The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1896-05-02

The Entire Place Now In Ruins Thought
90 ne the Work Of NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Persons known To be Dead-Onc n
Thief. shot by the Police.

Cripple Creek. Col. April oo--A second
| connagration. accompanied by many OF the
4 horrors or the Chicago fire, swept the BUSH
1 ness part OF this city into ashes Wednes-
/ day. AZ least four men lie dead as re-
1 suit and Is persons were burned and other
| wise injured. Three OF the dead were killed
IN the explosion OF the Palace hotel
| boilers. the other was a thief who was shot
| by a policeman under orders. One thou
business men and property owners who
| have lost all. with little or no insurance.
are almost I'm despair. They are I'm fever
/ Of excited wrath against the incendiaries
who are charged with starting this and
Saturdays destruction. The fire burned
| itself out with the aid OF dynamite.
| Mayor Steele has invited assistance from
neghboring towns ~ 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 sec
tion northward, and scattering places
about the Florence & Cripple Creek yards.
West Cripple Creek, across the Freeman
placer, was also spared. The loss cannot
fall short OF 900 and the heaviest In
surance loss comes by this second con-
fiagration. All the substantial business
houses OF both brick and wood. the lead
ing hotels. office buildings and better class
OF retail shops all went up In smoke or lie
In ashes as the result OF the use OF dyna-
mite exploded TO stay the flames. The con-
fiagration ended only when the residence
portion was reached and open spaces oc
Cured, across which the flames could not
reach.
The fire. which was OF undoubted In
cendlary origin. started In the Portland
hotel on Second street shortly after noon
brisk breeze from the south was blow
Ing at the time and the fire rapidly gained
pressure the fire department was unable
10 check the progress OF the increasing
flames The Portland was a great rattle
trap and offered the best OF kindling for the
beginning OF a confiagration.
The town was quickly set into n panic by
this fire, for the people had not recovered
from their terrible experience OF last Sat
urday. Without delay everybody began to
prepare to pack up and get away, but so
rapid was the progress OF the flames that
the people soon became panic-stricken and
chaos ensued. IL is absolutely impossible
TO portray In words the scenes which fol-
lowed until the flames had spent their
powers.
Teams were dashed up and down the
streets byexcited men. people with bundles
and papers were running pell-mell 10 the
northward; shouts the booming OF the
flames. the crash OF falling tlmbers fol-
lowing the explosions OF dynamite, all
made one ominous, unintelligiblb roar.
AT the first hint OF footing property the
police. aided by the citizens gave prompt
notice that death would be the fate OF
all thieves. and the story was anoat early
that several thieves had already been shot
and their bodies left TO bo cremated In
the connagratton. Rumors of many lives
lost added TO the general CONSIDERATION,
and when the boilers OF the Palace hotel
exploded. killing and injuring several peo-
pie. the panic-stricken, crazed and excited
citizens rushed about without apparent
purpose or object.
There are three dead and several injured
as result OF the Palace hotel explosion.
An unknown man was shot by policeman
while looting burning building.
Nearly every house in the city was In
use for the purpose OF lodging. beds were
at n premium and great number OF peo-
pie slept during the day. These houses were
blown up with a recklessness that was as
tonishing In the desire TO prevent the
spread OF the flames. and I'm this manner Il
Ia reported that a number were killed.
The fire originated In the kitchen OF the
Portland hotel, which stood on Second
street between Warren and Myrtle ave.
nues. Back OF Il was a lumber yard and
several small buildings. In an hours time
the roof OF the hotel had fallen I'm and the
flames were leaping across TO adjoining
blocks Booths furniture store was blown
up by dynamite In an effort 20 check the
was next wrecked. with It's lawyer and real
estate Offices. the Fair. restaurant, and
then the Palace drug store opposite the
Palace hotel on the second corner above
the Portland Across Second street the
Masonic temple. a two-story brick, stayed
the progress eastward, and heroic Efforts
were made TO prevent It's burning
On the corner OF Second and Bennett
stood the Bimetalllc national bank, and
next 20 Il. In the Cripple Creek mining ex-
change. 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 the
clerks out North OF the banks were tho
telegraph and telephone offices, which had
10 be abandoned.
Late IN the afternoon the wind yeered
around 10 the east. driving the course OF
the confiagration 10 the more sparsely-
built up residence district and the fire died
out. leaving the high school building the
only one OF any size remaining In the camp.
The list OF business houses destroyed Will
include every firm OF any size In the city
banks, hotels, post Office. dry goods. hard
ware. clothing, professional Offices restaii-
rants, rooming-houses, livery barns big
gambling halls and many residences.
Denver. Col. April Boa dispatch from
Cripple Greek at midnight SAYS: Five
thieves were shot during the night and
two In Poverty gulch. Twenty-Five fremen
were Injured during the day. The ruins are
stu blazing fiercely. People have sought
refuge In box cars, sampllng works and
shaftshouscs. Two train loads have gone
20 Victor and one 10 Gillet. Word has been
received OF the starting OF relief trains
with bedding. provisions and clothing from
DO