Omaha daily bee., 1874-05-27
CENTRAL CITY In FLAMES.
Full Account of the Destruction
of Central City.
Total Loss Estimated at $3.50,
900.
Interesting Incidents of the
Disaster.

The startling intelligence of the
most destructive confiagration that
has ever transpired in Colorado,
reaches us through the Denver
World, of May %:
The following extracts tell the sad
narrative Of the fearful disaster that
laid the principal business por-
ton of Central City i'm ashes last
Thursday within the brief period of
two hours.
1t is now the generally accepted
belief in Central, that the fire origi-
mated in the Chinese quarter, in a
two-story frame tenement OH Spring
street, near its junction with Gregg
ry, and opposite what is commonly
known a. the big barn. The upper
story of the house was occupied as a
"washee" establishment, There had
been a death in the house, and a
celestial funeral was in progress;
conducted according to the rites of
the Chinese religion, which included
something i'm the cremation line, for
which an iron or tin vessel filled with
live Goals of fire i'm some of its forms
was used. And it is the commonly
accredited supposition that this was
i'm some way upset, and the COM
bustible pitch pine of which the
floor of the building was made, igni-
ted. The building being an old one
burned almost as rapidly as finder,
sOon communicating the flames to
the adjoining house, which was
built oflike material, and III a brief
space OF time Spring street was one
lurid flame of fire.
Reaching Bridge street, the flames
quickly enveloped the half dozen or
more frame buildings thereon, and
then leaped across the gulch and
seized upon Lakes frame store, on
Main street, and spread rapidly to
the row of frame mercantile houses
adjoining. Next, the flames reach
ed across Main street to Wisebart &
Teller's block.
Then the main cloumn of fire
divided, one portion going towards
Lawrence street, and the other up
Nevada, consuming the row of
frame buildings on the same. Those
who were striving to save their
property on these two streets were
obliged to abandon the attempt on
account of the intensity of the heat,
and seek refuge on the mountain
sides. And the destroying column
of fire swept ~restlessly up Main
street, destroying i'm its course all the
largest and best filled stores i'm the
CITY, dry goods houses, furniture
establishm nts, jewelry stores,
banks, etc.
Reaching Lawrence street, the
flames attacked Concert Hall, the
express Office, and the Theatre
building, which were entirely con-
sumed.
The fire broke out at about eleven
o'clock, and its progress was stop
ped at two. Thus In the short space
Of two hours was the entire bust
ness portion of the second city of
the territory destroyed by fire |; only
three buildings being left, Roworth
& Co.'s on Main street, and Rev.
nolds' and Freas', on Lawrence. A
space i'm the shape of an equilateral
triangle, sides about six hundred
feet long, in which the buildings
were crowded together about as
thick as was possible, was burned
Altogether a hundred and
Ely buildings were consumed. Fiji
teen were brick and the rest frame.
Many were handsome and costly
structures. About four hundred per-
were left homeless.
The total loss is estimated at no
less than three quarters of a million.
The heaviest loss was on stocks
of goods. So rapidly did the flames
spread that in most instances moth
ing could be saved. The cellars and
underground vaults from which
merchants had expected so much
availel but little. All the mail mat
ter in the postoffice was lost except
the registered letters, which were
saved in Wells, Fargo & Co.'s safe.
Thursday night was one not soon
to be forgotten In Central. The tall
standing brick walls of DESTROYED
buildings, and the lurid glare of the
sm%ouldering ruins, were well fitted
to inspire terror. Despite the orders
Of the Mayor, there was some
drunkenness on the streets. and as
usual the night providers went out
after booty. Intense feeling was
against the Chinese.
and about twelve o'clock a mad.
.ened band started for Black Hawk
to drive the offending Celestials
from the country, but were in some
way induced to desist. With dif-
Guilty was shelter found for the
homeless ones. The Teller House
md National Hotel were literally
packed with them, and some 900
persons were obliged to pass the
night In the old Montana Stamp
Mill, and yesterday they were
engaged In hunting temper
ny quarters.