The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-05-01
TWENTY ACRES OF ASHES
Rumors Are Plentiful as to the
Shooting.
There Has Been Very Little Thiev-
ing, But it is Generally Believed
That Firebugs Are in TOwn-yisi-
lance Committee Organized and
Several Undesirable Characters
VIII Have to Go-Hobos ut a Dis
count.

Of.IFHLE CREEK, COIo., April 3d.
In general way the ground within the
fire limits does not present even a decent
ruin. The fire swept everything before
1t, just as if flaming broom had passed
over the district. The fire moved gen.
orally in northern direction spreading
out eastward and westward under the
impulse of a terrific wind. The Masonic
temple. the postofTice and a few other
scattering business structures remain.
No vestige is recognizable of furniture or
fixtures, iron, glass;, everything having
been melted away. All day long the ad-
vance of thousand people who sought
shelter in neighborhood districts focked
back to the scene of their losses. Wom-
en- and children came with their hus-
bands and fathers, but in most instances
were turned back, as smouIdering heaps of
debris were constantly burning into
flame, famed by the rising wind.
TWENTY ACRES OF ASHES
are not very easy to handle when the
inch OF hose in town was put in use again
by clock this morning to flood the
heaps OF ruins. On all foothills reaching
down to the very fire lines stand homeless
peop4e waiting. The most will leave town
II they can. During the night officers
and the military patrolled the streets
and arrested all who could not give strict
and prompt account of themselves, thus
Kidding the town of lawless men. The
1all was full by midnight and after that
the box cars of the Midland depot were
1mprovised into prisons. A morning train
brought Sergeant Dunning and a squad
of ten men from Denver who took charge
of police affairs.
Rumors are plentiful as to the
EXTENT OF THE SHOOTING
done by the police last night, but the
officials absolutely refuse to confirm or
deny any of them. 1t is certain that at
least two men were shot, one of them
fatally. and one was hanged.
1t is not possible to ascertain the names,
but all three of the men are said to have
been employed in attempts at incendi-
arlsm when thus summary death with.
a vigilance or regulators committee
has been organized and it is freely whis-
pered that there are certain undesira-
bic citizens in camp who will have to go.
Shorty before noon today the police
lined up fifty-two hobos and plain DRINKS
arrested during the night and drummed
them out of town. Others were sent to
the Colorado Springs Jail.
There are six injured patients in the
Pixies Peak hospital, none of whom are
fatally nurt. DR.. Crane, one of the staff
surgeons of the hospital, slipped while
removing a patient from the ambulance
and broke his leg. There has been
VERY LITTLE THIEVING.
but it is generally believed that firebugs
are in town.
Some women in the vicinity of the
reservoir today saw two men pouring Oil
on the outbuildings and gave the alarm,
but before any men could arrive on the
scene the firebugs had fled. The women
gave good description of the men and
officers are securing the town for them.
If they are caught they will be lynched.
The First National bank re-opened to-
day in new quarters and the Bimetallic
bank will open tomorrow.
The town is already in course of recon-
struction and will probably be entirely
rebuilt.
c: T. Fertig, representing the Royal
and the Queen companies, says that a
rough estimate of the losses by yester-
days fire is $1,250,000 not more than 20
per cent of which is covered by insur-
ance. The adjusters have opened joint
headquarters in the Masonic building.
j. H. Wolfe has already begun the foun-
dation for a new hotel on the site of the
Palace. A temporary structure will be
put up until permanent buildings can be
erected.
ALL IS QUIET.
The town is perfectly quiet tonight,
Notwithstanding the turbulent day. Since
the sun went down last night the air
has been filled with all sorts of rumors
of shootingS and lynchingS and attempted
arson, but none of them have proved
true. The report that two bodies would
be found in the ruins of the Portland
was stopped by the presence in the flesh
of the supposed dead people. During the
day relief was furnished in the shape of
provisions and tents from Denver, Pueblo
and Colorado Springs and invitations
were extended to the homeless from cit
liens of all towns in the Cripple Creek
district There will be no great suffer-
ing The roads have offered free trans
portation to all who cannot purchase
tickets. The telephone company has
given up its. wire to- any who
desire to talk to friends. Re
lief headquarters have been establish
ed and hundreds were cared for. The
insurance agents are in session and are
endeavoring to make as early settle
ment as possible.