The daily gazette., 1883-11-13
MINING TOWN BURNED.
HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE REn-
DEREp HOMELESS.
THE PRINCIPAL BUILDINGS GONE
0reat DestitutiOn Among the Afflicted
Feople-An Appeal to the PublIo for Aid
-EOOd and CI0tninG Wanted.

/ -E~@o ana Cl0tntnG Wanted.
I aE---A1G@~~--a.
Po9TsvfLLM, Nov. 1e.--The town of shen-
andoah has been swept BY q terrible confa-
grafton, and hundreds Of people are tonight
homeless, and many of them are In want Of
food. The telegraph offices, all the news
paper offices, the Academy of Music, In fact
all the principal buildings, public and pri-
vate, have been reduced TO ashes. There
have been few II any lives lost, but the dis
tress entailed is indescribable.
To add 70 the horror OF the situation many
Of the victims escaped from their burning
homes clad In scanty garments, aud as tho
wind is blowing perfect hurricane, they arc
suffering from the consequent exposure.
Groups arc gathered about the smouldering
embers, endeavoring to extract some warmth
from all that remains of their homes.
TIE TRACK OF THE FLAMES.
The names originated between IL and
O'Clock In the United States Hotel, build
ing built Of frame on the corner Of Centre
and Main streets, q structure consisting of
three stories and capable of accommodating
and holding large number of guests.
The alarm was promptly given and the
hremen quickly responded, but at the very
outset they realized the uselessness of their
efforts, the wind blowing at such terrific
rate that the flames, sparkling and seeth-
l AhkI luApC4 hluuOW 10 WluUOW, anu
| soon completely covered the building. A
great crowd gathered in front of the doomed
hotel and impeded the work of the volun-
teer fire department. Another drawback
toward staying the flames was found in the
mems lack of training.
In less than Is minutes the fioors of tue
hotel were cracking and falling, and the
flames leape1 across the street and commu-
| nicated to the block opposite. Thers was
| M D0eRihiliiV now Of aaVfuu fhn hItniuaa par-
tion Of the town, AMI the only question was
whether any portion of it could escape.
BUILDINGS DESTROYED.
The telegraph office having hsen Tho first
to go, assistance was summoned by tele-
phone from Pottsville, Ashland, TaInaqua,
Mahonoy City, and other small towns In
this mining community. Tho response s.,
while made as quickly as possible, were MT
efTtctual in stopping the work of destruc-
ton. Among the principal buildings which
rapidly gave way u the flames were the
Academy of Music, Odd Fellows Hall, Her
aid newspaper office row, the Opera House
and the offices of Tie MNing Herald and
Saturday Evening Rsrisic.
Meanwhile the flying cinders had reached
the homes of hundreds of residents, and fires
had started up 10 different parts OF the town.
All work at the collieries had been sus-
pended, and men and boys, begrimed with
coal-dust, were pouring buckets of water
upon the infiammable roohngs of their resi-
dences. As there were only three buildings,
either wholly or partly of brick, it Is easy to
picture the scene which followed. Dwelling
, after dwelling succumbed, until several
, squares had been swept away.
1t is impossible to correctly estimate the
, lose, but many place it three uarters of q
million dollars. While several persons were
] slightly injured, there is no fatal casualty
reported up to this hour, save in the case Of
James Heston, who, in attempting to board
q train, fell under the wheels and was run
over. Both Of his legs were cut of above
the knees and he died this evening. He
leaves a widow and four children.
AN APPEAL FOR AID.
To night, Council having been summoned
In special session, there was a large meeting
| at which all Of the prominent citizens were
present. After consideration and estimat-
ing the number Of people In distress, 1t was
resolved to send out an appeal to the public.
It was drawn up as follows:
A terrible holocaust has swept the town.
Two hundred and fifty families are home.
less tonight, and most of them have lost
their all and are without provisions or
;; change of clothing. The weather is bitter
cold aud Q strong Northwest gale is still
blowing. Everything possible for their i'm
mediate reliefis being done, but we must
: have help. Who will aid US and give at
/, | once.
! A relief committee, with John Leathers
as treasurer. has been appointed, and will
receive all contributions of supplies, cloth
ing or money generous public may be
Charitable enough to send.
D. j. WILLIAMS,
Il Chief Burgess.
, The School Board met at o'clock this
evening and threw open the school houses
3 which were not burned for the sufferers.
II DESCRIPTION OF THE TOWN.
Shenandoah is town of more than IL, 900
inhabitants, situated in Mahanoy Valley,
Schuylkill county, about two and one-half
miles from MahAnoy City, and about IL miles
, North OF Pottsville. It was founded about
: 1S or 20 years ago, and a number ofvaluable
! collieries lie in and around 1t, such as Indian
. | Ridge, Kohinoor, and the colliery formerly
= owned hy Lee, Grant & Co., and now owned
! | by the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and
! Iron Company.
The Lehigh Valley and Philadelphia and
!, Reading Railroads both pass through Shen-
! andoah, the coal shipments from this point
being greater than those from any other
!, town In Sehilylkill county.
Main street is the principal business street,
a and is about three quarters of a mile long,
| running up the hill on which the city ID
: situated. There are about ten churches
some of them handsomely built, represent
| ing all the Protestant denominations and the
Greek, Roman and Irish Catholics and
Hebrews.
e The buildings of Shenandoah were nearly
T all of frame. The railroad depots and
r few business houses on Main street, how
:. ever, were oi brick. The Merchants Hote
z is at the head of Main street, and it was re
n Gently leased and operated by H. G. Neu
e | man.
e The fire department of Shenandoah is o
n comparatively new equalization, and is
d | volunteer one. 1t owns two steam fire en-
n gines and q hook and ladder truck.
The newspapers of Shenandoah are three
}. the Minin9 Herald, the Herald and tht
g Sunddy NeiOS, all weeklies.
j. Minor Cases.
Is Michael Laguardia and Angelo CautelIo
were before Esquire o'Neill last evening OF