Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-07-03

The Durango (Colorado) Fire Renders a
Hundred Families Homeless.
DENVER (Col.) July 2d.-The dispatches
of Yesterday gave the particulars of the fire
at Durango. A dispatch from the fire.
stricken city to-day says:
AS soon as the fire was discovered the
entire fire department was called out, and
the streams of water poured upon the fire
seemed to aggravate the flames till it be-
come so hot that the firemen were COM
PEELED to beat hasty retreat. Attention
was then turned toward confining it to-
ward the part of town lying north of H
street, but this the fremen were unable to
do, for it became so hot that it was utterly
impossible to get close enough to it. not
withstanding the wind was blowing in a
diagonal direction.
The roof of the new City Hall, on the
south side of H street, took fire. and that
building, along with a row of frame build
ings on the City Hall property, was con-
sumed. The building occupied by NJ. L.
Green as bakery, with that occupied by
Miss Real and Boyle & McCloskey, were
consumed. Returning to the block where
the hire originated, the remaining part of
the block lying to the north was consumed,
and crossing the street, the Boston and
Wllder's photograph galleries, Chapman's S
hardware store, the Grand Central livery
stables, the Clipper Theater, the Grand
Central Hotel, the Idea office, and some
twenty dwelling houses were completely
destroyed.
The Courthouse, in which are the vaults
containing the county and Court records.
was the next building doomed. 1t was only
the work OF an instant when the large
structure was a mass of flames The old
Sherman House, across the street and north
from the Grand Central, was a target for
the flames that were leaping madly to the
south and west. 1t went in a jiffy, together
with four or five other buildings, when
Gallo Mays livery stable went along with
the rest as also row of residences in the
same block, facing Second street. The
flames were not satisfied with their deadly
work, but skipped across Second and l
streets TO the Methodist parsonage and
church. The Presbyterian and Episcopal
churches then caught fire, and with fifteen
dwellings adjoining were completely de-
stroyed.
The burned district comprises eight
blocks in the center of the city, and about
twenty-five dwelling-houses. The firemen
did splendid work. Many of them were
burnt about the face and hands, but they
were engaged in a noble work, and were
willing to sacrifice themselves as much as
possible. The loss is variously estimated
from S., 900 600 to S., 600, 000 The insurance
is about one-third of the amount.
At least one hundred families were not
only left homeless, but destitute They
lost everything they possessed. and will
have to ask for assistance. Many saved
only the clothing they had on their backs.
The insurance agencies estimate the loss
bV the fire at about 100000, with from
$4,000 to $4,000 insurance. The heaviest
losers are: w. C. Chapman, building, S25,-
00O; insurance, from $4,000 to $4,000.
The Grand Central Hotel, loss, $4,000; in
surance, $4,000. Joseph Clark, $4,000 :;
barely insured. The Presbyterian. Meth
odist and Episcopal churches, valued at
about Sl5, 600, with $4,000 insurance.