The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-05-07
RECKLESS USE OF DYNAM|T t
THE FIRE FIGHTERS AT CRIPPLE
CREEK YESTERDAY ACTED
WITHOUT REASON.
THE LOSS OF LIFE My Be LARGE
Large Buildings Blown Up Without No
tfying the Occupants-Shrieks Were
Heard When the Palace Hotel
Went Up-Loss, $1,500,OO0.

Cripple Creek Col, April 30.-While the
fire was raging yesterday afternoon spe-
cal trains were run from Victor and Gil
lett to bring miners with sticks Of dyna-
mite ready to use wherever there was
chance for it, 1t was more common than
water mt a city fire, and the lavish use
was productive of many fatalities.
The Palace hotel, containing 300 rooms,
was one of the first places attacked by
dynamite, and from the results it would
appear that no warning was given OF the
| impending explosion. As the walls tot
| tered, in response to the tremendous
charges of giant powder, the air was fill
| ed with shrieks of dying men who had
| been caught in their rooms and dragged
down in the wreck.
Before the wreckers cOnld 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 really
matter Of conjecture.
The Bimetallic bank and the First Ma
tional bank burned as if they were OF
paper. The First National bank, while
it was the leading institution of the dis
trict, was without proper facilities for
holding the S1J0,OOO or more of deposits
that were intrusted to it. Since the last
fire the bank has had temporary quarters
in the newly burned district, where there
were poor vault accommodations. To add
TO the apprehensions Of the stockholders
and depOsitOrs, the explosion of dyna'
mite leaves nothing 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 fol
lowed the fire paused for moment and
the people began to grow vehement III
their dcnunciation of the miners and their
work. While II riot was impending, the
flames worked toward the crowds that
blocked Bennett avenue, and the advan,
tage gained by the destruction of the hotel
was lost by not removing the debris.
Thousands of homeless people shivered
about camp fires or wandered among the
ruins of this once prosperous city through
out last night.
The cold was severe, and toward morn
ing snow began to fall
During the night, for distance OF
mile to the right and left, the burning
embers presented Il sight almost lhcOll-
parable Everywhere along the thorough
fares can be seen the work OF dynamite
in great mass of kindling wood.
One company of the Colorado national
guard is on duty in the burned district.
Numerous arrests have been made IN
the outside districts, resort to when hau
been made by the vagrant element when
lately has infested Cripple Creek.
Ali night fires were starting up occa-
sionally 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 rumorcd II man was seen setting
q FOL
shot by resident just as the iirebug was
shot and killed by Floyd Thompson yes
terday afternoon.
Mayor Doyle of Victor has employed
two fire wardcns for every business block
of that city rs it has been rumOrcd that
the fire bugs are after that town as well
rs Cripple Creek.
4 man was caught last evening in the
act of firing the rear of the Newell hard
ware company's store. He is in Jail.
The total loss by yesterdays fire is cs-
timatcd at Sl,5OO,OOO. The insurance
will probably foot up between 100000
and 100000.
The heaviest loosers are Louis Wei
berg. clothing store, $4,000; Palace ho-
tel, $4,000; Portland house, $4,000:
Wright Hardware company, $50, 900: El
Paso Lumber company, $4,000; Heller's
drug store, $4,000; many other individ-
ual losses.
All local newspapers banks express of
fees. telegraph and telephone offices and
nearly all stores, restaurants and lodging |
houses were wiped out.
Denver, Col, April 30.-president
Steele, of the chamber of commerce, has |
called n meeting of citizens today to con-
slider measures for relief of Cripple Creek. |
This was decided upon after mes
sage was received from Secretary Jack |
son, who went to Cripple Creek last night |
saying 10000 people are homeless and |
many destitute. He reports that there |
are not enough provisions in the town to
last twenty-four hours and there is need |
of cooking utensils.
The Rocky Mountain News has started |
n popular subscription. A mass meeting |
has also been held at Colorado Springs |
today for the same purpose.
Stratton, the millionaire mining man,
sent train load of provisions from Col
orado Springs to Cripple Greek for free
distribution.
Two men were caught firing building |
under Il saloon in Poverty Gulch. Of
ticers fired four times at them and they
were cDDturcl n their poSSpSsiou was