. Martial law was declared by the mounted police and the men were patrolliug the bukaed district day and night. The owners of some of the ruins claimed that there was treasure beneath the ashes. Thieves were plentiful, and an improvised dungeon was repprted full of accused persons. The Bank of British North America was a heavy loser. The rather flimsy vault did not withstand the heat, and ths papers in it were destroyed. The bank also lost a large amount of goid.dust

FRONT STREET, DAWSON CITY, LOOKING WEST.