Pacific and Windsor Hotel Fire
BY: BG EDITOR
Pacific and Windsor Hotels, Greenwood
Apr 22, 2017 — GREENWOOD, BC (BG)
Just 42 days after the fire that destroyed Greenwood's Clarendon and International hotels, the city experienced another devastating fire in the downtown core. This time, both the Pacific and Windsor hotels were destroyed. The event was described in this report from the August 5, 1899 edition of the Boundary Creek Times:[1]
ANOTHER BIG FIRE
THE CITY HAS A NARROW ESCAPE
The Pacific and Windsor Hotels Burned
Haliett & Shaw's Office, Henton's Barber Shop, and Henry Sauve's Store also Destroyed. — Supposed to Have Been the Work of an Incendiary.
"A second serious fire, threatening the business portion of Copper street, occurred Thursday morning. Between two and three o'clock, Officer Lawder, who was on duty on Copper street, discovered a fire under Henton's barber shop in the Pacific block and at once turned in the alarm. The volunteer fire department was soon on the ground, and two streams commenced playing on the flames.
It was found impossible to save the Pacific hotel, and the efforts of the birgade were directed to save the buildings in the vicinity. A hose was connected with the Silver street hydrant, and two streams were directed to the rear of the buildings. In a short time the Windsor hotel on the south, and Hallett's & Shaw's law office on the north of the Pacific were in flames.
The department did good work on the Windsor, saving the shell of the building, although the inside work and furniture were completely destroyed, or so badly damaged that they are valueless. Hallett & Shaw's building and contents were so badly damaged that the loss will be a total one.
The heaviest loosers by the fire will be Madden & Dallas of the Pacific. Their building and contents cost about $14,000, insured for $4,900. The Windsor hotel will be a partial loss. Insured for $3,500; value of building and contents about $15,000. The building is owned by F. S. Barnard of Victoria, and leased by W. E. Weeks, Henton's barber shop and contents, valued at about $1,200; insured for $500. Hallett & Shaw's loss will be about $2,000; insured for $750; Henry Sauve, no insurance, loss about $200. Greenwood Trading company, loss by damage to goods about $200.
The fire is supposed to have been the work of an incendiary. An investigation was held in the court house on Thursday afternoon before Police Magistrate Hallett, and considerable evidence taken, but as part of the evidence was taken with closed doors, the result cannot be made known.
NOTES.
Captain Hallett of the fire department, acted as chief, in the absence of Chief Nelson, and did excellent work, as also did Wilson and McKenzie. In fact all the members of the department did excellent work.
The department need metal nozzles and canvas hose, and will make application at the next meeting of city council for these necessaries. Also for a paid chief of the department. The city is now large enough to be able to pay a chief a sufficient salary so that he will be able to devote his whole time to the business of the department.
Although there were only four feet of water in the tank when the fire started there was sufficient for all purposes. In future it will be kept full, with the overflow from the tank instead of from the feeder.
An extra night-watchman has been put on by the mayor, and a strict watch will be kept on all parts of the city. Persons who have been hanging around and picking up odds and ends will do well to take warning and leave town.
There were the usual humorous incidents connected with the fire. A well known young mining engineer of the city suddenly became possessed of an idea and acted upon it. He saw the sugar bowls in the dining-room of the Pacific, and with laudable presence of mind threw them out of the window. The bowls were saved. He carried a number of chairs out of the hotel and deposited them safely on Greenwood street.
A prominent insurance man concluded that two men were too many on one nozzle, so tackled the job alone. It took six men to rescue the insurance agent. The nozzle didn't need rescuing.
Madden & Dallas will commence rebuilding at once. For the present they are in temporary quarters in the Barrett block. Hallett & Shaw will build. Henry Sauve had opened out in his old premises Thursday evening. Mr. Weeks, of the Windsor, was opened for business a few hours after the fire, but it will be some time before the upper portion of the building is ready for occupation."
Folio: "Historic Fires"
FOOTNOTES:
