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Fairbanks, Alaska Fire

May 21, 1906

ALASKA TOWN IS DESTROYED

ONE WOMAN IS BURNED TO DEATH AT FAIRBANKS.

Meager Report Leaves It to Be Inferred That Main Business Houses Are in Ashes.

Alameda, Cal.
– The Northern Commercial company Wednesday received the following from its agents at Fairbanks: The entire town from Turner to Lacey street and back to Third, except, the Fairbanks Banking company’s building and warehouse, has been destroyed. One woman, LOTTA TALBOT, was burned to death.
Fairbanks is situated on the Chena river, a tributary of the Tanana, and, although but three years old, is now the largest and most important city on the Pacific coast north of Vancouver, B. C., having a population of about 7,000.

The gold output in 1905 was $7,000,000, and during the present year it will reach $12,000,000 to $15,000,000.

The burned district covers three and a half square blocks. The First National bank, the Washington Banking company, and the court house, located in the burned district, probably were destroyed, as were many of the retail stores and saloons and possibly one or two hotels. The most important of the financial institutions in the city, the Fairbanks Banking company, is intact.

An unofficial estimate places the loss at about $1,000,000.

There is no damage of famine, as the warehouses of the Northern Commercial company, containing nearly half a million dollars’ worth of foodstuffs, are uninjured and there is positive information that four steamers are en route with additional supplies.

The Grand Rapids Tribune, Grand Rapids, WI 30 May 1906

       

BUSINESS PART OF FAIRBANKS BURNS

Fire Fighters Make a Heroic Stand in the Big Warehouse Where Supplies Are Kept But Result is in Doubt.

SEATTLE, May 22
– A special to the Post-Intelligencer tonight states that the entire business section of the town of Fairbanks, Alaska, was destroyed by a fire which started in the Fairbanks building, a three story structure, at 1 o’clock yesterday afternoon. Details of the disaster are very meager, but it is feared that the food supply of the town has been destroyed and great suffering may result.

Nothing was left standing in the section lying between the water front and Third avenue and Stavey and Turner streets. The work of the fire fighters is centered on the block of warehouses owned by the Northern Commercial Company, in order to protect the food supply of the town and the result is still in doubt.

The loss is estimated at a million dollars and it is announced that the heavier business interests of the town are already planning to rebuild. No lives were lost.

Reno Evening Gazette, Reno NV 23 May 1906

       

FAIRBANKS JAIL WAS DESTROYED

Only One Building Available for Court House Purposes and for Housing of Prisoners of the City.

SEATTLE, Wash., May 24.
United States Marshal Perry received advices tonight from Fairbanks that the court house was destroyed by fire and that only one building was available for court house and prison purposes. The combination of the safe was broken during the fire. There were seventeen federal prisoners at Fairbanks and Marshal Perry has been besieged with telegrams from the department of justice today asking for particulars of them.

Court officials at Fairbanks have been instructed to secure temporary quarters to house the prisoners.

Reno Evening Gazette, Reno NV 24 May 1906

Transcribed by Jenni Lanham.  Thank you, Jenni!

       

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