San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-04-30


run from Victor and Gillett to
bring miners with sticks Of dyna-
mite ready to use wherever there
was a chance for it. 1t was more
common than water at city fire,
and the lavish use was productive
of many fatalities.
The Palace hotel containing 800
rooms was one of the first place at
tackled by dynamite and from the
results it would appear that no
warning was given of the impend-
ing explosion. AS the walls tot
tered, in response to the tremen-
dous charges Of giant powder, the
air was filled with shrieks Of dy-
ing men who had been caught in
their rooms and dragged down in
the wreck.
Before the wreckers could offer
any aid they were driven back by
the flames. The dynamiters fled
to save their own lives and the
loss OF life at the Palace is rally a
matter of conjecture.
The Bimetslic bank and the
First National bank burned as il
they were Of paper. The first Ma
tional bank while it was the lead
ing institution of the district was
without proper facilities for hold
ing the $4,000 or more of deposits
that were intrusted to it. Since
the last fire the bank has had tenn
porary quarters in the newly
burned district where there were
poor vault accommodations. To
add to the apprehensions of the
stockholders aud depositors, the
explosion Of dynamite leaves moth
ing to be recovered from the ruins.
Volunteers operating without
guides or reason, are credited with
blowing up the buildings. After
the explosion at the Palace hotel,
the crowd that had followed the
fire paused for a moment and the
people began to grow vehement
in their denurciation OF the miners
and their work. While a riot was
impending the flames worked to.
ward the crowds that blocked
Bennett avenue and the advantage
gained by the destruction of the
hotel was lost by not removing the
debris.
Thousands of homeless people
shivered about camp fires or wan.
dered among the ruins Of this once
prosperous city throughout last
night.
The cold was severe and toward
morning snow began to fall.
During the night, for a distance
of a mile to the right and left, the
burning embers presented sight
almost Incompatible. Everywhere
along the thoroughfares can be
seen the work of dynamite in q
great mass of kindling wook.
One company of the Colorado
National Guard is on duty in the
burned district.
Numerous arrests have been
made in the outside districts, re-
sort to which had been made by the
vagrant element which lately has
infested Cripple Creek.
All night fires were starting up
occasionally on the placer. Where
possible, residents pulled their
houses down or that failing, blew
them up, They had no water in
that part of the city.
1t is rumored a man was seen
setting fire to a dwelling on Capt. |
toll hill, and was shot by resident,
just as a fire bug was shot and |
killed by Floyd Thompson yester-
day afternoon.
Mayor Doyle, of Victor, has en-
ployed two fire wardens for every |
business block of that city, as it |
has been rumored that the fire.
bugs are after that town as well as
Cripple Creek.
A man was caught last evening |
in the act of firing the rear of the
Newell Hardware company's store.
He is in jail.
The total loss by yesterdays fire
is estimated at 800, 900. The in
surance will probably foot up be-
tween 100000 and 100000.
The heaviest losers are Louis |
Weiberg, clothing store, $4,000;
Palace hotel, $4,000; Portland
house, $4,000; Wright Hardware
Co., $4,000; Ell Paso Lumber Co.,
$40, 900; Heller's drug store, $780, |
600; many other individual losses.
All local newspapers, banks, ex-
press offices, telegraph and tele. !