History of Boise, Idaho, USA

Boisé City, the capital of Idaho and of Ada co, is on the Boisé River, in a rich mining district at a terminus of a branch of the Union Pacific Railway System. It is about 300 miles S.W. of Helena, Montana. Lat. 43° 38' N.; Lon. 116°20'W. The city contains 8 churches, a prison, a United States assay office, 2 national banks, graded public and 2 private schools, and printing-offices from which are issued 2 daily and 3 weekly newspapers. This is said to be the only city in the world supplied with pure hot water from a flowing hot well. Pop, about 4500.

Another of the best business blocks of the city was threatened with destruction from a basement fire. It was the Odd Fellow block. A fire was started in some unknown manner in the basement under the Galbraith drug store. The basement was stored with chemicals and had the blaze gained enough headway to have set them off it would have been extremely difficult to save the building. The damage is estimated of [illegible] fully insured.

The fire was discovered by Henry Hart a clerk in the drug store, who was just going down into the basement. He ran back and gave the alarm and the chemical engine was sent for.

The fire was about 25 or 30 feet from the front of the basement, and the supply of chemicals was used up without putting it out. The basement was filled with smoke so dense that it was impossible for any of the firemen to remain below longer than a few seconds at a time.

When the chemical had exhausted its supply an alarm was sent to the Central station and the steamer...

Boise, Idaho, Dec. 6 - A bold holdup was attempted this evening at the meat market and grocery store of Hyatt & Vickery, in the center of the business portion of town. Two masked men, each carrying two loaded guns, etnered the meat market about 9 o'clock, and while one held up George Ley, the other stepped in to the grocery and covered John Hyatt. The robbers seemed unaware of the presence of Thomas D Vickery, who was in the office of the grocery and were proceeding to gather in the money, when Vickery seized a pistol and opened fire. At the first shot one of the robbers fell. He quickly regained his feet, and, with his compainion, ran through the meat market, both men firing without effect at Ley as they left the building. No arrests.

Boise, Idaho, Dec. 4. - The Central school building, temporarily occupied by the Idaho State School for the Deaf, Dumb and Blind, was partially destroyed by fire early this morning. Forty children, inmates of the institution, were being marched to breakfast when the alarm was given and they were taken out of the building in perfect order. The loss is $10,000.

Boise, the capital of Idaho and of Ada co., is on the Boise River, in a rich mining district, and on the Oregon Short Line R. Lat. 43° 36' N. ; Lon. 116° 12' W. The city, which is a military post, contains a prison, United States assay-office, United States land-office, and soldiers' home, and has various mills, a foundry, machine-shops, manufactures of wood and lumber, etc., and is a shipping point for wool, hides, and fruit. Pop. in 1900, 5957.