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WILBUR
One of the most promising and enterprising towns in the Big Bend is Wilbur. It is situated in an oblong basin with a small clear creek running through the center of the town, and abrupt, basaltic cliffs, not of very great elevation, on the north and south. At one time this spot was, evidently, a lake: there is still marshy land on the east and west ends of the basin, some distance from the townsite.
In Lincoln county there was no town west of Davenport prior to the construction of the Central Washington railroad. When this line became a reality talk flowed voluminously of other towns, villages and cities in the Big Bend. "Wild Goose Bill's" place, thirty-eight miles west of Davenport, was accorded a post office by the department at Washington, D. C., and given the name of Wilbur, the middle name of Samuel Wilbur Condin (Wild Goose Bill.) It was then considered a likely place for a town and the future has not disputed the judgment of the locators. It was on the line from Davenport to the mines m the northern part of the state, one day's drive from the county seat. Therefore, in the spring of 1888 Wilbur boasted of a hotel, two Stores, two feed stables, two blacksmith shops, a saloon and a drug store. The pioneer merchants of Wilbur were J. M. Parrish & Company. They opened a general merchandise store in October.
January 1, 1889, Wilbur contained but six or seven houses, and was small and insignificant, indeed, compared with the town of a year later. Outside of a radius of thirty miles Wilbur had scarcely been heard of. Those who made their home in the place at that time hoped
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not without some doubt and secret misgivings, to build up a town of modest proportions. That within a few months it would assume the substantiality and prominence that it did was beyond their wildest expectations. In February, 1889, Wilbur had three general merchandise stores, two hotels, one drug store, two feed stables, two restaurants, one blacksmith and one butcher shop, one carpenter shop, one saloon, and quite a number of comfortable residences. The town had been platted in April, 1889, by Samuel Wilbur Condin, (Wild Goose Bill.) In May of that year the building of a railroad to Wilbur had become an assured fact. Surveyors were put to work establishing a grade through the rocky canyon and officials high in authority in the Central Washington Company announced, without reservation, that the road was coming to Wilbur. Authenticity was given to this information by the activity displayed by railroad officials in securing interests in the Wilbur townsite. Messrs. Huson, Riordan, Ashton and other members of the Columbia Townsite & Investment Company, composed of parties of the "inner circles" of the railroad company, visited Wilbur and had a conference with S. W. Condin, owner of the Wilbur townsite, and Rolland J. Reeves, who represented Mr. Condin. These townsite buyers came prepared to entertain any proposition Mr. Condin might have to offer in consideration of the railroad locating a depot at Wilbur. Condin left it entirely to the gentlemen to say what the new road desired. Their proposition was one-half interest in the original townsite and the addition, as well as in the proceeds of sales made, and a like interest in an unplatted eighty-acre tract of deeded land adjoining, in consideration of which the road would locate a depot on the original townsite before the close of the year. Mr. Condin asked for, and received time to consider this proposition, and, being materially aided by lot owners in the new town, concluded to accept the terms of the railroad men.
Thus the management of the Wilbur townsite passed into the hands of a company of energetic men who possessed ample capital and vim with which to develop the resources of the town.
The effect that the certainty of the railroad coming into town was soon seen in the erection of new buildings and the inauguration of new business enterprises in Wilbur. We quote from the Register of May 25th:
Notwithstanding the fact that three large saw mills in this vicinity are kept running at their full capacity the supply of lumber available for immediate use is inadequate to meet the demands of the many contractors and builders now engaged in Wilbur. Five new buildings have been completed within the past week; six more are in course of construction and lumber is being hauled on to the grounds for several others. There is no doubting the success of Wilbur. A grand and glorious future is already secure.C. E. Huson, a brother of the railroad engineer, soon afterwards arrived in Wilbur, and assumed control of the townsite business for the company.
The first incorporation of Wilbur was on March 25, 1889. This incorporation was in accordance with the Territorial law which provided for incorporation of towns by order of the district court. The district court of the Fourth Judicial District, sitting at Sprague, issued a decree incorporating Wilbur and naming municipal officers. The officials appointed entered upon the discharge of their duties and the town was under municipal government until a decision of the supreme court declared all such incorporations void. This was after the admission of Washington as a State. Numerous other towns throughout the state aside from Wilbur were thrown out by this sweeping decision. Nothing discouraged, however, the citizens went immediately to work to secure a lawful incorporation.
June 1, 1889, we find in Wilbur business
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houses as follows: Two hotels, one bakery, two saloons, one drug store, four physicians, one restaurant, one newspaper, one feed stable, one barber shop, one meat market, one livery stable, one millinery store, one furniture store, one lawyer, two carpenter shops, three blacksmith shops, one real estate and loan agency, one harness store, one land, loan and insurance agency, and three general merchandise stores, well stocked. There were "boom" times in February and March, 1889. Real estate owners and agents were jubilant. Although forty acres of ground had been platted the previous fall Wilbur first sprung into prominence early this year. June 7th the Register said:
The boom has struck Wilbur. A class of enterprising, rustling young men came here in the months of February and March joining the few others already located. A dozen buildings were all that could be counted on the townsite of forty acres. Invigorated by the breezes of spring, with all hands joined, those having the destiny of Wilbur in their keeping went conscientiously to work to carry out a glorious future for their foundling. When it was announced that the Central Washington surveyors were in the field our people were up and stirring. Nothing was left undone to secure the entrance of that road to Wilbur. When the officials of the company visited the town to definitely decide the matter they were met by a liberal spirit by the townsite proprietor, Condin, and the people of Wilbur. The result is before you.The following summer of 1889 was one of great activity. The ring of the hammer and the hum of the saw were heard throughout the length and breadth of the townsite. June 7th the Register editorially remarked:
In scarcely three months the half dozen structures have increased until the numerous and substantial buildings in Wilbur proclaim the dimensions of a large village. The Voluminous stocks of goods and the characters of her business men give satisfactory assurance to the stranger that Wilbur already is a business city.The result of this activity on the real estate market was marvellous. Cautious and experienced dealers swarmed into Wilbur and an excellent class of business men with capital came to the new town and expressed a determination to invest and settle. Town property was immediately in great demand and as this became daily more and more scarce, prices advanced until lots that a couple of months earlier could have been purchased for $150 could not be bought on June 1st for $1,000. Speaking of the rapid rise in town lots during the space of one week the Register said:
They started in at $450 per lot last Saturday, advanced to $650 Tuesday, and as we go to press (Friday) for a fifty-foot lot on Main street $800 is refused. Lots on Railroad avenue, Cole, Knox and Ann streets have experienced an advance of about 400 per cent, on their price two months ago.Although Wilbur's hotel accommodations at this time were by no means meagre, the rush to the new town was such that they proved insufficient. No pretentious buildings were erected by townsite speculators and "boomers" for the purpose of unloading property, to remain forever empty, useless monuments of false pretense, but day by day and week by week during the summer and fall of 1889, the growth and development of Wilbur went steadily on. In company with every town which comes into existence with the building of a railroad, Wilbur, for a few months, suffered from the "tough" element. The great army of "grafters" and disreputable people who are drawn to such towns like the magnet to the pole, were in Wilbur, and made their presence disagreeably felt. But subsequently there was a sitting out of these characters by the law abiding people, and they gradually passed away to more congenial fields.
October 1st the roadbed had been completed; the track was laid into Wilbur, an
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event of the utmost importance in the history of this town. And the arrival of the rail mad was the signal for renewed activity in building operations. "The railroad has reached Wilbur" was the talismanic word that brought new enterprises to the town. From far and near throughout the Big Bend country attention was attracted to "Wilbur on the plains." Although the arrival of the road had been thoroughly discounted by anticipation, the most sanguine little thought that it would cause the stir and bustle that it did. A bank was organized, a mill started, a stage line was established to the Okanogan mining country, a new hotel was built and new enterprises by the score were placed on foot. Only the scarcity of lumber retarded building operations, but despite this fact most gratifying progress was made.
In December, 1888, the towns of Wilbur and Almira were "unknown, unhonored and unsung." They came into existence within a few months subsequently, however, and they are entirely worthy of the great, "goaheaditive" west. Of course the construction of the Central Washington road was the raison d' etre of their being, and the initial point of their careers. Wilbur, especially, has grown with remarkable rapidity. But they are both flourishing towns of Lincoln county and both places contain many large business establishments, lively populations and most excellent prospects of continued prosperity. Wilbur's first board of trade was organized Saturday, January 25, 1890. On the list of members some forty names were enrolled. Great interest was manifested by the organization in the advancement of the town along industrial and commercial lines. The officers of the board were: D. Fitch, president; H. A. Johnson, vice president; G. N. Portman. treasurer; E. F. Benson, secretary: P. D. Oliphant. assistant secretary. It is alleged that, while many acknowledged the beneficent influence of the new board, half the work done by it was not credited to it. Still here are some of the actualities which it accomplished: It imparted a life-giving impetus to the Storage & Forwarding Company (Incorporated) which erected a commodious store house near the depot; it had printed and distributed thousands of papers and circulars that were the means of attracting considerable attention, capital and some immigration to the place; it was through their untiring efforts that the Columbia River Milling Company was induced to locate in Wilbur, and this in itself shows more to its credit than any accomplishment of any other similar organization in eastern Washington.
By the spring of 1890 Wilbur had grown to a town of no little importance in the Big Bend country. Since the advent of the railroad its growth had been considerable and in the amount of business done ranked well up with the other towns along the line. Let us go back to Monday, April 28th, and visit this town in company with that bright newspaper man, Frank M. Dallam. This is how Wilbur appeared to him at that time:
A great change has taken place in Wilbur during the past two years. Just two years ago, while on the way to the mines, we rode down the hill into 'Wild Goose Bill's' ranch, as it was then generally known. About three or four houses of very primitive design occupied the flat. It was an oasis to us then, for we were weary of pounding a saddle for two days and glad to see any kind of a shelter. We were not prepared to see the change that has been wrought within so short a time, the of the advent of a railroad. A person secures a fine view of the place coming in from the east, as looking directly down upon the town, the whole place can be taken in at a glance. Wilbur presents a very attractive appearance from the cars. It is concentrated, as it could not very well otherwise be, and from a distance looks compactly built. The newness of the buildings has not had time to wear off, and one understands at once that the town is the creation of a few months. Having half an hour's
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leisure, the result of traveling on an extra freight, we sauntered over the business portion of the town. A nearer inspection shows many gaps to fill in to make the streets solidly built up, but the people are hopeful and there is no good reason why a much larger growth is not possible. The town is laid out uniformly with good, wide streets. A spasmodic effort has been made to put down sidewalks, but some of the property owners faltered in the good work. Most of the business buildings are large and creditable structures, and show that the owners have every confidence in the place, or they would not put so much money in permanent improvements. The stores, of which every branch of trade is represented from the bank to the huckster shop, carry large stocks, and from what we could learn are doing a good business. Like other towns along the line Wilbur is feeling the influence of hard times and very little building is now in progress. However, we believe this is only temporary and before fall we expect the place will enjoy a considerably increased growth. A large amount of freight is shipped from here to the mines, which is a great advantage to the town.Wilbur had a serious time in securing incorporation. We have seen how the first act of incorporation was thrown out by action of the supreme court when the Territory joined the sisterhood of states. There were other disappointments in store for the ambitious town. A petition for the re-incorporation of Wilbur was presented to the board of county commissioners in the spring of 1890. It was signed by ninety-eight legalized voters. The petitioners claimed that there was at that time a population of 350. The following was spread upon the record of the commissioners:
In the matter of the petition for the incorporation of the town of Wilbur, the prayer of the petition was granted, and the boundaries of said proposed incorporation fixed on the following lines, to wit: Commencingat the northeast corner of the southwest quarter of section 8, township 26, north of range 33, E. W. M.; running thence west one-half mile to northwest corner of said southwest quarter, thence south one-quarter mile to the northeast corner of the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section 7, township and range aforesaid; thence west one-half mile to the northwest corner of southwest quarter of southeast quarter of said section 7; thence west 1/4 mile to the northwest corner of northeast quarter of southwest quarter of said section 7; thence south one mile to southwest corner of southeast quarter of northwest quarter of section 18, said town and range: thence east three-quarters of a mile to the southeast corner of northeast quarter, said section 18; thence north one-half mile to northeast corner said section 18; thence east one-half mile to southeast corner of southwest quarter of section 8; thence north one-half mile to place of beginning.A mass meeting of voters was held to nominate candidates for town officers to be voted for at the time of the incorporation election. It was decided to place two tickets in the field by the same convention. And these candidates were named: Mayor: Dr. J. P. Tamiesie, John Thomson. Treasurer: John Thomson, H. A. Johnson. Councilmen: H. A. Johnson, J. M. Parrish, P. Lyse, A. H. Maddock, M. E. Hay, J. H. Robertson, S. Britton, W. H. Cochrane. D. R. Cole and P. D. Oliphant. The election was held Saturday. May 24th. The result was a unanimous vote for incorporation. The vote, however, was light, many of the citizens being engaged on contract work away from home, principally at Coulee City. Interest was added to this election by the number of tickets in the field, as well as by the attempt of certain non-residents to cast ballots. The following vote was cast: For incorporation, 62; against incorporation, 0. For mayor, A. H. Maddock, 37; Dr. J. P. Tamiesie, 33. For treasurer, G. G. Stambaugh, 55. For councilmen: J. M. Parrish, 69; P. Lyse, 66; W. H. Cochrane, 60; H. A. Johnson, 58; S. Britton, 42.
The number of inhabitants in said described boundaries are found to be 350, and the board hereby orders and appoints the following election officers: John Thomson, inspector; R. D Reardan, Dell Hart, judges.
But still incorporation was not a fact. The
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following excerpt from the proceedings of the county commissioners explains the condition:
The board proceeded to canvass the election returns of the town of Wilbur for incorporation, and being well advised in the premises, ordered the same laid over for future consideration, assigning the following reason, to-wit: The board of county commissioners of Lincoln county, Washington, make this statement of their reasons for declining to issue an order incorporating the town of Wilbur, though the vote of the citizens of the proposed town was unanimously in favor of such incorporation. When the board met on the first Monday after the election, viz : May 26, 1890, it appeared that an error had been made in the election notices, in this; that the notices included in the boundaries of the proposed town territory that was outside of, and not included in the boundaries of said town as prayed for in the petition for incorporation; wherefore the board concluded that this error was fatal to a legal incorporation of the town of Wilbur, and for this reason alone declined to issue the order for its incorporation.This ukase of the board of county commissioners was met by energetic counter action. An appeal for relief was at once made to the superior court, with the result that the following mandate to correct the notices of election was issued:
State of Washington, in the Superior Court of Lincoln County, holding terms at Sprague: Wallace Mount, Judge:The same day the board made the correction and the town was duly incorporated as a town of the fourth class. The following were declared elected the first officers of the town: A. H. Maddock, mayor; G. G. Stambaugh, treasurer; Peter Lyse, W. H. Cochrane, S. Britton, and W. H. Gardner councilmen. Articles of incorporation were filed with the secretary of state at Olympia, August 11, 1890, thus giving the town of Wilbur the privilege of enjoying municipal government once more.
In the matter of the incorporation of the town of Wilbur. Order to correct an omission in the election returns. It appearing upon affidavit of A. H. Maddock in the matter of the incorporation of the town of Wilbur that an error had been made in the publication of the names and that the official ballots were not prepared, the board of county commissioners are hereby required to correct such error, or show cause why the same should not be corrected at my chambers on the 5th day of August, 1890, at ten o'clock in the morning. Dated this August 4th, 1890.
According to the United States census of 1890 Wilbur was accorded a population of 405, and it therefore ranked as third in size in the county of Lincoln. There were quite times in Wilbur during the year 1891. The season was not marked by the marvelous growth that had distinguished it the previous year. This does not mean that it retrograded, but the "boom" times were over and the town was solidifying to a firmer basis. Several proposed routes of the oncoming Great Northern railroad were lively topics of discussion during the greater portion of this year. Wilbur wanted this road, and for a period it seemed as if she would surely secure a competing line, and thus become an important junction. But the Crab Creek route was finally selected and Wilbur was compelled to content herself with the Central Washington spur of the Northern Pacific.
Wilbur's first disastrous fire occurred early Sunday morning, October 4, 1891. In addition to an extensive property loss three persons were destroyed in the flames and a fourth was fatally burned. The fire broke out in the building of Daniel Wagner, on the corner of Main and Knoz streets, at two o'clock in the morning, consuming that building, Lyse Brothers' butcher shop, and G. M. Wilson & Company's drug store. The fire originated from the explosion of a lamp that had been left burning owing to the sickness of one of the Wagner children. The flames spread rapidly and had gained considerable headway before the danger was discovered. Misses Caroline and Winnie Wagner, in whose room the fire started, and with whom the sick child was sleeping, were awakened by the smoke and flames. They immediately gave the alarm cries of "fire;"
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pistol shots brought out the town; the work of rescue and saving property began.
The family of Mr. Wagner, comprising eleven persons, together with an adopted son, Gustaf Hannss, and the cook, C. Walker, occupied the upper story of the building, and all had narrow escapes. Three of the children, Hannss and Walker, escaped by the rear stairs, and Mr. Wagner and four children found safety in jumping from the windows. Mrs. Wagner ran down stairs after a pail of water. Returning she entered the room where the fire originated, believing the children were still there. The building by this time was wrapped in flames; she was overcome by the heat and smoke and was burned to death. Little Annie, ten years old, started out by the Hallway, but got only as far as the outside door, where she perished. In the meantime Mr. Wagner heard the cries of Robert, six years old, in the same room from which he had escaped; he returned and rescued the boy by dropping him out of the window into the arms of J. H. Robertson, receiving a severe scorching about the head while so doing. The child had inhaled the deadly flame, however, and died the following day. There was still another child, Charlie, four years old in the room, but so intense was the heat that a rescue was impossible. Mr. Wagner then quitted the building, only to learn that his wife had perished, and the scene was touching and heart-rending.
Friends gladly cared for the homeless and motherless children. The horrible event cast a gloom over the surrounding country, for Mr. Wagner and his family were pioneers and among the most respected people in the county. Rapidly spread the flames and soon caught the Lyse Brothers' butcher shop, the building adjoining on the west, and thence on to the next building. G. M. Wilson & Company's drug store. Men and women worked hard to save the stock in this store, but the heat soon became unbearable and only a small amount was saved. The small warehouse between the drug store and J. M. Parrish & Company's building was torn down, which probably, saved that store. As it was it was only after hard work and the use of plenty of water, salt and wet blankets that the flames were kept from bursting out of the side exposed to the heat. It was the same with the Yount building across the street on the east, occupied by B. W. Felder, jeweler, and Dr. B. H. Yount, as an office. Wet blankets and water were freely used and this building was saved. J. H. Robertson's blacksmith shop was badly scorched, but was saved from destruction. The Big Bend saloon began to smoke during the hottest part of the fire, but willing hands came to its rescue. Had either of these buildings caught fire it is highly probable that the entire business part of the town would have been destroyed. There, doubtless, never was a fire under more favorable atmospheric conditions. There was not the faintest sign of a breeze other than that caused by the roaring flames; had there been no one could tell the extent of the damage which would have resulted. The heat arising from the burning buildings carried shingles and cinders high in the air, depositing them almost a mile south and west of town. There was no fire organization of any description; merely blankets and small garden hose attached to pumps. The losses in property were about as follows:
Daniel Wagner, building, $4,000. no insurance: Lyse Brothers' butcher shop, and fixtures, $1,200, insurance, $400; G. W. Wilson & Company's drug store, building and stock. $7,000. insurance, $2,100.
During the "hard times" of 1893 to 1896 Wilbur suffered with the rest of the country at that trying period. The harvesting of the bountiful crop of 1897 marked the end of this depression in Wilbur. During the fall of 1897 there were marketed at Wilbur 368,000 bushels of wheat. This grain placed in circulation something like a quarter of a million of dollars, cash. In the summer of 1890 a wagon
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was constructed between Wilbur and the flourishing mining camp of Republic, now in Ferry county. This road was built by the state, an appropriation of $8,000 having been made by the legislature for that purpose. The building of this public highway, it was thought would result in much good to the town. Republic, at that time, was as lively a mining camp as ever existed in the state of Washington. There was no railroad, and only a round-about wagon road to the camp. By the building of this road from Wilbur the trade of the two or three thousand people who rushed into the new "diggings," was to be thrown to the new Lincoln county town. But the road was in poor condition, and at different times the people of Wilbur raised by popular subscription $2,000 with which to repair it. And by the time the road was in fair condition, and the energetic business men were about to reap the reward of their activity, two railroads were built into Republic and the expected benefit to Wilbur did not materialize.
The disastrous fire of 1901 is thus described by the Wilbur Register of July 12th:
Wilbur's record of fires would fill a good sized book, and in one instance three lives were lost. But no fire of the past would compare in property loss with the one which visited our little city last Friday evening (July 5, 1901). Just about two minutes after the mill whistle blew for 6 o'clock p. m., the alarm of fire was shouted in the street. Men ran with buckets from all parts of town to the big store of M. E. & E. T. Hay, from which smoke was already issuing. In some unaccountable manner fire had started in the basement and two or three of the clerks who had rushed down stairs had just time to locate it in the dry goods department, which was partitioned off at the southwest corner of the building. Those who reached the basement were driven out by dense smoke before they could gain the seat of the conflagration, though Mrs. M. E. Hay and those connected with the store declare that they had been within that room not more than ten or fifteen minutes before the fire, and had not noticed even the slightest odor of smoke. There was a large tank full of water on a high tower at the rear of the store, and two or three lines of hose were quickly attached to the pipes leading therefrom. But by that time no living being could approach near enough the seat of fire to reach it effectively with the small hose. Indeed, only a few minutes had elapsed until every occupant had been driven to the street by the suffocating smoke and flames which so rapidly followed. The open stairway at the rear of the grocery department, near the middle of the building, acted as a chimney to the seething furnace in the basement, and it was only a few moments until the whole interior of the building was wrapped in flames. So rapid and fierce was the work of destruction that nothing was saved from all the big stock except a few vehicles from the implement department, although but a slight breeze was stirring from the southwest. It was soon apparent that with nothing at hand to fight fire but buckets the whole north side of Main street was in jeopardy, and with the wind gradually rising as the fire increased in heat and power the danger was imminent.
Everyone owning personal property in the threatened district began moving in a hurry. The streets were soon filled with a throng of scurrying humanity and all kinds of personal effects were tumbled out and moved by short stages beyond the zone of fire. It was only a short time after the flames broke out until the entire block on the north side of Main street, facing the big store, was. also, in flames, and a little later all else in the block was being consumed with the exception of Robertson's dwelling. Just as a number of other buildings opposite of the north and east of that block were beginning to burn the wind veered suddenly from the southwest to the northeast, and in ten minutes more fully one-fourth of the town was saved, after having been given up as lost. J. H. Robertson's dwelling and Dr. Starr's big hall could not have withstood the fire more than five minutes longer, and Lewis' saloon and the Register office could not have held out longer than ten minutes. All the glass in the front of the latter building was cracked in various directions by the heat. On the west side of the fire the bank and Parrish's store were protected by wet blankets over the big windows, and the buildings, being of brick no damage was done except the checking of one big glass in the bank building. The old Keller building which stands against the west wall of the Hay store, was saved only by vigorous work. The flames lapped around the front of the wall and fired the wooden structure, which was saved only by the tearing off of boards from the corner and all along the top. Following the change of wind came a new danger. The lumber yards of the Hays' was situated just across the alley south of the store, containing, possibly, a million feet of lumber, and the tank tower and lumber at the northeast corner were already on fire, just where the reversed wind could exert the greatest force in fanning the flames. About that time the authorities decided that the Chism building at the opposite end of the alley constituted a menace to the yard and the southern portion of town, and it was thrown to the ground with a charge of ten pounds of giant powder. The next thing was to save the lumber, for if that could not be done
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a large portion of the town to the south and west was surely doomed. Finally the big tank in the tower and fell to the ground, but fire was still raging in the tower and piles of cedar posts and stacks of lumber. Already a bucket line had been formed which was passing water from the creek near by, and hose attached to a pump on a stationary engine was utilized by the efforts of a half dozen to a dozen men working the pump. Soon the braces of the tower had burned asunder and the timbers came crashing down among the men and across the piles of lumber. A man named John McHale was struck by the falling timbers and severely, though not fatally, hurt.The energetic character of the citizens of Wilbur was prominently displayed following the disastrous blaze. New buildings at once took the place of those destroyed. In the spring of 1903 a system of water works was established in Wilbur at a cost of $12,000. In October of the same year an elaborate lighting system was installed by the Wilbur Electrical Company. The churches of Wilbur are represented by the Presbyterians, Baptists, M. E., and M. E. South, Catholics, Evangelical Lutheran and German Lutheran. Of fraternal societies there are many, including Tuscan Lodge No. 81, A. F. & A. M., Tuscan Chapter No. 64, O. E. S., Wilbur Lodge No. in, K. P., Wilbur Lodge, No. 74. A. 0. U. W., R. L. McCook Post No. 39, G. A. R., Wilbur Camp No. 415, W. O. W.. Columbia Tent No. 65, K. O. T. M., Big Bend Lodge No. 161, I. O. O. F., Danish Brotherhood, Charity Lodge I. O. G. T., M. W. A., Loyal Americans, El Modello Rebekah No. 136, 1. O. O. F., and Buttercup Circle Women of Woodcraft.
By this time the fire in the lumber became so serious that two or three dozen ladies who were anxious spectators, volunteered their services for the bucket brigade and the line was extended right into the fire and smoke, the ladies passing the empty buckets back, while the men passed them forward filled with water. Many a tired man echoed the sentiment "God bless the ladies," and, indeed, they furnished the balance of power necessary to control that tire. Merchants and men of all occupations came from Creston, Almira and the adjoining country and worked manfully until all danger was past. About ten o'clock another stream was turned on from a hose attached to a pipe line that had been laid from the mill, and from that time on it was only a matter of extinguishing the fire that was confined to the bottom of two or three big lumber piles. About midnight the bucket line was disbanded and the ladies went home, but the fire was not entirely subdued until four o'clock Saturday morning. Several persons were slightly injured and H. G. Coonse, of Hesseltine, received quite a shaking up by falling from Dr. Starr's building, although he was' able to go home on Saturday morning.
It was not dreamed that a single life had been lost until about one o'clock p. m., Saturday, when a casual sightseer passed among the ruins, and noticed a human skull in the vault of a closet which had stood in the rear of Carpenter's saloon. That discovery created wild excitement for a time, and an examination made it evident that someone had perished there, though there was but a small mass of bones and charred flesh remaining. Inquiry soon developed the fact that a man named Jack Madigan, known among his associates as "Coyote Jack.'' had been about the saloon in the afternoon of Friday, but had not been seen nor heard of since. He was at Almira on the Fourth of July, where he was drinking pretty freely, and his acquaintances say that he was always sleeping after a spree, going to sleep anywhere and at any time. He came over with some Wilbur boys, arriving just before noon on Friday, but had quit drinking though not yet quite himself.
The total loss reaches somewhere in the neighborhood of $155,000, of which amount M. E. & E. T. Hay estimate their loss at $135,000. J H. Robertson, blacksmith shop and a detached building containing a large amount of hard wood, $3,500; A. B. Walker, barber shop and fixtures, $1,200; C. M. Carpenter, Hotel Wilbur and furniture and Vestibule saloon, $7,000: Finnegan & Peterson, Hermitage saloon, stock, $4,500; M. Cooney, Spokane building, occupied by Hermitage saloon, $2,000; A. F. Cole, livery barn, $1,000; E. Pederson, household goods and supplies in Hotel Wilbur, $600. To offset all this loss the Hays' carried $7,000 on building and stock, besides a separate policy to cover all damage to lumber; J. H. Robertson, no insurance; A. B. Walker, $600; C. M. Carpenter, $4,500; Hermitage, $1,500; Cooney, $600; Cole, no insurance; Pederson, $300.
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C. S. supplement
The following appeared in the Spokane Falls Review, January 1, 1891. It has also been posted in the blog, Big Bend Railroad History on December 28, 2011.
Town of WilburA place in the Infancy of Its Development.
One of the newest, though not smallest, towns of the Big Bend is Wilbur, on the line of the Washington Central railroad and eighty miles west of Spokane Falls. Agriculture and stock raising are the principal resources of the adjacent country, whose development is only begun. The town was nothing but a postoffice two years ago and now contains a population of 450. It has a grist mill of 100 barrels daily capacity, erected last summer; a substantial schoolhouse, large enough to accommodate 150 pupils. There are two general merchandise stores, a hotel, three groceries, three saloons and several stores carrying stocks of groceries, notions, etc. The annual volume of business is about $250,000. Wilbur has a good future, as its location is central, and thousands of acres of land yet remain to be cultivated. This year's shipment of wheat will reach 300,000 bushels.
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