Clark County History: Courthouse burns By Martin Middlewood for The Columbian
Published: January 31, 2021, 6:00am
Share:
2 Photos An 1890 fire burned the Clark County Courthouse in Vancouver. (Contributed by Clark County Historical Museum) Photo Gallery
The only man publicly hanged in Vancouver almost burned up in an 1890 courthouse fire. On a windy February night, as five prisoners and 10 other men slept in the jail, the county clerk’s office caught fire. The flames quickly engulfed the courthouse and jail at 11th and Franklin streets. Sheriff Fleming’s son, the jailer, freed the shrieking prisoners trapped behind steel bars. The last one he rescued was almost roasted, and the only captive charged with murder.