, 1884-03-25
FEARFUL FIRE.
The Most Serious conflagration
Visiting Cheyenne for
Many Years.
It's Largest Mercantile Establish
ment in Ruins.

ceeueu by u series OF pistol snOlS. lnen
the whistles blew shrilly followed quickly
by the rapid toIling of the city alarm bell.
The iiremen responded promptly to the
midnight call, tugging uobly and tedious
ly through the snow and the slush to OBJ
serve flames shooting furiously up in the
air from the vast building of the F. f.
Warren Mercantile company on Sixteenth
street, the most extensive business house
in u fair city.
The fire is supposed to have originated
in the rear of the upper story, for there
the flames were first observed to burst
out. They burnt long and stubbornly
here, and despite the heroic efforts Of the
noble fremen they worked their way
throughout the structure to the front, en-
veloping the whole of the interior in one
vast seething sea of flames. The sight
was, awfully grand and terrorizing. Vast
I goods of the finest description
fell a helpless prey to the wild fury of the
devouring element. Firemen and citizens
worked nobly in their endeavors
to subdue the terrible fire; but to no avail.
All they could do amid their heruism,
was to save other buildings. Every
apparatus in the city was promptly upon
the ground. The government steamer,
Phil Sheridan, well manned, came hur-
riedly down from Camp Carlin.
For more than an hour, many persons
entertained fears hat the Inter Ocean
would fall a prey to the flames which beat
%furiously against its side. But a splendid
tirewall served as a most effective battle
ment, and the noble structure was thus
saved. For a time some CONSERVATION
prevailed among the guests and many of
them packed their trunks and valises hur-
riedly, so that a speedy exit might be eff
fected. In some instances their effects
were hurriedly removed to a place of safe
ty. The hotel help all acted well under
the trying ordeal, and the business of this
popular hostelrie will meet with no inter
ruption by reason of the conlagration.
There were some very narrow escapes
from death by suffocation and burning in
the Warren building, the upper stories of
which contained numerous lodging rooms.
Their occupants left amid much confusion
and decided hurry, for no time was to be
lost in making a hasty exit. A Mr..
George McGill, the bookkeeper at He'll
mans, had lain in his room for a fort
night, quite low with typhoid fever. He
was carried out and taken to the residence
of Alex. Swan, 1t is feared that the
shock to his system ensuing from the re-
moval may result quite seriously.
Soon after the alarm was sounded a sol
der named Mike McCarty, from Fort
Russell, sought to aid the inmates to es-
cape, and whilst engaged in this laudable
undertaking q window of plate glass was
shattered, and the large fragments in fall
ing cut two deep and painful gashes in
his right side. Faint and bleeding he was
picked up and carried to DIR. lCorey's
office, where surgical aid was speedily and
efficiently rendered.
Owing to the lateness of the hour and
the confusion ensuing, IL was impossible
to gam accurate figures as to the loss, but
from the best data obtainable it is esti-
mated that it cannot IN the aggregate fall
much short of two hundred thousand dol
lars, which is well covered by insurance
in Philadelphia, Chicago and Pittsburg
companies. 1.if
The fire first broke out in the finishing
room, and Mr.. Keuher, one of the EN-
ployees of the establishment, claims to
have seen a man escape almost simultane-
ously with the discovery of the fire. This
would seem to point conclusively to the
dastardly work of a heartless incendiary.
The fremen worked most nobly and de-
serve much credit, as also do those citi-
zens who zealously aided them in their
efficient efforts. -IYT.. atl
This is regarded as the most destructive
fire that has ever occurred in Cheyenne.
True, it did not cover so much space, but
the building and the goods burned were
of the most costly character. Streams of
water were kept pouring steadily upon the
embers long after three O'Clock, The city
certainly had a most narrow escape from
total destruction. Fortunately, the wind
was not blowing heavily at the time, and
for this, our citizens have cause for much
thankfulness. 1t is to be hoped that
hereafter our community will be spared
from similar disastrous cOnflagrations. 81
r1.. NOTES.
1t is the most costly fire that has ever
afflicted Cheyenne. r
The soldiers of the fort were found in
front doing good service.
1t is supposed the elevator in the build
ing added to the fierceness of the flames.
The net loss of the F. Il. Warren Mer-
chanfle company will hardly be less than
| 500, 600,
Major Lord was early on the ground
with a four mule team and did good service
in saving property.
Joe Stroud, the LEADER pressman,
hung on to the nozzle for NO hours and a
half without intermission.
Charles Campbell, ofthe law firm of
Baird & Campbell, occupying a back room
of the NJ. Il, Post block was among the
first who saw the flames.
During the greater portion of the time
there seemed to be a lamentable lack of
water pressure in the hose playing on the
front part of the building.
D. +. Whipple, whilst attempting to