Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-04-30

Cripple Creek, Col, April pa fire
which broke out in the Portland hotel
shortly after noon to-day destroyed
about all that was left of Cripple Greek,
after the great conflagration OF last Sat
urday. -Four persons were killed by
explosions and at least fourteen Injured,
several Of them fatally.
The flames to-day spread withlgreat
rapidity, and although strenuous efforts
were made.to check the progress Of the
fire by blowing up the buildings, they
proved of no avail and all the principal
business buildings are in ruins and
nothing is left of the town proper except
the railroad stations and a few scat
tered houses. The fire ragged fercely
all the afternoon and only died out to-
night for lack OF fuel on which to feed.
The fire started in the Portland hotel
and jumped across the street in few
minutes
The block between Bennett and Myers
avenues and First and Second streets
burned next together with most of the
buildings above Warren, not destroyed
in Saturdays fire.
The Masonic Temple building, the
principal business block in the camp,
followed
AT , O'Clock 100 pounds of giant
powder was exploded in blowing up
buildings. but a high wind had arisen
and the efforts to check the flames met
with but little success.
At 5:30 the fire had spread aver the
entire town, there being hardly any
buildings left except a few houses on
the hill. By an explosion in Third
street, two persons were killed and four
teen injured,
The fire extended from Warren ave-
nue. to the reservoir and from "a to
Third street.
At 6 p. m. the fire had burned itself
out. and Mayor Steel telegraphed Chair
man Webber. OF the Fire and Police
Board. of Denver, that firemen and po-
licemen are not needed.
A special policeman shot and killed
an unknown man found carrying away
vauables from burning building.
Mayor Steel telegraphed Mayor Muir
ry of Denver, as follows:
Thousands homeless. Send tents.
We have plenty of blankets"
There is not a building left standing
in the business section of the city. Only
a few residences on the outskirts re-
main. and thousands are homeless. A
revised list of the dead and injured is
as follows:
The dead are: J. Griffith, - Bas-
sett. two others unidentified.
The injured are: E. H. Small. John
Rice. E. Evans, George E. Youngstron,
George Leyden Qatally), john Kreigger
Cfattally). e. II. Smith, superintendent
of the water works, l.. Maroney, +.
Bradley, eight others names not yet
learned.
BREAKS OUT AGAIN.
Ginett. Col. April S:20-The
Cripple Greek fire has broken out
afresh. 1t is now extending to West
Cripple Creek and it is feared that this
suburb will be entirely wiped out The
greatest confusion prevails. Free fights
are the rule and nobody knows what
will happen before morning.
WORK OF AN INCENDIARY.
Denver, Colo. April 29.-T. J. Moy'
nahan, owner CT the Portland hotel, in
which the fire at Cripple Creek yester-
day started, called at the office of Supt
Walpole. of the State insurance depart
ment in this city and made statement
which. in the light of to-day's events
is regarded as tending to show that the
fire was of incendiary origin. MIR. Moy-
nahan stated that $4,000 insurance was
carried on half of the furniture, which
cost but $500 Mr. Moynahan came tc
Denver to have the insurance cancelled
He says that an attempt was made to
burn the hotel last Saturday. The
lease of the hotel to Benjamin Brewer
expires May I. The hotel cost Mr.. Moy-
nahan $500 and the insurance carried
on the building was $4,000.
Mr.. Walpole is investigating the
charge preferred by Mr.. Maynahan.