The herald., 1896-04-30

out Of bread. OF course food can reach
here by tomorrow from Denver or from
Victor. Anaconda and Gillett succor will
come by morning, but there were many
supperless tonight, and few will sleep
with no pillow and no covering Fortu-
nately the weather is fine, though
slightly chilly.
The flames spread. with great rapidity,
and although strenuous efforts were
made to check the progress of the fire
by blowing up buildings with dyna-
mite. they proved of no avail All the
principal business buildings are in
ruins and nothing is left of the town
proper except the railroad stations and
a few scattered houses. The fire ragged
fiercely all the afternoon and only died
out from lack Of fuel on which to feed
The burned district is as follows: Be-
tween Myers and Warren streets and
Second and First streets, one block:
from Myers to Pixies Peak avenue and
between Second and First streets, one
between Second and B streets, ten
blocks; from the alley between Myers
and Bennett up to Eaton, three and one
half blocks.
All buildings on Myers, between Sec
ond and Third, are standing.
The origin Of the fire appears to have
been purely accidental though the gen.
eral belief is that it was incendiary
There has been talk of crediting Satur-
days fire to such origin, and this one
coming so close upon it gives rise to
suspicion. The facts appear to dis
credit the suspicion.
Frank Angel, the Portland hotel chef,
cannot be found. Second-handed, the
story Is that a pan of grease on the
range blazed up and caught the grease
soaked boards at the back. The entire
side of the wall was ablaze in an in
stant
Bessie Kelly. one of the mattresses,
says she had gone into the kitchen for
an order. Lunch was being served at
the time. She saw flames running up
the wall, and believes they came from
outside the building, apparently from
the Chicago cafe adjoining. She rushed
from the kitchen to the office, crying
Fire" The other occupants of the
| kitchen had not noticed the house to be
on fire.
The Portland was built of frame, ven
eered with brick; the kitchen occupied
the central rear portion, the dining-room
shutting it off from the stores on Myers
street. About the kitchen was a wall or
area. The west side of the building was
covered with corrugated iron and ad-
joining this was Greene's Chicago cafe,
over which were lodging-rooms.
II. j. LaLove, the clerk of the Portland,
says that when the girls came out of the
dining-roofh they rushed upstairs to their
sleeping-rooms over the kitchen. There
was an outside stairway and this was
soon full Of employees. The hotel was
hurredly emptied of its guests. The
girls who had gone up to their rooms had
scarcely time to get back in safety The
clerk has no idea how the fire started
There We're nearly 100 guests in the
house. Nothing was saved.
Il. M. LeBaron, who had charge of the
y-rn In 10 fnI I,
went into the kitchen as soon as he could
after the alarm, and his belief is that the
fire had been started under the hotel.
The hotel building was owned by T. j.
Moynahan, and was valued at 100000,
and he carried insurance for $4,000 only.
The house was first leased by Peter Edes
of Denver, and sub-leased to Ben Brewer
Moses Vancourt was interested in it..
Miss Butterfield and Peter Edes are in
litigation over it. The furniture was val
ued at $4,000 which was probably the
original cost, and the insurance is report
ed at $1,000.
Some stress Is laid on the fact that the
suitcase of Brewer expires on May 1st.
The venture of the suitcase is not be-
lieved to have been successful. A high
price was paid to Edes for it's surrender
and there has been disagreement
among all parties interested from the
first.
CLAIMS INCENDIARISM.
DENVER, Col, April 29.-T. ]. Moyn-
ahan, owner Of the Portland hotel, in
which the fire at Cripple Creek started
today, called yesterday at the office of
Superintendent Walpole Of the state in
surance department In this city and
made statement. which, in the light of
todays events, is regarded as tending to
show that the fire was Of incendiary or
igin. Mr.. Moynahan stated that $4,000
insurance was carried on One-half of the
furniture and that the furniture had cost
but $4,000. Mr.. Moynahan came to Den
yer to have the insurance Cancelled. He
says that an attempt was made to burn
the hotel last Saturday. The lease Of
the hotel to Benjaman Brewer expires
May 1st. The hotel cost Mr.. Moynahan
$4,000, and the insurance on the building
was $4,000.
Mr.. Walpole is investigating the
charges preferred by Monyahan.
Mr.. Moynahan today stated that he
had called on the underwriters asso-
citation and made similar statement to
those made at the insurance commits
sioner's office. He believes the fire to
have been set by someone in the hotel.
In response to requests from Cripple
Creek for assistance received while the
fire was still raging this afternoon, ar
rangements were made to run a spec
ial train from this city, carrying fire.
men, policemen, fire apparatus and
tents and other supplies for the stricken
people of the great gold camp. At 1880
p. m. President Steele Of the chamber
of commerce received the following
message from Mayor Steele of Cripple
Creek:
thousands of our people are home
les tonight. Can you have tents sent
US? We have enough bedding. The fire
burned itself out. We have no use for
tiremen or policemen"
Accordingly all the tents and cooking
utensils at the state armory were pro-
cured and sent to Cripple Creek on to-
nights train. w. A. Hover and Secre-
tary Jackson of the chamber of COM
merce were dispatched to the camp as
committee to ascertain the needs of
the people in this emergency.
Many business of Denver also left for
Cripple Creek tonight supplied with
funds and prepared TO ameliorate the
distress existing there.
THE TOWN DESTROYED
CRIPPLE CREEK, Colo. April 20,
p. m.-The fire has burned itseltout and
Mayor Steele has telegraphed Chairman
Webber of the fire and police board of
Denver that the firemen and policemen
are not needed.
$50 p. MA special policeman shot
and killed an unknown man found car