The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-06-02
A FIRE AT CENTRAL CITY.

n tlRE AL CENTRAL CITY.
HOW 1T STARTED. TRAVELLED, AND WHAT 1T
DID-oNE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE
BUILDINGS DEsTRoYED-THE RISKS OF IN.
SURANCE COMPANIES.
The Central City, Colorado, Register of
May 22d, gives the following account of a
very destructive fire in that city: The fire
originated about 1890 A. NJ, or perhaps few
minutes later, in Chinese wash house or
laundry, on Spring street. The air at the
time was perfectly still, scarcely ripple 10
disturb its serenity. For this reason it was
nearly twenty minutes before the
fire broke through and communicated
with adjoining sheds and out-houses.
From the best information obtainable.
it appears tolerably certain that the
Asiatics were engaged with their women in
some kind of heather worship, or celebration
of rites only known to themselves in which
an iron or tin vessel, filled with burning
Goals or combustibles, figured prominently.
This being accidentally overturned, or some
of its matter otherwise thrown upon the
floor, set the room into blaze. Both the
local fire companies set themselves to work
theoretically toisolate the dwelling fron the
sheds and finder boxes around it, so as to
PREVENTS spread to the more thickly settled
parts OF the city on Main, Lawrence and upper
Spring street. They succeeded in leveling
most of them, but as soon as the flames broke
through the Chinese quarter, they leaped
with frightful impetuosity from roof to roof
until it seemed as though the main portion
of the town was but one vast ocean of fire.
1t rushed up Spring to Bridge street, cross
ing the gulch meanwhile, and attacking the
rears of the row of frame mercantile houses
fronting on Main, swept them out of exist
ence in few moments, divided its strength
L, 4
Lawrence, the other toward Nevada streets.
SWALLOWING UP EVERYTHING
within reach on Bridge, Spring, Nevada and
Main streets, driving the defenders of their
property far up OH the hillsides for protec-
ton from death. Fortunately, many mer-
chants, seeing the danger at the start, car
ried away their wares to places of safety
Attacking the o. X. sore, the chariot of
flames tore madly down the street, consum-
ing with the velocity of whirlwind, all
that had been left to consume,
leaped wildly up the bluff to Pine.
and soon had everything on that street
in ashes but the granite church of the
Catholics. Reaching Lawrence. the main
column of destruction jumped across to
Concert Hall, the express office and theatre,
roaring, shrieking, and crushing its way
through these, then leaving the massive
SDe6I 10 dSSdli lno ftcglst0T the
principal torrent passed down Lawrence,
taking in both sides, scattering devastation
to everything but Fress' and Ray
nolds' fire-proofs within its path,
until checked at the burnt district of
1873, where there was nothing for it to
feed upon. About a hundred and twenty
five buildings were destroyed, the most of
which were business establishments. With
but few exceptions, the burned edifices
were frame, ana many of them very much
dilapidated. The burnt district, which is
nearly all within the fire limits, and cover
ing about eight acres, will be rebuilt, and
in more substantial manner. A
movement has been inaugurated to
have certain property condemned, so
that the streets may be laid out with
more uniformity and of grt alter width.
Nearly all of the better classes of structures
of Central remain Standing. and are but
little damaged. The greatest loss is upon
the merchandise and other portable prop
erty destroyed. The fire is regarded by
many as a blessing in disguise, and that
ultimately the city will be better off from
its occurrence. The total loss may be set
down at
HALF MILLION DOLLARS.
The aggregate of the insurance will hardly
cover a third of the loss. Among prominent
insurance agents in Denver, their risks may
think out of 900 in risks, about $1,000
will have to be paid by the following COM
panies: Hoffman, of New York, st. Paul,
of st. Paul, Girard, OF Philadelphia,
American Central, of st. Louis, London
Assurance, Home, of Columbus, o., and
Pennsylvania, of Philadelphia. Messrs.
Wanless q Patterson have total risks in
Central amounting to 900. They expect
their their looses to foot up nearly $4,000
This will be borne by the Home of New
York: Imperial, of London; Manhattan, of
New York ;and Fireman's Fund of San Fran
cisco. Crater IL Cobb calculate their
loss will reach $4,000, which will
be distributed among the German
America, of New York; st. Joseph Fire
and Marine, of st. Joe; Insurance Company
of North America. of Philadelphia; Con-
tinental. of New York; Phoenix, of Brook
lyn; and Underwriters Agency, of New
York. Some other agents have compare
lively small risks. Measures have been
adopted for the immediate adjustment OF
all claims for indemnity.