The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1879-10-10

IChicago Tllnes special.l

DEAbWooD, Dikoth, StI'ls -os-hi
that now remains OF the once prosperous city
Of Deadwood, the metropolis Of the Black
Hills, il a huge mass Of ruins. Scores 81
fine brick buildings, just erected, and which
were Of most handsome and costly designs,
are now smoldcring pile OF ashes. Two
thousand people are walking the streets to-
night homeless, and many 81 them utterly
destitute. some Of them are people who a
few days ago were considered IN good clrctni-
stances. but whose all consisted OF town
property, which has now turned into smoke
and ashes.
THE FIRE ORIGINATED
IN a small frame shanty. known as the En-
pre Bakery. on sherman street, anu which
was situated Ia the middle ~ block " the
worst fire-traps IN the city, constructed ~
highly infammablc ,rafcrlal, which, when
once ignitcd. burns IKE 20 much chan. The
same place has on scystsl occasions been the
cause of great alarm am ~ property holders.
from the fact OF fire breaking out In back
room three different times IN the past year.
Thk time the fire was caused by drunken
baker upsctting coal-oil lamp. When the
building was once In blaze all efforts 10 ex-
tinguish Il were II no avail. The flames
pierced every crack In the old ho,cl. igniine
buildings ON each side. and following one 20
another. When the flames reached the hard
ware store ~ Jenzcn 4 Blfss, three doors
from the scene 81 III origin,
EIGHT KEGS or BLAsTfSG-PowDER
exploded with terrific force. seeming to tear
the heavens asiindsr and shake the noun
tains from their strong ioutlng-. The blast
threw slssrlKs for a great distance ON every
side igniing every building within their
reach. Al this time II seemed ~ though the
gilch and hill was one solid sheet Of
fire. The fire departments were promptly
on the spot NJ 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 al the mercy
OF the flames, which were being famed by a
good stin breeze. An attempt was made 10
get water from the Boulder Ditch. which
runs almost directly over that portion II the
town where the fire was ferce>t. but the
water had either been shut OF or whouid not
flow sufficiently strong current 70 throw the
water ~ the burning buildings Otherwise
much property would have been saved.
Dozens 81 families who We're living In upper
stories 81 business blocks
BARELY ESCAPED WITH THEIR LIVES,
In their night-closhes. The flames spread
with lightning rapidiiy, and every thing was
abandoned 10 be swallowed up by the greedy
element.
Lower sherman street was inhabited prin-
cipally by the demi-mondc. whose houses
were furnished elegantly. but not thing
was saved except what the creatures Of sin
from their burning palaces. In one Of those
houses was the dead body Of young Chica-
70 girl, who had died the day previous, for
whose funeral extensive arrangements were
being made. and which was rescued with
great difficulty by a heroic undertaken, and
taken 10 the outskirts Of the city.
The firc. after passing down Sherman
Street, crossed through Lee 20 Main, down
Main 70 Geld and Wall, and back on the
hillside, three squares, taking every thing
~. 10 al Int I.u ne Aw II nv
tended up sherman Street = distance OF two
blocks, where II 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 or TWENTY-FIVE AcREs,
sweeping down Z total Of about one hun
dred and fifty business houses and seventy
five residences, and entailng loss OF nearly
S3,000,000 This estimate l. 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 filled 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 halL we've destroyed The Ddiiy
Pioneer is total loss. The Daily Times
saved small portion Of it, body-typc and
forms, but lost all else. The Government
Signal ofcc aud United States military tclc-
graph station IN this city lose nearly all Of
the meteorological instruments, but save the
records.
Immediately on the breaking ont Of the
fire, the telegraph office was placed In the
grocery ~ TX. ~. Kelly. outside of the limit
~ the fire. and two operators have becnkcpt
busy night and day with the immense rush
~ commercial and press messages during tie
terrible confavration.
MEETING or PROMINENT CITIZENS
was held this afternoon. Hon. Judge MOODY,
Judge Of The First judicial District. prc~i-
ding. A Committee ~ safety. consisting 81
seven members. was appointed 10 assist
sheriff Manning IN prcscf, ing peace. IL was
alsn decided TO Az Gen. ~turvls. command
i'm The military post ~ Fort Meade. for mill
iiary 10 act ~ guards this action being con-
sidcred necessary IN view Of extensive THEW
ing operations and lot-jumping carried on
since the lire broke out. Gen. Sturgis
promptly complied with their request, aud
dispatched Company &, Eth United states
Cavalry. Capt. Jackson commanding. 70 this
city, where they are now pairoiling the
streets IN sluads. An order was IS
sued by the sheriff this afternoon. closing all
saloons and gambling hcll~, and the city pre-
scnts an unusually quiet appearance. Judge
Moody made Il speech culngi~iic ~ the cifi-
zcnS for sobrieis and good conduct. and i'm
timating that csil-dncrS M this calaIniou~
time should be severely dealt with a prop
osition was made 10 organize vigilance
committee one hundred strong, but II was
emphatically voted down. Cen. >turgi~
generously offered 60 provide rations and
transportation 10 Fort Meade Tor the dcsti-
tiite, and sent ten wagons and two anbu-
lanccs 10 this city for this purpose, but yet
none have awaited themselves 81 this offrr--a
fact that IL, however. no evidence of lack Of
restitution, hut proof 81 material sympathy
Of the fortunate few who cScapcdfhc fire and
are profiisc III their hospitality and gcncros-
i'y. There are between two and three thou