Hailey, ID Fire, Jul 1889

The Hailey Fire.

SALT LAKE, July 3. - The fire which destroyed Hailey, Idaho, started in the Nevada bakery, corner Math and Carbonate streets, and spread with alarming rapidity. Everybody thought the Merchants hotel, next to the corner, would stop the flames, but owing to the high wind the fire swept through a row of frame buildings to the hotel, a brick building. The flames swept along Main street, consuming buildings supposed to be fire proof as if they were tinder. The heat was so oppressive that the firemen had to desert their hose and cart and consequently the town was left to the mercy of the fire. Word was sent to Belleville, five miles south, and the company hurried to the scene with all available apparatus, but too late to be of service.

After leaving the Merchants hotel corner, the fire swept south on the next block and jumped the street to the west and returned north along the street, burning all business houses with the single exception of Fridman & Co's, fire proof building. Of four blocks of solid brick nothing is left but this one store.

The burned district includes the entire business portion, and takes in but a few residences, so there will be no destitution. The insurance on property destroyed will exceed $150,000. A number of the largest losers were not insured.

Among the heaviest losers are Kodin & Cole, about $100,000, insured for $57,000; Idaho Forwarding company, $25,000; Merchants hotel, $40,000; Jas Upert, $15,000, without insurance; Claud Campbell, $25,000, insured for $6,000. and many others who will range in the neighborhood of $1,000 each. The little mountain town to-day presents a very melancholy appearance, and what but a few hours ago was the most prosperous town in Idaho, is now a mass of smoulding (sic) ruins. Nearly all the merchants will rebuild as soon as possible.

Aspen Weekly Times, Aspen, CO 6 Jul 1889
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Transcribed by Jenni Lanham.