The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1896-04-28

Cripple Creeks Incendiaries Were After
100000 in Bank-Gang Planned to
Loot the Bank in the Excitement of the
Fire-Armed Guards Patrol the Town
Rebuilding Begun.
Cripple Creek, Col, April 27.-Evi-
dence has been secured which indicates
that the fire at Cripple Creek was the
work of an incendiary for the purpose
of making a raid on the First National
bank, which now appears to have on
deposit something over 100000, on ac-
count of the near approach of pay day
at the leading mines.
Chief Marshall revealed his reasons
| last night for keeping heavy armed
guard on duty. He said that he had
| positive information that the city was
| In the hands of one of the boldest gangs
| in the country, and that the fire was
| started to loot the bank during the ex-
| element.
| Every train leaving the district is
searched and every road from the gold
camp is under heavy guard of depu-
| ties stationed as pickets all the way
| lIOIIl AIlpplt lltth W lICiiNCl' oiiS
| hundred and fifty men were sworn in to
| take control of the burned district and
| regulate with rods of iron Each man
| had big revolvers strapped to his side,
and the appearance of Winchesters was
| not rare 1t required more than moral
| suasion to preserve a semblance of re-
| spect, and save for the fear of lynch
| ing the crowds would rebel against the
| seven score men who now patrol the
| streets, ready to shoot at the first in
| dication Of mutiny
| A horde of hungry brigands was not
deferred from the risks from venturing
| forth on plumber, and goods disap-
peared in astounding fashion. Build
| ing began at daybreak yesterday, and
| by o'clock there were twenty-five
| buildings under process of construction.
| By noon the vault of the First Ma
| tional bank was opened and the con-
| tents rescued intact.
| The work of opening the safes and
vaults commenced yesterday morning,
| and in most cases the contents were
| found to be intact The steel lined
! vault of the postotfice had been blown
| open with dynamite, but the valuable
government property was safe. A large
| amount OF mail matter, estimated at
from $4,000 to $4,000 pieces, was de-
stroyed The fire burned itself out at
4 o'clock yesterday morning.
Fortunately the weather is remark
ably fine, so that sleeping in the open
| air does not entail suffering, although
| few have been compelled to do this.
One of the first steps taken by the
| business men OF the place was the or
ganization of relief committee to look
after the destitute. At an early hour
| kilograms began coming to the mayor
| from cities and towns of the state, Of
fering financial aid These were turned
over to the committee, who replied with
thanks, but declined the kindly offers.
Mayor Steel prepared the following
| proclamation.
'ro the General Public: Committees
| have been appointed composed Of the
most energetic business men of Cripple
| Creek, and resolutions have been adopt
| ed whereby the entire burned district
| of eight blocks will be rebuilt as fast as
money and labor can do so. We believe
we can take care of our people without
outside assistance. Everything is quiet
and citizens are seeing that order pre-
| walls"