Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1890-10-05
GOOD NIGHT COLON.
THREE -FOURTHS OF THE HOUSES DESTROYED
BY THE RECENT FIRE.
The City Not Likely 70 be Ever Rsauilt-A Seaport
Of Central America Practically OysrtaEown
Forever by the Collapse Of the Panama
Canal Scheme.

New York. October with the arrival
of the Pacific Mail steamer Newport from
from Colon, or Aspinwal, as IL was form
erly written in the biographies, nave come
full particulars OF the ire which wiped out
three-fourths of the city ten days ago at q
monetary loss of nearly s., 2,OOO,OOO.
Colon is the Atlantic terminus OF the
Panama railroad aud was therefore the
great receiving station for men and mater
ials for the Panama Canal. In 1850 the city
was totally destroyed by revolutionists at =
loss of =, ,5OO. 900 But the Panama Canal
scheme was then alive and a new city arose
from the ruins. Colon lies for tne most
part in narrow point of land which pro-
iects into the BAY of Colon. At the extreme
western end of this point IS the beach
whore the fine dwellings are. The city
stretches its length for three quarters OF a
mile TO the east. Ever since the explosion
in Panama Canal affairs Colon has been
going steadily down. It's population has
decreased from 10000 to about $ 100, many
of its houses were deserted aud property
had decreased in value.
THE SPREAD OF TAE FIRE.
Atl2:35 on Tuesday evening, September
p. woman living in Bolivar street saw q
column of smoke with IA thin flame through
il rising from the room of Shed IN the
rear of Rathburn II Pratties' store. She
gave the alarm and the solitary FIRE Ori-
gade was soon at work. But the flames
had already spread TO an oil warehouse and
then TO warehouse where several thou
sand Of liquor were stored. The fire bri-
gade was helpless. For five hours the fire
spread in every direction unchecked. The
town is almost altogether built of wood,
most of the houses being low, square
frame stores and dwellings.
As soon as the fire reached Front street
there was a curious sight. The street was
paved with boards covered with tar 10 pre-
vent their sinking into the soft and
swampy ground beneath. As soon as this
curious pavement caught fire the flames
ran the length of the street, changing il
literally into a river of fire The houses
on either side were Immediately licked up.
Toward , o'clock in the morning a steady
pouring rain set in, but had no effect on
The fire, so great am impetus had il gained.
CITIZENS LEFT HOMELESS.
With the first news Of the dangerous fire,
people forsook their homes and began re
treat before its advance. So rapidly did II
spread before this tinder-bOX that time and
again families had but time to rush into the
street before their houses ascended in flame
and smoke There were many narrow es-
NdDt>. DNh llO ldAdi diNltltus's toVA4N VI htAN
people went to FrenchtOwn, which Is the
eastern end of Colon. Others returned 10
the dock, where they were cared for by the
agents of the steamship companies. Many
of these homeless ones were only half clad,
and the rain increased the misery OF their
condition. They huddled together in the
remote parts of the city, and watched the
terrible vet magnificent spectacle.
Captain LENA. of the Newport, saw the
fire from the deck of his vessel. He saw
the first column of fame shoot upward, and
then saw the city, spread out before him,
wrdp itself in mantle OF flame that
whirled and writhed with the wind.
THE CITY il RUINS.
AU6 O'Clock in the morning the fire had
exhausted itself, and at 9 o'clock only $50
lated columns of smoke remained. The
city was entirely gone. There were f3w
scattered houses TO the east. small village
10 the west; but UP from the docks TO the
mOrasS, Il quarter of mile away, and from
the new market house to First street, a half
a mile lay a level plain with mounds Of
ashes and half-burned walls here and there.
Colon had vanished in smoke.
The burned territory included all the
shops and stores. On Tuesday morning
not particle of food. not an article Of
clothing could be purchased in Colon. Tne
value OF the burned houses is estimated at
y, 800, 600 and the burned property of all
kind at 5000 As this estimate is in Co
lumbian money it must be cut down about
100000 to get the American equivalent.
This loss docs not fall upon the native pop
ulation, which is shiftless and without
property, but upon the foreign merchants,
who had their wares there and who built
the dwellings. Among these are three
New York firms, Isaacs * Asch, in the
Stewart Building, whose loss about $780,
600: Isaac Brandon Brothers. 30 Broad
way. whose loss is 100000. and \. James
* Co., 543 Broadway, who lost about So
600.
ETT LITTLE INSURANCE.