Rocky Ford enterprise., 1894-03-22
IMPORTANT COLORADO NEWS.
GREAT LOSS AT DENVER.
Tho Union Depot Completely Dsstroye
by Fire,

Tho Union Depot Completely Destroyed
by Fire.
The Union Depot at Denver was burned
down on the morning Of tho 18th. The hre
started shortly after midnight
The origin of the fro is supposed to be
from q detached live electric wire. Early in
waiting room suddenly broke, letting the arc
was done little was thought Of the occur
renee. The officials at the depot can ascribe
no other cause than this.
The fire was one Of the most disastrous that
has occurred for years In Denver. Tho he
role efforts Of the fire department seemed to
have little effect on the progress Of the
fames. An alarm at the central station
brought out the apparatus at the city hall. 1t
was soon apparent, however, that tho fiery
element was beyond control by the means at
hand and n general alarm was made for the
cntire department Of the city.
The fire was discovered by the nightmen, In
the western wing, In the second story md
above the baggage room. 1t was hoped for a
short time that it could be checked aud the
damage confined to that part Of the building.
The employees attempted to put out the fire
and did not call the department promptly.
The Offices where the conhagration had It's
Inception are occupied by the Denver Il
Rio Grande railroad. This part of the build
Ing was soon a mass Of flames. Timber be-
began to fall. Blazing rafters endangered
the lives Of every man VINO sought TO stay the
progress Of the flames. But apparently no
progress was made in the uneven fight The
material used In the building was of an In
fnmmable character, except the stone walls.
There were many narrow escapes from death
by the hremen, and each new experience OF
this nature was received with hush Of awe
by the spectators and a shout Of rejoicing
when huge timber Of flames missed the per-
son OF some fireman.
As the flames grecdily spread from one
apartment to another, 1t seemed 70 tho bpec-
tntor Of the lurld scene as though 1t was but
the burning Of a toy paper house.
Every railroad employe was pressed into
the service and nearly all the baggage stored
In the rooms below was quickly removed on
trucks Or carried out upon the tracks.
The most trouble was experienced in the
attempt to save tho records In the offices.
This met with only partial success. Books
and papers were thrown out OF the windows
recklessly and out of the wreck many docu-
ments wero saved. There were, however,
some Offices In which the loss was complete
and In others the swiftly moving flames md
the smoke made 1t impossible even to enter
the door.
The building was owned by the Union De-
pot Company, four-nfths of the stock In
which was held by the Union Pacific and one
fifth by the Rio Grande. Tho building cost
about $500, 900 and was insured for tI25, 900.
The depot will be rebuilt Immediately. 1t Is
hoped that the old walls can be utilized.
A better building can be made now with
the expenditure of the s225, 900 nt which the
loss is estimated than could have been built
in 1880 because of the very great difference
In the cost Of labor and material. II the old
walls can be utilized as the officials now
think the depot will likely be rebuilt and
ready for occupancy within two months.
Should the tearing down Of the walls be
found necessary the plans will be altered
somewhat, though the beginning of work on
the structure will not be delayed for any
such cause.
A few rooms can still be used and tempo
rary arrangements will be made until the new
building Is ready.