The San Francisco call., 1896-04-30
Tremendous Explosions Scatter
Death While the Flames
Are Raging.
THIEVES SHOT WITHOUT MERCY
Their Bodies Left in the Burning
BuildingS-A Thousand People
Homeless.

OhlffLE ChEEh, COLO, April Z9.-Al
of the business district of Cripple Creek
spared by the fire of last week was burned
to-day. AT least dozen lives were lost
and as many more persons badly in iured.
There is nothing left in Cripple Greek but
the houses on the hill. The town is prac-
tically wiped out. The people are almost
in despair. Mayor Steele has invited as
sistance from neighboring towns in the
way OF tents for the homeless but the
police department feels able to cope with
the situation.
All thatis left of the camp is "Old Town"
over to the east, Capitol Hill. the residence
section northward, and scattering places
about the Florence and Cripple Greek
yards. West Cripple Creek, across the
Freeman placer, was also spared. The loss
cannot fall short of s., 100000.
Ali the substantial business houses of
both brick and wood, the leading hotels,
Office buildings and better class of retail
shops went up in smoke or lay in chaos as
the result of the use of dynamite exploded
to stay the flames. The conflagration
ended only when the residence portion
was reached and open spaces occurred
across which the flames could not reach.
Added to the horror OF the day was the
shooting of many thieves caught looting
the ruins. Five were shot IN town tonight
and two in Poverty GuIch. Twenty-Five
f1remen were injured during the day. The
ruins are still blazing f1ercely. People
have sought refuge in boxcars. sam ping
works and shafthouses. Two trainloads
have gone TO Victor and one to Gillette.
Word has been received of the starting of
relief trains with bedding, provisions and
clothing from Denver and Colorado
Springs.
Fire has broken out in West Cripple
Creek tonight, but, this section being
largely of scattered cabins and cottages,
it will not be very serious.
Tc-day's fire, which was of undoubted
incendiary origin, started in the Portland
Hotel on Second street shortly after noon
a brisk breeze from the south was blow
ing at the time, and the fire rapidly gained
such headway that even with a coed
water pressure the Fire Department. was
unable TO check the progress of the in
creasing flames. The Portland was a
great rattle-trap, and offered the best OF
kindling for the beginning of conhagra-
ton.
The entire population was quickly set
into panic by this fire, for the people ad
not recovered from their terrible expert
ence of last Saturday. Without delay
everybody began to prepare to pack up
and get away, but so rapid was the prog
ress of the flames that the people soon be-
came panic-stricken and chaos ensued.
1t Is absolutely impossible to portray in
words the scenes which followed until the
flames had spent their power.
Teams were lashed up and down the
streets by excited men; people with bum
dies and papers we're rushing pell nell
to the northward; shouts, the booming of
the flames, the crashing of fallen timbers
following the explosions of dynamite, all
made one ominous, unintelligibe roar
From the heights of Gold Hill the scene
must have been an impressive one, but
few stopped to witness the sight. Every
body on the hills hastehed to lend their
assistance by carrying away vaiuables,
much of which will hereafter remain m
identified.
AT the first hint of looting property the
police, aided by the citizens, gave prompt
notice that death would be the fate of all
thieves, but this did not deter the law
breakers. Several are believed to have
been shot and their bodies left to be Gre
mated in the conhagration. Rumors of
many lives lost added to the general con-
sternation, and when the boilers of the
Palace Hotel exploded. killing and iniur.
ing several people, the panic-stricken,
crazed and excited citizens rushed about
without apparent purpose or object.
The fire originated in the kitchen of the
Portland Hotel, which stood on Second
street, between Warren and Myers ave-
nues. Back of it was lumber yard and
several small buildings. In an hours time
the roof of the hotel had fallen in and the
flames were leaping across to the adjoin-
ing blocks. Booths furniture e-store was
blown up by dynamite in an effort TO
check the fire, but in vain. The Maloney
building was next wrecked, with its lawyer