BIG BEND p. 179: SPRAGUE (continued)

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SPRAGUE, pt. 1: p. 173      TABLE OF CONTENTS      OTHER TOWNS, p. 186  

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      During the first decade of Sprague's history the town never experienced what might be correctly denominated a "boom." It had no occasion for one nor did it attempt to manufacture one with the usual ingredients of "hot air" and imagination. But up to the period of its great and almost incalculable disaster through fire it enjoyed a steady growth. Many of the towns in eastern Washington coming into existence in the 8o's bought advertising space in the Portland Oregonian, the Minneapolis Tribune and other papers for the purpose of attracting attention to them. But this was not the case with Sprague. It permitted its own steady march to interest the stranger within, or without its gates. From the time of its inception its course was one of uninterrupted smoothness. It made such improvements as time and circumstances would permit. Nearly all the streets and avenues were graded; its public buildings consisted of a commodious opera house, Masonic Temple and city hall. Up to a certain eventful date no floods nor fires nor blizzards marred the city's progress during the first decade.

      But the year 1890 began with a "boom" of colossal proportions. Never before in the town's history had there been such marked activity in real estate as was witnessed in March of this year. Business lots that had been on the market for months at merely nominal figures were now snapped up quickly .and eagerly. All descriptions of property advanced rapidly. The underlying cause for all the "commercial tumult" was the announcement that the Northern Pacific Railway Company would at once begin the work of doubling the capacity of its car shops, round houses, etc., and would expend $250,000 in improving its property. It was on the wings of rumor, also, that the Oregon Railroad & Navigation Company was about to establish a new railroad east and west of Sprague, and that Sprague would be headquarters for the construction work. The possibility of the erection of a smelter here affording employment to 2,000 men did not in the least diminish the enthusiasm of the citizens. A franchise was granted by the city council for the construction of a street car line to be completed

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within ninety days. A choice and sightly tract of land in the suburbs was platted. The city purchased twenty acres more to be used as a public park. In its issue of March 27th the Sprague Herald said:

      The past week has been one of unusual activity, there having been eighty-two transfers in the city. As yet prices are held at an advance of about twenty-five per cent, over last week. Still, real estate in Sprague is lower than that of any other city of importance in the state. Choice business locations may be purchased at from $2,000 to $5,000. Residence lots are selling at prices varying from $75 to $600. Our people are in no-wise excited but are simply awakening to the fact that Sprague has advantages which warrant her in taking a more conspicuous place among Washington cities.

      Sprague, at this period, was certainly enjoying a "boom" of magnificent proportions. Real estate agents received orders by wire to invest in Sprague properties from capitalists. "Sprague real estate not for sale at any price," was a common telegraphic answer to inquiries received by people who owned property in the town which was apparently to become a city. April 3d the Herald said:

      Sprague is the scene of a very busy season. Building operations are developing rapidly and as soon as each structure is finished it is at once occupied. Calls are continually being made for workmen. Not enough laborers can be had to carry on the work necessary to the rapid growth of the city. Sprague in the infancy of its growth resembles Spokane during its miraculous advancement of a couple of years ago. This week two real estate offices have been established and the transfers number over one hundred. With all its advantages Sprague is destined to become one of the foremost cities in Washington. At any rate the confidence of those who have been purchasing real estate must be very great or they would not invest so heavily.

      This boom, however, was of short duration. The new railroad was not built; the proposed improvements in the shops did not materialize; the smelter was not constructed; the street railway system gained the "survey" stage and went no farther. By the official census taken by the government in 1890 the population of Sprague was given as 1,722.

      Washington was now a state. During the summer of 1891 the question of reincorporating the city of Sprague was taken up. Experience had demonstrated that there were many defects in the old charter, some of which limited the powers to such an extent that the growth and advancement of the city was greatly retarded.  The legislature of the new state at its first session under the constitution, among other acts, provided by a general law charters for cities, including a charter for cities of the third class. To remedy the defects of their city charter the people of Sprague desired to reincorporate under this law. Accordingly they circulated for signatures a petition and the same was presented, asking for some action toward securing a new charter. Originally Sprague had been incorporated under the old Territorial law. Washington was now a state. The supreme court had decided all such incorporations void, and issued a mandate authorizing special elections for such purposes. The result of this election, called by the county commissioners, was an almost unanimous verdict in favor of re-incorporation. Under the new dispensation the following municipal officers were elected, all Democrats with the exception of Councilman O. C. Jensen:

      George S. Brooke, mayor; John Bartol, treasurer; George Maguire, assessor; R. M. Houck, health officer; T. M. Cooper, F. J. Gehres, John Garvey, T. N. Murphy, W. P., Putman, James Stewart and O. C. Jensen, councilmen.

      As illustrating the laxity of railroad, land office and other officials it is stated that not until June, 1895, did the Northern Pacific Railway Company receive a patent from the government to the land comprising Sprague's townsite. Meanwhile the real estate had been sold and resold many times and passed around among many parties. In December, 1892, the Sprague Herald said: "All that is definitely known is that the city is floating around somewhere in the east half of section 23, but whether its

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point of beginning' is at the north or south corner stake, or somewhere in the middle of the east half, is something that no man can find out from the records. So the question, 'Where is Sprague at?' is a very pertinent one."

      In March, 1892, by a vote of 182 to 46, the city decided to issue bonds in the amount of $35,000 to purchase the properties of the water works and electric light companies, both of which had heretofore been operated by private individuals. The first election held for this purpose was declared illegal. June 17 another election was carried for the proposition by a nine-tenths vote, and a transfer of these properties procured.

      March 18, 1894, Sprague was visited by the greatest flood hitherto known in her history. This unusual rise began on the 17th; and on the evening of that day the high water line had been reached; on Sunday morning it was "out of sight." During a period of seventy-two hours that portion of the city between the railroad and an alley near the old opera house was inundated, the average depth on a level being about eight inches. The low land lying east of the railway shops was totally submerged, as was the tract west of the mill. Three boats plied the waters which surged through the business portion of the town. The floors of many stores and saloons were covered with water.

      April 25th the Herald said: "Bradstreet's Commercial Agency gives Sprague the best rating of any city in the state. In effect, it says, it is the soundest and safest city in which to do business in the state of Washington. There has never been a business failure of any significance in the city."

      The great strike of the Northern Pacific railway employees in the summer of 1894 is exhaustively treated in another chapter. But this industrial imbroglio played such an important part in the future of the town that we deem it best to here reproduce some of the more salient features. July 8th the strike assumed threatening proportions. Concerning the acts of lawlessness on this date the Sprague Herald of July 11th said:

      Everything pertaining to the strike has been going on in the same even tenor that ii started with and nothing occurred to injure the cause of the A. R. U., until last Sunday night (July 8th), when the train bearing Company K. National Guards Washington, of Tekoa, came in manned by "scabs." Hoodlums threw rocks at the engineer and the scab crew, and two box cars were on the main track in front of the train. The engineer opened the throttle and got down out of sight owing to fear, and the next instant crashed into the cars. In the meantime a car loaded with engine oil was run down the track to the second bridge west of town and set on fire, burning car, oil and trestle to the ground. This was not all. The large trestle east of town had also been tired by unknown parties, though it was discovered in time to extinguish the flames before much damage was done, only about fifteen feet of the trestle being burned. This is supposed to be the work of hoodlums or sympathizers, but there are many who will make the A. R. U. hear the blame. Is it not detrimental to their cause? To be sure it is. Citizens of Sprague generally regret this occurrence. Company K was detained the remainder of the night and nearly all Monday, leaving in the afternoon as soon as the trestle was repaired. About 11 o'clock Monday forenoon a train bearing a company of regulars from Fort Spokane came in from the east and repaired the trestle which checked their progress. A train from the west bearing Company B, First Infantry, Seattle, came in shortly after noon and they were compelled to repair the trestle west of town to get into Sprague. The soldiers used rails to pry off the car trucks. They were nearly five hours making the necessary repairs. Had not the burning of these bridges occurred our city would not have had to submit to and be placed under martial law.
      There are two companies of United States Regulars from Fort Spokane encamped on the lawn around the headquarters building under Command of Major Carpenter, viz: Company H, with fifty-one men, commanded by Captain Webster, and Company G, fifty-two men, commanded by Captain O'Brien.

      The various meetings held in the city anent this industrial disturbance have been fully treated in the “Lincoln County History" of this work. Opinion was divided, and while there was considerable undercurrent of sympathy for the strikers, few were found who desired the railway company to remove its shops and division headquarters from the city. Yet all this was done in the future. July 27, 1894, the Lincoln County Times said:

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      The division headquarters of the Northern Pacific have been moved from Sprague to Spokane, and Superintendent Gilbert is quoted as saying that the shops would in all probability be moved also. This would prove a severe blow to Sprague and a loss to the entire county. The taxes derived from the location of the shops in the county is by no means inconsiderable and their removal would be unfortunate. This action of the railroad company has been hastened, if not entirely precipitated by the apparent sympathy for, and the support given to, the strikers in most they have done, by the citizens and business men of Sprague. If the public meetings recently held there denouncing unlawful acts and pledging support to the laws had taken place at the beginning of the trouble as they should, it is not probable that the head- quarters or anything else would have been moved.

      But temporarily there was a lull in the strained anxiety of the citizens of Sprague. The blow did not fall immediately in the full intensity of its force. Since Sprague became a town rumors would periodically make their appearance to the effect that the shops were to be removed to Spokane. Following the strike these rumors gained in volume. Frank M. Winship, editor of the Sprague Herald, was in St. Paul, Minnesota, shortly after the trouble and interviewed General Manager Kendrick concerning these rumors. July 23d he wired his paper as follows:

      To Herald, Sprague, Washington. — I have just interviewed General Manager Kendrick, of the Northern Pacific Railway Company. He says there is no foundation whatever for reports that the railroad shops at Sprague were to be removed. The headquarters removal is permanent. Agitators will not be re-employed.                  Frank M. Winship

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      August 8th the Herald congratulated its readers thus:

      The shop whistle never sounded more musical than it did this morning in summoning a number of the railroad shop employees to work again, after the six weeks' lay-off caused by the strike. Although the whole force has not yet been assigned to duty it is believed it is a question of only a few days when the shops will again be swarming with men anxious to make up for the time worse than lost.

      To this the Lincoln County Times added:

      Everything appears serene at the county seat again, work in the car shops having been resumed, although business is still quiet among the merchants. The strike has necessarily been injurious to trade, and the town is only recovering from the bad effects.

      Following the A. R. U. strike Governor McGraw appointed a court of inquiry to investigate the conduct of the Spokane, Tekoa and Sprague militia during the trouble. The court reported September 15th. It found Company G, of Spokane, guilty of mutinous conduct at Tacoma on July 7th, and that all the members then present, except Charles E. Nelson, participated or acquiesced in the mutiny. The court recommended that the company be disbanded and would favor the dishonorable discharge of the mutineers, but for the fact that a court-martial would be necessary to impose this sentence. The court found Captain J. W. Stearns, of Tekoa, in permitting his company to be stoned by a mob at Sprague, absolutely wanting in proper knowledge of his duty, and recommended his discharge.

      Concerning the Sprague company the court found that while a considerable number of Troop A were in sympathy with the strikers, there was no disloyalty, except on the part of its sergeant, W. H. Evans, who organized a squad of men to cheer the Spokane mutineers at Tacoma. and Sergeant A. P. Sully and Private Kennedy, who deserted at Tacoma. The discharge of Evans, Sully and Kennedy was recommended. Governor McGraw approved the findings and at once issued orders to carry them into effect.

      In October, 1895, Troop A disbanded.  The

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primary cause of this was the disastrous fire that swept the town. It had ever been a popular organization.

      One of the tragic events in Sprague's history during the year 1895 was the murder of Constable L. A. Conlee by Alfred Symes, which occurred June 25th. The constable had arrested Symes, an alleged stock thief, in Sprague, and both prisoner and officer set out on horseback for Ritzville. Sprague people were informed that Conlee had been murdered on the following day, his body having been found about four miles above Ritzville. Later information showed how the victim had met his death. He had been shot six times through the body and head. The exact details of the crime remained a mystery, but it was surmised that Symes, who was riding just behind Conlee succeeded in jumping on behind the constable, overpowering him and securing his revolver with the above result. Shots had been distinctly heard by two or three parties and some boys saw Symes dragging the murdered man away from the road. It was learned that Symes went immediately to his cabin, got supper, and then left a marriage license lie had taken out the day he was arrested. Sprague business men offered a reward of S500 for the apprehension of Symes dead or alive.

      The latter was locally known as "Jesse James," and possessed an unenviable reputation. He had boasted that if Conlee ever attempted to arrest him he would kill him. He had come to Lincoln County about eight years previous. August 11, 1895. Symes was captured in Missoula County, Montana, by Sheriff Thompson, of Adams County, Washington, and E. D. Gibson, of Ritzville. Admitting the killing the prisoner set up the plea of self-defense. He was tried in Adams County, found guilty and sentenced to death. In January,

1896, Judge Upton, of Walla Walla, commuted the sentence to nineteen years in the penitentiary. An appeal was taken to the Supreme Court, but the sentence of the lower court was affirmed in June, 1899. During the spring of 1903 Symes was released on parole.

      Saturday, August 3. 1895, is a date that will not be forgotten by any living person who was in Sprague that disastrous day. For one of the most destructive conflagrations that ever devastated Eastern Washington reduced the business portion of the city to ashes; rendered hundreds of people homeless and destitute of food and made absolutely necessary the solicitation of aid from outlying towns. An area comprising 320 acres was burned over; every building in the tract destroyed, and entailing a monetary loss of $1,250,000. At noon a lire alarm was rung for a blaze in Bryant's chi p and feed mill, corner of Railroad Avenue and D Street. And thus the destiny of Sprague — the history of Lincoln county — was changed by the careless use of fire in the chop mill on an exceedingly windy day. Quickly the department responded to the call, but far more rapidly was the blaze fanned by the strong gale into a roaring furnace. The most determined fire fighters — and there were none better in the state — were driven back almost as soon as they arrived upon the scene. From one building to another leaped the fire and within five minutes it was apparent that the entire town was threatened. At one corner of C Street the flames forked; one branch reaching out north of the railway track, consuming in its way the Northern Pacific grain warehouse, the National hotel and the entire row of wooden buildings at a corner of B street. From this point it leaped to the Pacific hotel and the string of frame structures in the rear. Thence it jumped to the railway headquarters' building and Porack's brewery. These were totally destroyed as was the residence of Mr. Porak.

      Meanwhile the southern wing of this fiery onslaught -wept into ruins the building Railroad avenue and First and Second including the Commercial hotel, the city hall, the store of R. Newman & Company and the

Masonic Temple. From here the flames won

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their way to the buildings west of the car shops, and in another minute they were melting into ruins. It was impossible to do anything to save the railroad building owing to the fact that the water-pipes had burst in this portion of the city. A few moments later a terrible explosion occurred as the oil tanks burst, and timbers and flames rose high in the air. The fire was checked on the west side by the brick buildings of the First National Bank and Jensen, King & Company, the occupants placing wet blankets over the windows and fighting the flames desperately. Mayor Sanderson at this time arrived from Medical Lake and ordered the building of Ben Ettleson, corner of C and First streets, blown up with dynamite. This was done and the entire row of business houses on C street, between First and Second streets, were saved. From this point the flames pursued a southeasterly direction and destroyed the drug store of W. P. Putnam, the Masonic Temple, the county jail, the old opera house, and the residences of R. R. Jones and E. H. Stanton. Here the flames were checked by the use of more dynamite. The fire swept east as far as the stock yards, completely obliterating every residence and business house in that portion of the city.

      Eye witnesses testified subsequently that the flames of this fierce oncoming volume of fire reached a block in advance of the burning buildings, spreading in every direction with the rapidity of a whirlwind, driving people before it in all possible haste unable to save anything from their burning houses and flying panic stricken to places of refuge on the outskirts. It is estimated that there were over 200 buildings in flames at one time. While the fire was about a block away from the county jail the prisoners were released. It is said they did excellent work assisting the neighboring business men to save their goods, but disappeared when the flames were under control. Among the first buildings to encounter destruction was the Northern Pacific railway station. Operator Young removed his instruments to a field east of town, made new wire connections and sent and received messages as rapidly as possible. Scenes at the burning of the round house were sensational. Flames rose to a height of one hundred feet, bursting from every portion of the roof. Engine after engine was run out only to be met by advancing flames that drove engineer and fireman from the cabs. Twenty-four locomotives were destroyed ; seven only were saved.

      Within four hours of the inception of this disaster Sprague presented a scene of utter desolation. Smoldering ruins marked the spot where once stood a prosperous city. Not over half a dozen business houses were left standing. These included Gehres & Hertrich's general merchandise store, the Sprague roller mills, the First National Bank, Jensen, King & Company and E. Redding & Company. All the newspaper offices of the city with the exception of the Herald were burned out. The post office was among the first buildings to go. One of the unfortunate features of this disaster was the comparatively small amount of insurance carried by the business men. Many carried none at all and some of them were ruined. Following were the losses sustained by the disaster:

      Northern Pacific Railroad Company, $700,000, made up as follows: Twenty- four locomotives and fifty-four freight cars, $325,000; shops, machinery, etc., $50,000: headquarters' building, master mechanic's office, passenger station, $50,000; freight and freight warehouse, ice house and ice, grain warehouse and oil and oil house, $75,000. There was also half a mile of track destroyed and about 7,000 tons of coal and 5,000 cords of wood, together with the coal bunkers and wood sheds, all of which brought the loss up to nearly, if not quite three-quarters of a million dollars. Other losses:

      J. W. Bryant, chop feed mill, $1,000; Archie McIntosh, blacksmith shop. $500;

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Gehres & Hertrich, $300, insured; Sprague Independent, $2,000; Dr. Jacobs, dentist, $500, insured ; Murphy & Burns, four buildings, $10,000; stock. $5,000; Stooke & Amery, stock of hardware, $10,000, insurance, $5,000; vacant livery barn; Davis & Gray, grocers, $10,000, insurance, $5,000; Mrs. M. Heard, building and millinery stock, $5,000 insured; W. A. Buckley, $200; Knights of Pythias building, $300 ; James Coy, laundry, $500; R. Winters, saloon, stock and fixtures, $500; Commercial Hotel, building and contents. $30,000; J. W. Littlefield, bakery, $3,500, insurance $1,500; Sprague Packing Company, $10,000; C. W. Littlefield, grocer, $5,000; J. F. Hall, general merchandise. $8,000, insured; Cooper & Sanderson, $300, insured; E. M. Kinnear, capitalist, $30,000, partially insured. His loss included two rows of buildings; one on B street and one on First street, about ten in all; Merritt & Salisbury, lawyers, $200, insured; H. X. Martin, lawyer, $200, insured; Fred Stipes, shoemaker, $400; T. F. Meagher, postmaster, $1,000, insurance $500; J. J. Burns, saloon, $800; C. F. Eckhart, cigar maker, $500; Frank Parker, shoemaker, $100; George Troy, restaurant, $500, insured; W. P. Murray, two store buildings, $500; Model Restaurant, $600, insured; E. H. Peterson, barber, $400; J. H. Finder, tobacconist, $1,200; J. W. Reed, jeweler, $1,000, insured; Hugh McQuaid, fish, $200; Charles Hagen, carpenter, $800, insured; Mrs. Moore, $300; H. P. Hicks, tinsmith, $150; J. W. Ryan, saloon, $5,000, insured for $4,500; R. Newman & Company, general merchandise, $20,000, insurance $12,000; city hall and jail, $6,000, insurance, $5,000; Sprague Journal, $500; Palmer & Rey, two presses, $300; A. Lowe, household goods, $300; L. F. Williams, household goods, $500; R. B. Morrison, house and contents, $1,200: Judge X. T. Caton, building, $250, insured: Daniel Winter, house and contents, $1,000; Methodist Church, $2,000, insured; R. R. Janes, house and contents, $800, insured; Masonic Hall. $4,000, insured; county jail, $2,500, insured; W. P. Putnam, drugs, $3,500, insured; Pacific Hotel, $5,000; National Hotel, $3,500, insured; Otto Arnold, $800; A. Van Allen, blacksmith, $400; Williams Brothers, second hand goods, $600; A. W. Holland, building, $500, insured; James Culross, tailor, $300; Herbring Block, $24,000, insurance $18,000; W. H. Olds, drugs, $4,000, insurance $2,000: G. H. Gilpin, dry goods, $15,000, insurance $7,000; Chicago Store, $10,000, insurance, $7,000; Ben Ettleson, saloon, $3,000; John Kirk, butcher, $2,500; W. A. Peters, harness, $500, insured; George Cosgrove, saloon, $2,000, insured; W. R. White, tailor, $1,000; R. L. Wells, jeweler, $1,000; Lee & Astrup, saloon, $800; Joseph Wormald, building, $500; Paul Herold, barber, $800; E. Weyer, boots and shoes, $1,000; Thomas Smith, vacant building, $300.

      The day following the fire was the Sabbath, but for the stricken people of Sprague it was a day of unceasing labor instead of rest. And there were throngs of people upon the street viewing the scenes of the recent conflagration. No new fires originated, but throughout the burnt district embers were still smoking and in a few places the fire had not diminished to any appreciable extent. The forenoon was passed in tearing down dangerous walls and removing every possible structure which might cause a recrudescence of the flames. The Northern Pacific coal bunkers were still burning at a lively rate. With the exception of an old hand car house the company's property was completely wiped out in Sprague. This was fitted up for a depot and telegraph office and Superintendent Gilbert at once began the construction of a temporary building for railroad use. Sunday morning found the city without a saloon, hotel or restaurant or eating house of any description, and but three stores. But so fast as workmen could nail boards together new structures were run up. By evening a number of business houses were established in sheds,

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tents and in the limited number of residence houses left standing.

      The morning of November 22, 1896, Spokane became the terminus of the passenger and freight division of the Northern Pacific Company, under Superintendent Gilbert. Between forty and sixty families removed from Sprague within ten days, many of them following division headquarters to Spokane.

      For a number of years following the great fire Sprague was, indeed, a stricken city. People who had previously done all in their power toward building up the town became discouraged and apathetic. The fire, the removal of the railway shops, the loss of the county seat, desertions of business men and erstwhile influential citizens were severe blows to a once prosperous and energetic city. A heavy debt contracted by the city in palmier days was left to the new Sprague. Two years of exceedingly stringent times followed, and the town which contained 2.500 people August 3, 1895, numbered hardly 400 during the succeeding few years. Then came a most gratifying change. Agricultural pursuits began to pay better and new life was infused into those who had remained and faced the storm.  Speaking of the condition of Sprague in 1901 the Times of March 29th said:

      Today we can look upon our city with a feeling of extreme pride, as few places have ever overcome so many obstacles and prospered as has Sprague during the past four years.  Signs of prosperity are all around us.  Residence property offered for sale in 1896 for $50 with no buyers is now greedily purchased for $200. More than 200,000 acres of farm lands in this immediate vicinity have been purchased and improved.  Thousands of dollars have been invested by men of means who have energy and push inestimable in value.  Not a vacant dwelling house stands within the city limits.  Good sidewalks, good streets and a splendid water system are sustained by the city with funds to spare.  While working on a local paper shortly after the fire the editor of the Times penned these words: "Phoenix-like, from the ashes of the old Sprague will arise a new Sprague that will be greater than Sprague has ever been."  And he still hopes to live to realize the truth of that statement.

      The Sprague Roller Mills were burned at an early hour Saturday morning, January 18, 1902, entailing a loss of $60,000 fully covered by insurance. They were erected in 1887 with a capacity of 350 barrels per day.

      Church societies are represented in Sprague by the Baptist, Methodist Episcopal, Free Methodists, German Lutheran and Catholic. The fraternal institutions comprise the A. F. & A. M., K. P., I. O. O. F., United Artisans, Maccabees, W. O. W., M. W. A. and Foresters.

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