Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 May 1896 — HEAVY LOSS BY FIRE [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

HEAVY LOSS BY FIRE

CRIPPLE CREEK, COLORADO, IN RUINS. im ? Several Squares Swept by <hfe Flames —Plague Spots Wiped Out— Damage Over sl,boo,oOO < with but Light Insurance—3,ooo People Homeless. * Eight Blocks Butin. One million dollars is a conservative estimate, of the damage done by fire at Cripple Creek, Colo. The amount of insurance, as nearly as tan be arrived at, will not exceed $200,000. When the fire broke out in a second-hand store the danger of a big conflagration was not perceived, and it was thought that the firemen, who Were early onifie scene, would have the flames under control in a very few minutes. But in a short time the fire had spread to the adjoining buildings and a brisk wind sprung up. Theq it was conceded by all that at least half a dozen buildings on the corner of Meyers and Third streets would go, and the occupants “Megan tomove. out. but maiij had waited too long and were unable to save their goods. Some barely escaped with their lives. Several women were dangerously burned. Every minute added fury to the flames, and when the. fire had spread several doors on either side the danger to the city was observed, but no one could realize how great the damage would be. The heat became so intense that buildings on the north side of Meyers street took fire. Then it was that occupants of stores and offices began to make preparations to save their possessions. Every wagon in town was pressed into service. Not a tenth part of the goods were saved. By the time the postoffiee had caught it became evident that the only way to stop the progress of the fire was to blow up the buildings with dynamite. This was done nnder the supervision of the firemen, and a number of buildings had to be sacrificed before the fire had reached them. The fire started about 1 o’clock, and by 4 it had demolished the blocks in Meyers between Third and Fifth streets, and in

Bennet,t between Tnird anu Fifth streets, •topping just tnis side of the New Midland depot. Nearly fill the buildings between Third and Firth streets in Eaton were destroyed.’ Many people lost everything they had. Twenty Thousand Letters Destroyed. The property in Meyers street was occupied in the most part by saloons. The two variety theaters, Topic and Hollang's, were there, and innumerable dance halls. Grace Clifton was badly burned about the face and hands. J. Anderson, while placing a charge of dynamite under the Sisters’ hospital to blow it up, had a leg torn off by a premature explosion. The postoffice in Bennett Avenue is a total wreck, only the vault standing. Twenty thousand letters and thousands of packages” were destroyed. The First National Bank vault is standing. All the books and papers were .saved, and the bank opened for business while its building was burning In a room adjoining the Bimetallic Bank. The Episcopal and Congregational churches were destroyed. The city jail, In which were confined about twenty prisoners, has only the iron cages left. The prisoners were released. The Sisters’ hospital was blown up after the patients had been removed tblhe Pike’s Peak hospital. Mayor Steele ordered all saloons closed, which prevented lawlessness. A report was started that thieves. were busy and a hundred deputies were at once sworn in and the militia was called out, but no depredations were committed. Thousands of people were made homeless, but they were all given shelter by the generous people of the town. The burned section is to be built up at once with brick and stone. Work of Rebuilding Beeun. Already the worn of rebuilding the burned district has begun. At a meeting of the City Council a resolution was passed allowing the erection of temporary buildings within the fire limits with the provision that all must be removed within sixty days to give place to buildings of stone and brick. Before nightfall fully twenty-five buildings were under way and quite a number are occupied. With 3,000 people rendered homeless in a day, of course lodging houses are in greatest demand, and many of these are rupidly progressing. At an early hour telegrams began coming to the Mayor from cities and towns of the State offering financial aid. These were turned over to the committee, who replied with thanks, but declining the kindly offers. Cripple Creek will take care of her own. Mayor Steele prepared a proclamation to the general public, saying that outside assistance Is not needed.

SCENE OF THE CRIPPLE CREEK FIRE.