The Fremont County record. [volume] (Canon City, Colo.) 1877-18??, 1881-02-26
THE SILVER CLIFF FIRE.
A Serious Conflagration In the Third
~ City In the State.

~ City In the State.
r.
SSILvER CLIFF, Feb, 20.-At noon
to-day this city was visited by the
largest confiagration in its history.
The fire originated in the Little Chief
saloon, on Cliff street, near the old
postoffice corner, by chandelier
fa ling OH q stove. The fire depart
ment responded promptly, and could
have confined the fire to one building
but for some reason very little pres
ure could be obtained from the water
mains, and the fire rapidly spread to
buildings ON either side.f The great
on Cliff street, but the business men
on Main street got everything in
readiness to quit their buildings on
short notice. Several buildings on
Main street were burning slightly,
but by the superhuman efforts of our
citizens, by drowning the buildings
with wet carpets, ETC., no serious
damage was done TO Main street
property. 1.-THE fire soon caught on
the opposite side Of Cliff street, aud
in a few minutes the whole block
was in flames. The buildings were
all frame, and packed closely toge ther.
On account of the lack of water, our
firemen were compelled to resort to
their old mode of fighting the fire
fiend by tearing down buildings. The
loss will probably reach fifty thous-
and dollars, partially covered by in
surance. Everything on Cliff street,
between Mill and DeWalt streets, is
a total loss. On Main street Tomp-
kins (hardwsre,) } Frisbie, groceries. }
Slavick, (drv goods.) Alexander.
(clothing,) and Others lose slightly in
removing the goods to place OF
safety.
There are conflicting reports as the
cause of the water works failing to
respond promptly to the signal, some
claiming that the engineer was asleep
and that the fires were low. From
Mr.. Clark, who was at the water
works at the time the alarm was
given, we learn the following: 81
was at the works, and was with Mr..
Higgins, examining the pressure
guage, which stood at 1a5 pounds.
when suddenly the pressure lessened,
NSl Mr.. Higgins remarked that n hy-
dsant had been opened up town, anc
that the fire was under but one boiler,
which was not sufficient to keep up
the pressure. He Immediately set an.
other pump to running, and called to
us to help him fire up in the furnaces.
There was fire in but one furnace,
! and the other was filled with coal
and water. The additional punps
! that had been turned on soon drew
| the steam down to but q few Rounds,
ia the rest OF The furnaces. or increase
the fire that was already burning
because, as Mr.. Higgins remarked
the smoke stack is not high enough
to cause draft When the alarm " as
given the pressure stood at about
sixty pounds, which is hardly
adequate to supply the ordinary de-
apsnds of the city"
I-The popular indignation against
the water works management is in
tense. The facts above would indi-
cate that the engineer lie not SO much
to blame as the authority above him,
under whose orders he WAS acting.
The total loss as near rs could be
approximaled at this writing. is as
follows:
NJ. Friedman, stock of clothing,
81, 900, building, $500 no Insurance.
George A. Haniey, stock of sta
tionerv, $500 no insurance.
Mr.. Wronker, stock of confection-
cry. ETC., 5000 insurance, 5000.
Murphy & Osgood, saloon, 81 900.
F. L. Meyer & Bro, stock of gro-
ceries; Ss, 900 insurance, $4,000.
Ed. Silk, saloon and properties in
Gem Novelty theatre, 5000; no in
surance.
Canister Bros, stock of clothing
aud building probably 5000.
A. Meyer, saloon, 81 600; no insu-
rance.
Joha Wilners, saloon, $500.
Silver Cliff Mining company, Office
fixtures, 81, 200.
A. f. Bartlett, stock of furniture,
q, 500.
Tony Baker, 5000.
j. A. Melvin, Palace hotel building,
81 900; other buildings, about 81 900 ;
insurance 81, 900.
Radway and Cortncy, fixtures in
Palace hotel, $500.
W. B. Mccoy, barber shop, $500.
Newton & Dodge, saloon, $500.
A. NJ McEiHinney, bailding $1,000.
Colonel Crumis, building, 81 900.
John Link, restaurant, 81, 600.
q. g. Minor, saree building, 81, 500.
w. +. Uilman, small building,
5000; insurance $500.
George B. McCauley. several build
ipgs, "a, 600. 4
The fire originated in the back
room of the saloon of Murphy &
Osgood. A chandelier containing
four lamps fell. aud the oil splsshing
on the stove near by ignited, and the
entire room was in flames before any
thing could be done.
ID The house of representatives has
passed Belford's bill relative to suits
at law affecting the title to mining
claims. Ii provides that If any ac-
tion brought pursuant to the revised
statutes, the title to the Srouud in
controversy shal. not be established
by either party, tho jury shalt SO end
and induInenl ah all ha an te rad Accord.