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Highlights of History from The Whitehorse Star

Dateline: January 1, 2026.

The Daily World (Vancouver, B.C.) - Tuesday, May 23, 1905

    "Fire cleaned out town, from post office to telegraph office. Saved our books and papers. Shop a total loss."

    That telegram to P. Burns & Co., of this city, from their representative in Whitehorse, tells laconically the baptism of fire which the Yukon town at the head of navigation has undergone. With the meagre information at command it is hard to say how much the actual financial loss is, but it is enough to show the dire extent of the disaster to say that the business section of the town has been wiped out, which means, in other words, the two main blocks in Whitehorse.

    Telegrams sent to Whitehorse for further details have not been answered at the mmoment of writing, but from a citizen well posted in regard to the northern town The World learns that the chief business houses in the area mentioned as burned over include, besides P. Burns & Co., Whitney & Pedlar's big clothing store, one of the finest in the north; the Windsor, Whitehorse aud Commercial hotels, two hardware stores, including that of Mr. McLennan, formerly of this city, and brother of R. P. McLennan here; the business houses of Captains Sayward and Martin, three drug stores, three clothing stores, and five restaurants.

    The loss of P. Burns & Co. is put down at not less than $25,000, with insurance of $10,000.

    The conflagration coming at a time when navigation is just opening on the Yukon river is in the shape of a double calamity. The brief business season in which the commercial houses of White Horse must perforce recoup themselves for the year's expenses is beginning. That it will be over before they can take advantage of it is self-evident. It may be possible to improvise a business centre, but it is almost out of the question that the goods which filled the shelves can he replaced. Orders that are on the way will arrive but the bulk of the stocks for the summer trade had already been received and it will be weeks and months before new ones can be obtained. Doubtless the citizens of White Horse will make the best of the situation, but when all that they can do is done a heavy net loss will still have to be faced.

    The leading business houses, many of which must necessarily lose the season, are Whitney & Pedlar, men's clothing; Taylor & Drury, their business rivals; Stoddart, the jeweler; the Arctic Trading Company, general dealers; the Whitehorse Hardware Co., and Bigger's grocery.

    Almost prophetic are the words with which Taylor & Drury began their advertisement in the last issue of the Whitehorse Evening Star. In the largest type to be found in the paper they make the announcement two columns wide, "It's too bad to be told."

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The Vancouver Daily Province (Vancouver, B.C.) - Tuesday, May 23, 1905

    White Horse, Y. T., May 23. - (Special.) - A fire wiped out practically the entire business section of this town this morning.

    The conflagration started very early this morning and it was six hours before it was under control. All the hotels and larger business places were devastated. The actual loss will amount to between $250,000 and $300,000,

    The fire started in a small store on First avenue, between Elliott and Main streets, and cleaned up everything from the Postoffice building to a corner two blocks below, where the Government telegraph office stands.

    The large warehouses, owned by the White Pass and Yukon Co., on the eastern side of First avenue next to the river, were saved. They caught several times from the intense heat, but the damage in that quarter was small. The depot was burned, but its contents were saved.

    So far as is known no lives were lost. Several people had narrow escapes, but none of the buildings were very high. The estimated list of losses was made up early to-day and may be subject to some change when the losses on stocks are more fully known.

    With a floating population of many hundreds, without a hotel, a restaurant, a grocery or butcher shop from\ which to draw supplies, the bustling city of White Horse occupies to-day a position with which old-timers in Vancouver can heartily sympathize. However much Vancouver may sympathize, unfortunately, it is impossible to send immediate relief. It is probable that tents and food supplies will be speedily received from Skagway.

    The following telegram was received in Vancouver this morning at 11 o'clock from the manager at White Horse, of Messrs. P, Burns & Co.:

    P. Burns & Co., Vancouver, B. C.:
    "Fire cleared the town from post office to telegraph office. Our shop is total loss, saved books and papers."

    The Canadian Bank of Commerce, which has a branch there, and the White Pass and Yukon route office Were | later in receipt of messages similar in effect to the above.

Rooming-houses Burned.

    Besides these larger buildings practically every restaurant and public rooming-house in the place has been destroyed. Even were they left the source of supply is gone unless the White Pass & Yukon sheds be tapped.

    There are hundreds upon hundreds of people in White Horse waiting for the opening of navigation to proceed to Dawson. All are left without a home except such hurry-up accommodation as can be afforded in private residences. Skagway has been wired to from White Horse for temporary relief, but in the meantime the situation is a painful one.

    Guests in the hotels are baggageless, and only have such clothes as they escaped in from the burning bullding.

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