Dawson City - A History of Growing Pains 1896 - 1906
As prepared by Dawson Historian, John Gould.
HALF MILLION GOES Up IN SMOKE
The business centre destroyed, fire started in the Monte Carlo on First Avenue and spread to the Opera House, Hoffman House, Dominion, Bodega and wipes out nearly an
entire block between Second (Queen) and Third Streets (Princess) the burnt district nearly covered for the third time - Dawson suffers its annual big blaze.
The fire started in one of the women's rooms over the Monte Carlo at 3 o'clock this afternoon, brought about as conflagration that withn the space of two hours destroyed buildings and property valued at over $500,000 being the most valued portion of First Ave. practically cleaned the entire block. Between Second and Third Streets. The following places were destroyed;
Reed & Co. Druggist
Herbert Robinson Lawyer
Gandolfo
Clark & Wilson Lawyers
Board of Trade Bldg
J.L. Sale & Co. jewellers
Monte Carlo
Northern Trade co.
Mayer Jeweller
Bank of Commerce Down Town office
Phillips - two news stands
Palace Barber Shop
Opera House
Merchant Cafe, torn down
Dominion ( Dawson Daily News Jan. 11, 1900)
FIRES
Between 1896 and 1905 there were 11 fires in Dawson, nine of which destroyed areas of the commercial district. Parts of King street. Queen street centre block were levelled 6 times between 1897 and 1901. One of the worst fires happened on January 15, 1900 at 3:30 in the afternoon that the siren announced a fire. A great cloud of smoke floated to the east.
Commissioner's Residence on Front St. destroyed by fire on December 25, 1906. Dawson Museum Photo, Dorothy and Lillian Whyte collection #Ph984R-17-30
The fire broke out in or near the apartment of Florence Brocee, an actress at the Monte Carlo. It was not discovered until it broke out in a great mass of flame and smoke, Both fire halls took part in the fight to extinguish the flames. In spite of two streams of water played on the flames the fire advanced from one building to an other, it was two hours before the fire was under control, by that time it had consumed several buildings.
(Yukon Sun January 16,1900)
Some of those buildings were,-
Monte Carlo, where the fire originated, owned by Jack Smith & E.D.Haden, loss $40,000. Hoffinan House, a two storey of log and frame owned by Gus Apole, $20,000. Opera House, owners Gus Bakke & Tom Wilson, loss $40,000. Dominion Saloon, & Club rooms, owner Tom O'Brien, loss $10,000 The Bodega owner George Apple, loss $13,000. Northern Trading Co., loss $5,000.
Canadian Bank of Commerce, up town office, and Palace Barber shop owned by Ruth Howard, the building were owned by Tom O'Brien, loss $5,000. Merchants Cafe, loss $3,000.
The building occupied by the Northwest Trading co. Was damaged in an effort to stop the fire, $1,000.
On the north side of the Monte Carlo was the Board of Trade building owned by Ben Levy, loss $25,000.
The cost of the over all loss building, personal property etc was estimated at $225,000. The weather at the time of the fire was minus 60 F. which made fighting the fire very difficult
Jan. 16,1900
BODIES NOT YET FOUND
Major Perry stated today that as yet bodies of the three men who are supposed who have supposed to have been murdered on Christmas day on the trail. Clayson, Reife and Olsen, have not yet been found nor has any additional light been thrown on the mystery that reveals anything tangible. The Major says however, that to a very great degree the mystery is being cleared to the police in charge of the search and the investigation, but nothing as yet can be given out as absolute. Just what Major Perry means by "matters are clearing up"
is not definite, but it is very certain that he knows what he is asserting, and as the two men, Graves and O'Brien, arrested on very strong suspicion of being the guilty parties, are held
in close confinement at Tagish, he may mean that a confession is forthcoming from one of the prisoners that will unmask the mystery. At any rate, there is little doubt but that Major
Perry will in the near future be in a position to impart some very interesting information regarding what now has the appearance of being the most daring and atrocious crime in the
history of the broad white north.
As wires are down today at some point between Tagish and Bennett, no news was received of the actions ofClayson's friends at the other end of the line. (Klondike Nugget Jan.19,1900)
©John Gould
(This is copyrighted material and under no circumstances is allowed to be copied or used without the express permission of the author)