Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1896-04-30
CRIPPLE CREEK CALAMITY
Mare Extensive and Complete Destruc.
,ion Wrought by the Second
Than by First Fire.
ACRES OF hot ASHES AND CINDERS
Thousands of People Homeless and
Hungry Measures for Re-
lief at Denver and Colorado
Springs--A Timely Deed.

Cripple Creek, Colo, April S0.-In
general way tho ground covered within
the fire limits doss not present even de-
cent ruin. The fire swept everything just
as if a flaming broom had passed over
the district. 1t moved generally n Q
northern direction, spreading out on
both to the eastward ana westward under
the impulse of q terrific wind.
In the business portion of the city, the
Masonic teml le, the new postofice and &
few scattering business structures remain
AS the day advanced thousands of peo.
Pile, who sought shelter in the neighbor.
ing district, Aocked back to the scene OF
their Iosses.
Smoldering heaps Of debris we're con-
stantly burning into flames famed by
the rising wind. Twenty acres of ashes
are not easy to handle when rising wind
gets into them.
Every available inch of hose in town
was in use again by 8 o'clock this morn
ing to flood the heaps of ruins.
Most of the homeless people will leave
town if they can.
The Jail was full of prisoners of the
lawless element. BY midnight and after
that box cars and the Midland depot we're
improvised into prisons.
The morning train brought Sergeant
Dunnington and squad of men from
Denver, who at once took charge of po-
lice affairs.
HOMELESS AND HUNGRY THOUSANDS.
Denver, April 30.---Maes meetings will
be held here and at Colorado Springs to-
day to consider measures of relief for
Cripple Creek.
w. 3. Stratton has sent train load of
provisions to the camp for free distri-
button.
The Rocky Mountain News has started
popular subscription.
Secretary jackson, of the chamber of
commerce, reports 5000 people homeless
and many destitute. There are not
enough provisions to last twenty-four
hours. The great need is cooking utensils.
ACTIVE RELIEF MEASURES.
Cripple Creek.--The work of relieving
destitution was formally begun at meet
ing this morning. I. p. Earhart was
chosen chairman, with J. NJ. Roseben as
secretary.
A committee of five was chosen to take
charge of the general relief work, of
which Donald Fletcher is chairman and
J. Knox Burton is secretary, with Mayor
Steele as advisory member.
Offices were opened in the Masonic
b'aildihg.
1t was decided to establish provision
headquarters at the Midland depot and
to start two camps for the destitute.
A business mems committee was ap-
pointed, with I. p. Earhart as chairman,
to 20 east and solicit help from the in
eurance companies, loan companies and
other corporations. The money thus OBJ
tanned will be secured by the real estate
in town and be put into new buildings
and new stocks Of goods.
uNyERiFIED RUMORs.
1t is reported that one man has been
lynched, but it is not verified. Reports
of number of bodies being found in the
ruins also lack Vf verificat1on.
MILITIA SENT TO RUINED CITY.
Pueblo.-A company OF militia was
sent from here to Cripple Greek on the
train lenvng at 1850. 1t is reported
that four men caught stealing were
lynched.