The herald., 1896-04-27
BUILDING BY MOONLIGHT
Ambitious Cripple Creekers Go Promptly
TO Work
No Outside Help Is Needed to Care for the
Homeless Nor to Rebuild
the Town

CRIPPLE CREEK, Col, April &c.
Already the work Of rebuilding the burn
ed district has begun, and tonight by
the light of the full moon nails are be-
ing driven in many houses.
AT meeting of the city council last
night a resolution was passed allowing
the erection Of temporary buildings
within the fire limits, with the provision
that all must be removed within sixty
days to give place to buildings of stone
and brick. This morning, as soon as
the debris had cooled sufficiently, the
work of clearing was commenced and
before nightfall fully twenty five build
ings We're under way, and quite a num-
Der were occupied. The first to open it's
doors for business was dance hall. and
the second saloon, but other branches
of business were soon represented. With
5000 people rendered homeless in day.
of course, lodging houses are in greatest
demand. and many of these are rapidly
progressing. Fortunately the weather
is remarkably fine, so that sleeping in
the open air does not entail suffering,
and few have been compelled to do tits.
The best OF order prevails. Hundreds
of special policemen are on duty guard
ing the thousands of dollars worth of
property of stores and private houses
from the raids of pilferers.
One of the first steps taken this morn
ing ~ the business men of the place was
the organization of a. relief committee
to look after the destitute. At an early
hour kilograms began coming in to the
mayor from cities and towns in the
state, offering financial aid. These were
turned over to the committee, who re-
Piled with thanks, declining the kindly
offers. Cripple Creek will take care of
her own. 1t is not believed that this will
be difficult, for there is work today for
every man able to WELD a shovel or
hammer.
Mayor Steele prepared the following
proclamation for the Associated Press
this afternoon:
ITO the General Public: Committees
have been appointed, composed of the
most energetic business men of Cripple,
and resolutions have been adopted
whereby the entire burnt district of
eight blocks will be rebuilt as fast as
money and labor can do so. We believe
we can take of our homeless people with
out outside assistance. Everything is
quiet, and the citizens are seeing that
order prevails (Signed)
"HUGH X. STEELE, Mayor"
Today the work of opening safes and
vaults began and in most cases the con-
tents were found to be intact. The steel
lined vault of the postoffice had to be
blown open with dynamite, but the val
liable government property was safe.
A vast amount of mail matter. estimat-
ed at from $4,000 to $4,000 pieces, was AL
destroyed, as we'll as the furniture of the
office.
The aggregate loss will not fall short
of $1,000,000 Among the heavier losses
are: Straus Clothing Company. s2S,-
900; Boynton Bros, clothing, $4,000;
Weyand Bros, clothing, $4,000; Golden
Eagle Dry Goods Company, $4,000; p.
L. Thorson & Co, $4,000; Farley Bros.
& Lampnan. furniture, $40.000 Topic
theatre $25,000; Sunday Herald. $4,000;
J. A. Connell. brick block. $4,000; Morn.
ing Times, $4,000: Boston Store, $4,000; c.
Lewis & CO.. liquors. $4,000; Watts Mer-
camille Company grocers, $21 900; Con-
gregational church. $4,000; John Nolan.
building. 100000; John Conlon, Chicago
building, $4,000.
Insurance was light in many cases,
there being none on account of the high
rate charged. the greater number of
buildings being of wood.