The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-10-09
The Destruction of Deadwood.
IChicago Times Special


DEADwooD, Dakota, Sept. 26.-AH
that now remains of the once prosperous city
of Deadwood, the metropolis Of the Black
Hills, is huge mass of ruins. Scores Of
fine brick buildings, just erected, and which
were of most handsome and costly designs,
are now a smoldering pile of ashes. Two
thousand people are walking the streets to-
night homeless, and many of them utterly
destitute. Some of them are people who
few days ago were considered in good circum
stances, but whose all consisted of town
property, which has now turned into smoke
and ashes.
THE FIRE ORIGINATED
in small frame shanty, known as the En-
pire Bakery, on Sherman Street, anu which
was situated in the middle Of a block of the
worst fire traps in the city, constructed Of
highly infiammabe material, which, when
once ignited, burns like so much chaff. The
same place has on several occasions been the
cause of great alarm among property holders,
from the fact of fire breaking out in a back
room three different times in the past year.
This time the fire was caused by drunken
baker upsetting a cOal-Oil lamp. When the
building was once in 4 blaze all efforts to eX-
tinguish it were of no avail. The flames
pierced every crack in the old hOvel, igniting
bull lings on each side, and following one to
another. When the flames reached the hard
ware store of JenZen Il Bliss, three doors
from the scene Of its origin,
EIGHT KEGS OF BLASTING-POwDER
exploded with terrific force, seeming to tear
The heavens asunder and shake the noun
tains from their strong fOOtings. The blast
threw sparks for a great distance on every
side, igniting every building within their
reach. At this time it seemed as though the
Ial, ,,,1 h -ifI NR-a= Shnnf n
fire. The fire departments were promptly
on the spot at the first sound of the alarm,
but the flames soon swallowed up the entire
hook and ladder apparatus, hose and hose
carriage. This left every thing at the mercy
of the flames, which were being famed by
good stiff breeze. An attempt was made to
get water from the Boulder Ditch, which
runs almost directly over that portion of the
town where the fire was tiercest, but the
water had either been shut off or whould not
flow a sufficiently strong current to throw the
water to the burning buildings. Otherwise
much property would have been saved.
Dozens of families who were living in upper
stories Of business blocks
BARELY ESCAPED WITH THEIR LIVES,
in their night-clothes. The flames spread
with lightning rapidity, and every thing was
abandoned to be swallowed up by the greedy
element.
Lower Sherman Street was inhabited prin
cipalIy by the demi-monde, whose houses
were furnished elegantly, but not thing
was saved except what the creatures OF sin
wore on their backs when they emerged
from their burning palaces. In one of these
houses was the dead body Of young Chica-
90 girl, who had died the day previous, for
whose funeral extensive arrangements were
being made, and which was rescued with
great difficulty by heroic undertaken, and
al 20 +ba o1rtSl-irtS of tho pifv
The fire, after passing down Sherman
Street, crossed through Lee to Main, down
Main to Gold and Wall, and back on the
hillside, three squares, taking every thing
in its track. In the other direction it ex
tended up Sherman Street distance Of two
blocks, where it was checked by the blowing
up Of few small frame buildings, thus saw
ing the fashionable residences in Inglese and
Cleveland. The fire passed over
AN AREA OF TWENTY-FIVE ACRES,
sweeping down a total of about one hun
dred and fifty business houses and seventy
five residences, and entailing loss of nearly
$3,0O0,000. This estimate is formed by men
who are well posted as to the value Of prop
erty and goods destroyed. Upon all this
there was probably not over 100000 insur-
ance. The granaries were filed with thou
sands Of bushels of this years grain crop,
and many merchants had received most OF
their fall and winter stocks, which were very
heavy this year, all Of which was destroyed.
All the newspaper offices, hotels, telegraph
office, Masonic, Odd Fellows, and Knights OF
Pythias halls were destroyed. The Ddtly
Pioneer is a total loss. The Daily Tunes
saved a small portion Of its bGdy-type and
forms, but lost all else. The Government
Signal office and United States military tele-
graph station in this city lose nearly all Of
the meteorological instruments, but save the
records.
Immediately on the breaking out Of the
fire, the telegraph office was placed in the
grocery Of L. d. Kelly, outside of the limit
of the fire, and two operators have been kept
busy night and day with the immense rush
Of commercial and press messages during the
terrible cOntlagratiOn.
A MEETING OF PROMINENT CITIZENS
was held this afternoon, Hon. Judge Moody
Judge of the First Judicial District, preSi-
ding. A Committee of Safety, consisting OF
seven members, was appointed to assist
Sheriff Manning in preserving peace. 1t was
also decided TO ask Gen. SturgiS, command
ing the military post at Fort Meade, for mill
itary to act As guards, this action being con-
Sidered necessary in view of extensive thiey-
ing operations and lot-iumping carried on
since the fire broke out. Gen. Sturgis
promptly complied with their request, and
dispatched Company C., 9TH United States
Cavalry, Capt. Jackson commanding, to this
city, where they are now patroliing the
streets in squads. An order was is
sued by the Sheriff this afternoon, closing all
saloons and gambling hellS, and the city pre-
sentS an unusually quiet appearance. Judge
Moody made a speech eulogistic Of the citi-
zens for sObriety and good conduct, and in
timating that evil-doers at this calamitOus
time should be severely dealt with. y prop
OsitiOn was made TO organize Il vigilance
committee one hundred strong, but II was
emphatically voted down. Gen. Sturgis
generously offered to provide ratiOns and
transportation to Fort Meade for the desti-
tutc, and sent ten wagons and two ambu-
lances to this city for this purpose, but as yet
none have availed themselves Of this Offer-a
fact that is, however, no evidence of lack of
restitution, but proof of material sympathy
of the fortunate few who escaped the fire and
are profuse in their hospitality and generOs-
ity. There are between two and three thou
sand people who are tonight.
WITHOUT HOME OF THEIR OWN,
and many of them not knowing where they
are to procure their next meal, and yet all
feel that abundance will voluntarily be Of
fered. Surviving merchants refuse to take
advantage of the opportunity TO advance
prices, but instead are selling at former
prices and feeding hundreds who have not
the money TO procure the actual neceSsaries.
Although the amount of merchandise, ETC.,
destroyed was enormous, nothing like a
famine is possible, as dealers in adjacent
mining camps are well supplied until heavy
shipments now in transit shall arrive. The
bank vaults, although not opened, are I'M
doubtedly intact. Stebbins, Post & Mund
had Just moved into their new and elegant
building, which is now mass Of ruins.
The vault and safe, however, are apparently
in first-class condition. The vault in the
Register of Deeds and County Clerks office
gave way and all mining and other
RECORDS WERE DESTROYED,
causing loss to the County, and will probably
lead to endless litigation over titles to min
ing and town property, which are placed IN
ieopardv bv the loss OF the records.