The herald., 1896-05-01
Serves to Bring Order Out of
Chaos
THE TOWN WILL BE REBUILT
And Houses Are Already In Course of
Reconstruction
Rough Estimate by the Insurance ADJUST
ers Places tine Loss At a Million
and q Quarter
Associated Press Special Wire.

CRIPPLE CREEK, Col, April 3d.
The town is perfectly quiet tonight, not
withstarding the turbulent day. Since
the sun went down last night the air
has been filed with all sorts of rumors
of shootings and lynching and attempt
ed arson. But none of them have
proved true. The report that two bodies
would be found in the ruins of the Port
land was stopped by the presence in the
flesh of the supposed dead people. Dur
ing the day relief was furnished in
the shape of provisions and tents from
Denver, Pueblo and Colorado Springs,
and invitations We're extended to the
homeless from citizens of all towns in
the Cripple Creek district. There will
be no great suffering. The roads have
offered free transportation to all who
cannot purchase tickets. The telephone
company has given up its wires to any
who desire to talk to friends. Relief
headquarters have been established and
hundreds were cared for. The insur
ance agents are in session and are en-
deavoring to make as early statement
as possible.
In a general way the ground within
the fire limits does not present even a
decent ruin. The fire swept everything
before it, just as if flaming broom
had passed over the district. The fire
moved in a general northern direction,
Spdreading out eastward under the i'm
pulse of a terrific wind. The Masonic
temple, postiffice and few other scat
tering structures remain. No vestige
is recognizable of the furniture or fix
lures, iron or glass, everything having
been melted away.
On all of the foothills reaching down
to the very fire, thousands of homeless
people stand awaiting news. The most
will leave town If they can. During the
night officers and military patroiled the
Ill
give strict account of themselves,
thus ridding. the town of the lawless ele-
ment The Jail was full by midnight
and after that box cars at the Midland
depot were imyproviSed as prisons. A
morning train brought Sergeant Dun
nington and squad of ten men from
Denver, who at once took charge of the
police affairs.
The work of relieving destitution was
formally begun this morning at II
o'clock, when many prominent men and
women met in the Masonic building to
organize. In addition to Cripple Creek
citizens there were substantial repre-
sentatives present from Denver Colo
rado Springs, Pueblo, Victor and small
chosen chairman. A committee of five
was chosen to take charge of the gen.
eral relief work, of which Donald
Fletcher is chairman and Knox Burton
secretary with Mayor Steele an adviS-
ory member. Offices We're opened on
the floor of the Masonic building. 1t
was decided to establish provision head
quarters at the Midland depot and start
two camps for the destitute. Tents
We're erected where homeless people
may sleep and to which supplies may be
sent as they arrive in the city.
RumorS are plentiful as to the extent
of the shooting by the police here last
night, but the officials absolutely refuse
to confirm or deny any of Them 1t is
certain that at least two men were shot
one of them fatally and one was hanged.
1t is not possible to ascertain the
names. but all three of the men are said
to have been employed in attempting
incendiarism and were thus summarily
dealt with.
A vigilance or regulators committee
has been organized and 1t is freely whis-
pered that there are certain undesira-
go.
Shortly before noon today the police
lined up fifty-two hobos and plain
,lrunks 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 patient from the ambulance
and broke his leg.
There is very little thieving, built is
generally believed that fire bugs are In
town. Some women in the vicinity Of
the reservoir today saw two men pour
ing oil on the buildings and gave the
alarm, but before any men could arrive