The Morning After the Fire: Spokane Wakes Up in Tents and Vows to Rebuild

SPOKANE — The Rest of Her Citizens Not Broke.

Spokane Falls, Aug. 6 — Over the fire of Sunday business has been swept away and everybody has gone to work. Business and professional men are putting up tents and fitting up temporary quarters. All are resolved. They resumed business wherever they could find a quarter. The eight banks resumed today and found themselves in good condition. The time lock of the Spokane National Bank was still running; when the vault was opened to the crowd there was great excitement.

The morning when the First National, the National and the Spokane National purchased lots at the corner of Riverside and Howard streets, they paid the aggregate sum of the highest price ever paid for real estate in Spokane — everybody is encouraged. Contractors are being let at once for new buildings. No more frame buildings are allowed in the business portion of Spokane; that is the universal sentiment.

Vigilance against thieves. Thieves are coming in from the surrounding country and towns, but a strong guard will be put out tonight. Company G, Second regiment, is still on guard and doing good duty. Little trouble has been experienced as yet, and this morning an unknown man who refused permission to cross the line drew a pistol on the guard, who charged him with the bayonet, running it into the man's wrist.

The Walla Walla company guards are not needed and will not come. The relief committee have put up a tent where all the destitute can obtain food. There has been no suffering whatever. Every one appreciates the situation and puts up with the least obtainable.

Not a foot of property within the burned district can be purchased a dollar less than before the fire. Citizens are beginning to look upon the calamity as fruitful of good results, and are strengthened by the confidence exhibited by outside capitalists telegraphing money for building purposes. Letters of condolence pour in from every quarter. Money and provisions are being sent.

The insurance is placed, on good authority, at $2,000,000. Among the companies holding policies: London, Liverpool and Globe; New York and London; Oregon Fire & Marine; London Assurance; Home Mutual; Northwestern Fire & Marine; Columbia Fire & Marine; the Pacific, of Portland; Hamburg; Magdeburg; Imperial; Fireman's Fund; Royal Northwestern; Lancashire; London & Lancaster; Commercial; California; Hartford of Hartford; Germania; Union Insurance Company.

SPOKANE WILL RISE AGAIN.

Spokane Falls, Aug. 6 — Another Spokane will rise from the ashes of the old, and will rise to stay. Her people have gone to work with that pluck and determination which has characterized them in the past. Already plans are being prepared for new brick buildings. Capitalists have every confidence in the future of the city, and are loaning money at a low rate of interest to builders. The handsome stone and brick edifices that once adorned Riverside avenue, from Monroe street to Bernard, and on Howard street from the railway to the river, will be replaced immediately. The debris is being cleared away, and tents in which business can be temporarily transacted are being put up. In fact, Spokane is a city of tents. No frame buildings are allowed as yet. There is no suffering, but distress is coming to thousands: people who until Sunday night were prosperous and happy are homeless and penniless. Aid, however, is pouring in from all quarters, as the following telegram from the recently stricken city of Seattle will testify:

"To the Mayor of Spokane: Our whole sorrow stirs us profoundly, and Seattle will contribute to your relief, with the hope and belief that you will at once rebuild even more substantially and grandly than before." — Mayor of Seattle.

The men who sustained the loss of buildings by fire are in most cases able to build again. Many of those proposing to rebuild have ordered iron fronts from the East and are making contracts for other material.