The Town of Oakesdale Is Reduced to Smoldering Ruins

Oakesdale, July 25—What at noon was a beautiful, thriving city, one of the most flourishing in the Palouse country, is at this hour, 8 p.m., a mass of smoldering ruins. At 4:30 p.m. today the cry of fire was raised, and huge columns of smoke were seen to issue from the roof of the new International hotel, a three-story frame building. In less than ten minutes the entire building was a mass of flames, which soon spread to the general merchandise store of Hilstand, Warner & Co., on the north, and Taylor's saloon on the south. It then became apparent that the city was doomed, as the water supply and other facilities were inadequate. The fire swept across the street to Selbridge's hardware store, then across the alley to Smith's confectionery. Howard's saloon, meat markets, a barber shop, grocery and clothing stores were wiped out. In those two hours, thousands of dollars in property went up in smoke. While the total loss is estimated at $70,000, half of which is covered by insurance, no fatalities are reported and no residences were consumed.