The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1896-11-21
BIo FIRE IN kEToAUM.
A Block Of Business Houses Destroyed
Loss 100000 Supposed To BE
The Work Of An IncendIary-
Mr.. and Mrs. Judge Mare
rOWly Escape.


The following is from the Ketchum
Keystone of 14th inst:
About 2:30 yesterday morning the
cry of fire broke upon the stiffness of
the hour and aroused the citizens from
their peaceful SAUNDERS. 1t was short.
ly discovered that the alarm was
sounded from the front porch Of the
Palace Hotel which was enveloped in
flames before the citizens and firemen
men could reach the spot. The adjoin-
ing buildings soon caught fire and de.
spite the heroic efforts of the firemen
and citizens who turned out to fight
the flames, in less than two hours near.
ly the entire block was laid in ashes.
The buildings destroyed besides the
Palace hotel and restaurant, were
Frank Quereau's old furniture store,
the CornucOpia restaurant, Wilson's
barber shop, E. d. Williams store and
Horace Lewis big barn formerly occu-
pied by e, j. Cowley as livery stable
The FIRE broke out in a small store
room in the Palace Hotel on the first
floor in the rear of the saloon and d.
rectly nnder the bedroom which Charlie
Judge occupied on the top floor. There
was ten gallons of coal oil stored in the
room which soon caught on fire, the
flames spreading so rapidly that there
was no chance to save the building by
the time that the Ere was discovered.
Charlie Judge was the first occupant
Of the hotel to be awakened by the roar.
ing of the flames below. He SAYS it
sounded TO him at first like the popping
Of firecrackers. He jumped out of bed
and ran down stairs when he found the
lower floor in ablaze.
Rushing back he aroused his father
and mother who were sleeping soundly
and oblivious Of the flames which were
surrounding them. There was not mo.
ments time for anyone in the burning
building to dress themselves. Mr.. and
Mrs. Judge, as well as Charlie, in order
to escape being burnt to death, were
forced to run out in the steet clad in
their night clothes.
Mrs. Judge did not even have time
to put on her slippers and was obliged
to walk through a foot of snow to Mrs,
Perkins lodging house in her bare feet.
The entire contents of the hotel and
restaurant burnt up, as well as all
wearing apparel of the occupants, ex-
Cept a few articles of clothing belong
ing to Mrs. Judge, which were in a
small trunk that some one carried out
of the burning building. Mr.. Judge
safe, which was in the billiard room.
was opened after the fire and the con-
tents were found to be intact. A small
stock of liquors, which Mr.Judge had
stored in cellar back of the hotel,
was also saved.
The loss is estimated at about 500 900.
The Palace Hotel and furniture or
igInally cost $4,000. There was no in
surance on the hotel nor any of the
other buildings which were destroyed, |
except on L. b. Williams building
which was insured for $500, and Horace
Lewis barn for $500.
1t is generally supposed that the fire
was the work of an incendiary. All
indications point to the hotel having
been set on fire by some one who was
acquainted with the house and was
aware that coal oil was stored in the
room where they started the fire,