The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-05-01
WHERE A CITY STOOD
Eyes Full of Pity and Sorrow Gaze
on the Heaps Of Ashes.
A SCENE OF DESOLATION
Homeless Women and Children of
Cripple Creek Awaiting Relief
Coming From Neighborlng
Towns - Building Started

Cripple Creek. Col. April so.-In a
general way the ground within the fire
limits does not present even a decent
rum. The fire swept everything before
IT. just as IL flaming broom passed
over the district. The fire moved gen.
orally in northern direction, spread
ing out eastward and westward under
tne Impulse of the terrific wind The
masonic temple, postoffice and a few
other scattering structures remain. No
vestige is recognizable of the furniture
or fixtures, iron, glass and everything
having been melted away. AS the day
advanced thousands of people who had
sought shelter in the neighboring dis
trict Hooked back to the scene OF their
losses. Women and children came with
husbands and fathers. but in most in
stances were turned back
The smoldering heaps of debris were
constantly bursting into a flame famed
by the rising wind. Twenty acres of
ashes are not very easy to handle when
the wind gets into them. Every availa-
able inch of hose in town was put In
use again this morning to flood the
neaps of ruins. On the foothills, reach
Ing down to the very fire lines, stand
the homeless people awaiting news. The
most will leave town IL they can.
During the night officers and military
who could not give a strict and prompt
account of themselves, thus Kidding the
town of the lawless element. The fail
was full by midnight and after that
boxcars in the Midland depot were inn
provised into prisons. A morning train
brought Sergeant Dunnington and a
squad OF 10 men from Denver. who at
once took charge of police affairs.
The work of relieving destitution was
formally begun at IL o'clock this morn
Ing when many prominent men and wo-
men met in the Masonic building to or
ganize. In addition to Cripple Creek
citizens, there were substantial repre-
sentatives present from Denver Colo
rado Springs, Pueblo, Victor and small
or adjoining towns. T. p. Airheart was
chosen chairman. Addresses were made
by Airheart, Mayor Hugh Steele, STRAIT
ton of Colorado Springs, NJ. c. Jackson
OF Denver, Mayor Doyle of Victor, Dom
aid Fletcher and others urging the need
OF prompt action. A committee of five
was chosen to take charge of general
re sHef. work, of (which Donald Fletcher
is chairman and Knox Burton secre-
tary with Mayor Steele advisory MEM
ber Offices were opened on the floor
of the Masonic building. II was decided
to establish provision headquarters at
the Midland depot and start two camps
for the destitute. Tents will be erected
where the homeless people may sleep,
and to which supplies will be sent as
they arrive In the city.
A business mems committee of three
was appointed, with T. p. Airhart as
whose duties will be to go
East at once to solicit help from the
big insurance companies. loan compa-
MES and other corporations. The money
thus obtained will be secured by real
estate in town. and will be put into
new buildings and new stocks of goods
as fast as secured.
Rumors are plentiful as to the ex-
tent of shooting done by the police
last night, but the officials absolutely
refuse TO confirm or deny any of them.
vigilance or regulators committee
has been organized and II is freely
whispered there are certain undesira-
BILE citizens in the camp who will have
TO go.
Shortly before noon to-day the DO
lice lined up SO hoboes and plain
drunks. 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 hurt. DR.. Crane, one of the
staff surgeons OF the hospital, slipped
while removing a patient from an am
bulance and broke his leg. There has
been very little thieving. but IL is gen.
orally believed firebugs are In town.
Some women in the vicinity of the
reservoir to-day saw two men pouring
oil on outbuildings and gave the
alarm, but before any men could ar
i've on the scene the firebugs had
fed. II caught they will be lynched.
The First National bank reopened to-
lay in new quarters and the Bimetal-
ic bank will open tomorrow. The
own Is already in course of recon-
;truction and will probably be entirely
rebuilt. c. T. Fertig. representing the
Royal and the Queen companies. says
hat a rough estimate of the losses by
fire is $3.50 900, not more
han 20 per cent. of which Is covered |
by insurance.