The Red Cloud chief., 1896-05-08
CRIPPLE CREEK IN ASHES.
Tho Famous Mining Camp wiped Out Of
Fxistcncs-fOuriccn Killed.

U hphi v Nv
CRIPPLE CREEK. Colo, May II
Last Saturdays horrors were repeated
threcfold in the destruction by "A sec.
ond fire yesterday afternoon. To an
increase in the amount Of property
destroyed on Saturday, the fire Of yes.
terduy adds the loss of life, and leaves
from 1000 to 1900 people homeless in
u city Of desolation, with no homes TO
offer and no food to supply the daily
wants. Now, indeed, is Cripple Creek
in ashes.
The business portion Of the citv left
standing is less than would cover u
city block. The residence section is
confined to what were formerly tho
suburbs on The placers east and west
of the old town, to the northeast, and
a portion Of Capitol hill, on the south.
When an alarm of fire sounded from
the Portland motel at 1880 o'clock il
wa quickly responded to. Almost in.
simultaneously the building was blah-
ing from n dozen places in front.
Streams of water were turacd on
quickly, and the iirciucn fought fccbly
for a few moments in an attempt 10
put out the fire
Buildings in advance of the fro
were blown up in u futile attempt to
check its speed. All about the burn.
ing blocks the streets were %jauhned.
Charges of fifty pounds ana more OF
powder were put in. The explosion
threw debris high into the air aud its
telling fcllcd men right and left.
When the smoke cleared away, tho
streets were covered with men unable
to rise. Others rushed TO the assist.
ance. Before the unfortunatcs could
be dragged back the second charge
went of and half "A dozen other men
were added to the list. The crowd
surgcd forward and all were taken
away as the flames began 10 consume
the building. DR.. Liggett and Dr.
Crane, Of Pixies Peak hospital, tool.
charge of the injured.
The sight was one to make the
crowd that gathered turn sick at
heart. With such Roadway as the fire
had gained it looked impossible TO save
the town. The wind was blowing
almost due north, and in its track lay
the heart of the business section. All
water turned on the flames had no APP
probable effect. The iiremen wcrs
unable 70 make the least impression
upon the Portland, which in u very
w" iaAli'A' ~ u ~ NV ~
the north. across Meyers avcnu was
the big furniture establishment of the
Booth Company, To the east of
the four story brick Masonic
hall block. The alarm, the arrival Of
the rose carts and the work of clcan-
ing ont the Booth concern were
almost instantaneous.
In fifteen minutes from the time tho
alarm sounded flames were showing
from the c~urnicc OF the Booth cstab-
lishmcnt The fire had spread to the
west on Meyers avenue, taking tho
Chicago cafe restaurant, adjoining tho
Portland. Cartridges in the Wright
hardware store in the Portland block
were firing a fusilade and Meyers
avenue was n furnace. To fight tho
fire from that point was beyond
human power. TO the west of tho
Booth building the immense lumber
stock in the FL raSo yards was catch-
ing and the iircmen had the hlocl;
bounded by First and Second, Bennett
and Meyers, for n field.
George Griilith's head was blown
nearly of, and he died in half an hour.
The others, while seriously hurt, may
all cover.
All the principal buildings are in
ruins and nothing is left of the town
proper except the railroad stations
and Il few scattered houses. The fro
ragged iierccly all the afternoon, and
only died out for lack OF fuel on which
to feed.
The origin of the fire appears ia
have been purely accidental, although
the general belief Is that it. was IN
cendiary. There has been talk credit
ing Saturdays fire To such origin, and
this one coming ) close upon it gives
rise to suspicion. The facts appear
to discrcdit the suspicion.