The New York herald., 1879-09-27
A TOWN IN ASHES.

TERRIBLE FIRE IN pEApwoop, d. t., DE-
THE PLACE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HOME
LESS AND MANY DESTITUTE LOSS ESTIMATED
AT FROM 81, 500, 600 TO 81, 100000.
lBy TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD
BISMARCK d. T.. Sept. 20. 1879.
Deadwood, d. T., vas burned this morning.
Every business house in the place and almost every
dwelling, with their contents. were consumed. The
people are rushing to Fort Meade. where General
Sturges, Commandant of the Seventh Cavalry. is
doing all in his power to shelter and feed
them. Deadwood is located in gulch. and when
on nre there means provided sufficient to
stay the progress of the flames. The merchants
have been ordering goods from st. Paul by wire all
day, especially provisions to feed the population
but there is prospect of their being reduced to
half ratlons before they get supplies. Two
weeks is the quickest wagon trip that can be made
from Bismarck Cheyenne. The military tele
graph office is mile of town. located the top
OF . barrel. but it is nevertheless doing noble
work.
DETAILS OF THE DISASTER.
The fire broke out in the Star Bakery on Sherman
street, at twenty minutes past two O'Clock this
morning, and following that thoroughfare swept
everything before it on Lee. Main, Gold, Wall Pat
ton and William streets, and several residences on
Continental avenue. Famed by light breeze, and
with nothing to contend with except very
inefficient fire department everything was at
the mercy of the flames. Less than score
of pronounced freproot warehouses withstood the
severe test The buildings being mostly OF wood
and poorly constructed; they burned like much
finder. The fire spread with such wonderful rapid
ity that any attempt at saving anything would
have been useless. All along its terrific
explosions of gunpowder petroleum. liquor. &c.,
were of frequent occurrence. buildings were blown
Into atoms. and among the first things destroyed
were the hook and ladder apparatus and hose car
riage leaving uiiscathed but few feet OF worthless
hose with which to battle against the devouriug
element.
SCARCITY OF WATER.
The new water works, which were tried only yester-
day for the first tme put to their full capacity
but with little success IL checking the flames.
count of the scarcity OF the water. The hillsides
the bowder ditch could not be had otherwise con-
siderable property would probably have been saved,
as the ditch almost directly the spot.
TWO THOUSAND PEOPLE HOMELESS.
the fearful force OF the flames. aud people thought
OF but little besides saving their lives hundreds
escaping with only their night clothes.
Every team within miles OF the city was called
into service to help save what could be got out.
There are probably about two thousand people who
are homeless. and many are destitute.
PROPERTY DESTROYED.
About one hundred and twenty-five buildings, be-
sides fifty sixty dwelling houses, destroyed;
and while it is utterly impossible to get any def
mite figures regarding the loss we'll posted business
men place it at s1.5o0000 to s2,000OU0 The fire is
still burning, but its material Is nearly exhausted
and there is no danger of its spreading unless an
unfavorable change III the wind should come.
LOSSES AND INSURANCE.
The principal losers
Il. G. Lake hardware merchant, s1O0.OOO; Miller
MCPHERSON grocers, S50,O00 (uninsurcd): NJ. ].
Wertheimer Co., dry goods dealers, $40. 900 (nsur.
ance, SlOO00); Frank Welsh $35 900 mo nsurance)
(uninsuredl: William McHugh, liquor dealer.
S23.OOO luninsured).