The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-04-30
CRIPPLE CREEK HALF CRAzED.
THE TOWN SWEPT BY a SECOND
CONFLAGRATION.

A. Least Three Wen Lying DeHd ana
Ffffeen or Twenty Persons Burned
and Otherwise Injured-TVvO of the
mend Killed by the Bursting of the
BoiIers in a HOteI-The Third Man
sbot While steaIing-A Thousand
Persons Homeless.
Cripple Creek, Col, April PA second
,onaagration, accompanied by loss of life
and injuries to many persons, swept the
business part OF this city into ashes to-
day.
At least three men lie dead and fifteen
or twenty persons were burned and other
wise injured. Two of the dead were
killed in an explosion of the Palace hotel
boilers, and the other was a thief, who
was shot by policeman under orders.
one thousand persons are without shell
ter tonight and the business men and
property owners who have lost all, with
little or no insurance, are almost in de-
spair. They are in fever of excitement
and wrath at the incendiaries who are
charged with starting this and Saturdays
destruction.
Mayor Steele has telegraphed for as
sstance from neighboring towns in the
way Of tents for the homeless, but the
police department feels able to cope with
the situation. All that is left of the camp
is "old town." over to the east Capitol
Hill. the residence section northward and
scattering places about the Florence and
Cripple Creek yards.
The loss will not fall short of $2,OOO,OoO.
which is more heavily insured than the
property burned Saturday.
All the substantial business houses of
brick and wood, the leading hotels office
buildings and better class OF retail shops
went up in smoke, or lie in ruins as the
result Of the use OF dynamite exploded 10
stay the flames. The confiagration ended
only when the residence section was
reached and open spaces encountered
across which the flames could not reach.
The fire, which was undoubtedly of in
cendiary origin. started in the Portland
hotel on second street shortly after noon.
brisk breeze was blowing and the tire
rapidly gained such headway that the
fire department was unable to check its
progress. The Portland was rattletrap
and offered the best of kindling for the be-
ginning of the conllagration.
The entire town was quickly set into
panic as the residents had not recovered
from their terrific experience of Saturday.
Everybody began to prepare to pack up
and get away, but 50 rapid was the pro-
gress of the flames, that the people soon
became panic-stricken and wild scene
ensued.
Teams were Iashed up and down the
streets by excited men removing propertyi
people with bundles were running pell-mell
10 the nOrthward, the roaring Of the
flames, the. crash, of the falling timbers,
following the explosions OF dynamite ana
the shouts of frenzied men and women,
made an awful spectacle.
Everybody on the hills hastened to lend
their assistance by rushing into town to
carry away valuables, most of which re-
main unidentified. At the first hint Of
citizens gave prompt notice that death
would be the fate of all thieves, ana the
story was afoat early that several thieves
had already been shot and their bodies
cremated.
Rumors of many lives lost added to the
general consternati ton, and when the boil
ers of the Palace hotel exploded, killing
and iniuring several people, the panic
stricken, crazed and excited citizens
rushed about without apparent purpose or
The fire originated in the kitchen of the
Portland hotel which stood on Second
street, between Warren and Myers ave-
nues. Back of it was lumber yard and
several small buildings. In an hours time
the roof of the hotel had fallen in and the
flames were leaping across to adjoining
Booths furniture store was blown up
by dynamite in an effort to check the hre
and the Maloney office building, the Fair
a restaurant, and the Palace drug store
were also sacrificed to the necessity of the
hour.
pie, a 2-story brick, staid the progress
eastward and heroic efforts We're made
10 prevent it burning. BY this time ev-
erybody on Meyers and Bennett avenues
and on six adjacent blocks began to move
out.
East of Third street, embers ignited
the temporary buildings set up on the
first burned district.
BY o'clock the whole town was ablaze.
and above Carr avenue people were NOV
ing their household goods.
At Second and Bennett streets stood
the Bimetallic National bank and next
to it is the Cripple Greek Mining ex-
change which was the temporary home
of the First National bank. All the money
was locked up in the vaults and the place
was abandoned when the flames crowded
North of the banks were the telegraph
and telephone offices which had TO be
abandoned.
Late in the afternoon the wind veered
around to the east, driving the course OF
the cOniagratiOn TO the more SparSely
built up residence district and the nre
died out, leaving the high school build
ing the only one of any size remaining IN
the camp
The list of business houses destroyed in
cludes every firm of any size in the CITY.
Many residences were also swept away.
When it was realized that the IRE would
not die out the people that had raced TO
the hills began a wild scramble TO tind
quarters for the night. Special trains bore
hundreds to Victor. Florence and Colorado
Springs by the Midland Terminal route,
and others went later tonight.
There are two dead and several injured
as a result of the Palace hotel explosion.
An unknown man was shot by police
man while looting a burning building.
One of the dead men has been Identified
a. a man named Griffith. who worked at
i Gold King, and another as J. W. Crig-
/ ger.
George Leyden was SO badly injured
that he will die
Others seriously hurt are: z. II. Smith,
John Evans, Larry Maroney, y. Broadway,
George Youngstone. one OF the Rose Broth
ers OF Rose & Leeddy, druggists; @. T..
loungstone. John Kreger, +. Bradley ana
Gene Leyden.
Fire has broken out I'm West Cripple
Greek late tonight, but as the place is
cottages, 1t Is believed the blaze will not
De very serious.