The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-04-30

open where the IRE would not be ex-
pected to come. and by them stood
guard the homeless wife and children
while the stronger heads of the families
were down somewhere in that caldrOn
of fire trying to add to the pile. Now
and then. some mattress that had
dropped too near to the coming flames
caught from the heath or a brand car
ried by the winds and the little saw
ing of household treasures was wiped
out
Wagons were everywhere. The price
for the service of that wagon ranged
from nothing to 500 bash, a load, ac-
cording to the exigencies of the mo-
ment or the hard heartedness of the
owner.
While the fire burned. over the terri
tory saved from Saturdays fire. car
penters were busily engaged getting UP
many light frame structures in the
area then burned.
The fire did not encroach upon the
territory Of Its predecessor. For a time
it looked as though she new building
at Third and Bennett streets would go
and with it the one being built in the
rear for the temporary postof6ce, but
they were saved with wet blankets and
a stream of water kept playing on
them.
BLOWING UP BUILDINGS.
In fifteen minutes from the time the
fire alarm sounded. flames We're show
ing from the eOrnice of the Booth es-
adjustment. next to the Portland no.
tel The fire had spread to the west
on Myers avenue. taking the Chicago
cafe restaurant adjoining the Portland.
Cartridges in the Wright hardware
store in the Portland block We're firing
a fusilade and Myers avenue was fur
mace. To fight the fire from that point
was beyond human power. To the west
of the Booth building the immense lum.
Der stock in the FL Paso yards was
catching and the frenen had the block
bounded by First and Second, Bennett
and Myers. for a field. Buildings in
advance of the fire We're blown up in
futile attempt to check its speed.
About the burning blocks the streets
were jammed. Charges of fifty pounds
and more of powder were put in The
explosion threw debris high into the
air and its falling felled men right and
left.
When the smoke cleared away the
streets were filled with men unable to
rise. Others rushed TO their assist
ance. Before the unfortunates could
be dragged back the second charge
went off and half a dozen other. men
were added to the list. The crowd
surged forward and all were taken
away as the flames began to consume
the building. Dr.. Liggett and DR.
- 4
charge of the injured.
George Gridiths' head was blown
nearly off and he died in half an hour
"A man named Fassett was killed and
two others who are unidentified.
Those injured are.
George Toungstron. Georgetown, head
and face cut, badly confused; "A. *.
Huxley. cut on foot George Layton
Georgetown, hands broken and LAGER
ated and head and face badly cut; E
u. BradWay Nebraska City, head. face
and hands badly cut; Q. RagsdaIe.
Washington, Ind, skull badly fractured
and left leg broken, H. 3. OrdWay.
may die; Charles Mccain actor, bad
fracture over left eye; J. W Creiger
Aspen, head and face badly cut, hands
injured; T. W Geurber. Kansas City,
head badly cut; j. W Lynch. Loveland
Col, arm blown of; c. Staten Aspen.
seriously bruised. John r. Rose. drug
gist. arm broken Larry MarOney,
slightly injured: y. H. Smith super
intendent water works. face injured:
Willis Walker. mining engineer. seri-
Ously injured; Dickinson, carpenter.
slightly injured; Lew Cochrane arm
broken. John Evan, cut on face and
head; Chris Coffmer. fireman, severely
injured Captain Tom Sewen, Denver,
leg fractured.
Rumors spread fast and lost nothing
in the re-telling. 1t was reported that
the list Of dead and injured runs into
the scores, and this and that officer
were credited with having shot men in
lessness seemed in the air. Men lost
their heads and were ready for any
thing. City Marshal James Marshall
swore in about $50 special policemen,
and Company G, Second regiment. c..
n c.. has also been utilized. Many of
the men are mounted and the burned
district is now being thoroughly pa
trOlled A bout 20 arrests have been
made for theft and other causes, bat
the police now feel confident that they
Will be able to prevent any further dep
relations.
Stolen LIQUOR was plentiful Many sa-
looms were looted for private drink and
firm hand was necessary to restrain
the crowds The Florence & Cripple
Creek railroad had fat cars at the dis
pOsaI of merchants and were kept busy
hauling goods beyond the reach of the
fire and to safe shelter. Cars filled at
Cripple Greek were hauled to side
tracks at other points.
The Times, Journal and Prospector
offices were all burned down, leaving
Cripple Creek without a newspaper.
The Times was burned out in Satur-
days fire but saved some of it's mater
ial and had started to rebuild in the old
burnt district 1T lost everything in
today's cOnfiagratiOn- Proprietor Tom
Howell issued his paper from the Office
of the Victor Weekly News today.
A rumOr is in circulation that a man
was seen in the act of setting fire to a
dwelling on Capital Hill and was shot
by a resident just as the frebug was
shot and killed by Floyd Thompson yes
terday afternoon.
Mayor Doyle of Victor has employed
two fire wardens for every business
block in that city, as it has been ru-
mOred that 6rebugS are after that
town as well as Cripple Creek A man
was caught late in the afternoon in the
very act of firing the rear of the New
ell Hardware company's store He is
in jail.
The total loss by yesterdays fire is
estimated at 81. SOC, 600 The insurance
viii probably foot up between $500 600
and $500 COO. The heaviest losers are as
Follows
Louis weinberg clothing store. $40
600; Palace hotel, $4,000, Portland ho-
tel $50, 000 furniture $4,000, Insurance
on furniture. $4,000; W T. Booth Fur