Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1896-05-02
THE LOSS is A MILLION
FIRE ATE OUT THE HEART OF
CRIPPLE CREEK.
Ernme buildings Went Down Lik g
Cards and Only Dynamite
stopped II.

Cripple Creek, April 25.-An angry co:r-
tesan threw lamp at her lover AT II
o'clock today and a million dollars worth
of property was destroyed Ia three hour''
The lamp hit the stove, igniting the OH
and setting fire 10 Jne furniture. In
few minutes the building was In names
This was Coughs dance hail, on Meyers
avenue, near Third street. In a very
short time the adjoining buildings had
caught despite the efforts of the fire de-
partment.
The fire quickly spread to the adjoining
frame buildings and then jumped across
Meyers avenue. Half Il dozen buildings
were soon in the embrace of the names
The fire then attacked the rear OF the
buildings fronting Bennett avenue. The
postoffice burned. A high wind thWar~ed
the efforts of the tircmcn to stop the
spread of the fire
One million dollars is q conservative eS-
innate of the damage done at this after
Moons fire, though some estimates are as
high as two million. The amount OF IN
surancc will not exceed $4,000.
When the fire broke out in Careys sec
flagration was not perceptible, and II
was thought that the hremen would have
the flames under control in few min
utes. But in a short time the fire h'td
spread to the adjoining buildings ana
brisk wind spranG up. Then 1t was con-
ceded by all that at least IA halt-dohen
buildings near the corner OF Meyers ana
Third streets would 80 and the occupants
began to move out. But many had waited
too long and were unable to get to Their
goods. Some barely escaped NTH taClt
lives, several women being dangerously
burned. Every minute added AIRY TO the
flames and when the fire had spread sew
eral doors on either side the danger to
The city was observed, but no one could
realize how great the damage would be
The heat became so intense that bulId-
ingS on the north side of Meyers street
took fire. Then it was that the occu-
pants Of the stores and offices saw the
true danger and began to make prcpara-
tons to save their possessions. Every
wagon in town was pressed into service
and goods were hauled away. Not tenlh
part of the goods were saved. BY the time
the postoffce had caught it became cyl
dent that the only way 10 stop the prog
ress of the fire was to blow up buildings
with dynamite. This was done under ,he
supervision of the 1iremcn and number
OF buildings had to bc sacrificed before
the fire had reached them.
An accident occurred which lost fire
man his leg. lie was placing big charge
under the Sisters hospital when it cN-
pioded blowing his leg Off.
The fire started about / clock ANA by
D. m. it had demolished the blocks be
tween Third and Fifth on Meyers, be
tween Third and Fifth on Bennett. stop
ping just this side of the now Midland dc
pot and warehouse, between Third and
Fifth on Carr, with the exception OF n
few buildings on the Third street side.
Nearly all the buildings between Third
and Fifth on Eaton were destroyed. Many
people lost everything they mad
The people not affected have offered
shelter to the homeless, OF which there
are several hundred.
The first National bank was doing bust
ness in another part Of town while theil
building was burning. The burnt district
is to be rebuilt at once With brick and
stone
All the theaters. dance houses and
sporting places were burned. Among the
buildings destroyed are The postohice
First National bank, Johnson dry good
house and Farley Bros. furniture store