The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-04-30
Tragic Results Follow the
Use Of Dynamite.
Cripple Creek Again Devas-
tated by a Big Fire.
Palace Hotel Blown Up--No Warn.
ing Given the Guests.

CRIPPLE CREEK, Col, April 30.-whne
the fire was raging here yesterday after
noon, special trains run from Victor
and Gillette to bring in miners with
sticks of dynamite ready to use wherever
there was any call for it.. 1t was moro
common than water at city FIRE and
the lavish use was productive OF many
fatalities.
The Palace Hotel. containing 800 rooms
was one of the first places attacked with
dynamite and from the results it would
appear that no warning was given OF the
impending explosion. AS the walls tot
tered in response to the tremendous
charges of giant powder, the air was filed
with shrieks of dying men who had been
caught in their rooms and dragged down
in the wreck.
Before the wreckers could o6er any aid,
they were driven back by the flames that
were rolling over the site of the hotel.
The dynamiters fled to save their own
lives and the loss OF life at the Palace II
merely q matter of conjecture.
The Bimettallic Bank and the First
National bank burned as II they were
made of paper. The First National Bank,
while it was the leading institution OF
Cls
for holding the s1e0,0 or more of de-
posits that were intrusted to 1t. Since
the last fire the bank has occupied tenn
porary quarters in the now burned dis
trict, where there are no vault accom-
mooations. To add to the apprehension
of the stockholders and depositors the
explosion of the dynamite leaves nothing
TO be recovered from the ruins.
Dynamiters operating without guides
or reason are credited with blowing up
the buildings. After the explosion at the
Palace Hotel the crowd that had followed
the fire paused for a moment and the peo-
pie began to grow vehement In Their de-
nunciation Of the dynsmiters and there
were several warm encounters between
disputants. While riot was impending
the flames worked toward the crowds
that blocked Bennett avenue and the ad-
vantage gained by the destruction OF the
botel was lost by not removing the debris.
Thousands OF homeless people shivered
about camp fires or wandered among the
ruins of.this once prosperous city through
out the night. The cold was severe and
toward smorning, snow began 10 fall
During the night for distance OF mile
to the right and left burning enters pre-
senteo q sight most incompatible. Stand
ing on the hill beyond the burned dis
trict snd to thevwest, the picture was one
of a huge bowl, with the steam arising
above. Everywhere along the thorough
fares can be seen the work of the dyna-
mite, q great mass OF kindling-wood. A
company OF the Colorado National Guar
is on duty in the unburned, district. Nu
merous arrests have been made in the
outside district. resort to which mas teen
made by the vagrant element which lately
has infested Cripple Creek. All night
fires were starting up occasionally on the
placss. Where possible. the residents
have pulled the houses down and IL that
failed blew them up. They had no water
in that portion OF the city.
A rumor Is in circulation that man
was seen in the act of setting fire &c q
dwelling on Capitol Hill, and wac shot by
a resident Just as fire bug was shot and
killed by Floyd Thompson yesterday az
ternoon. ~
Mayor Doyle of Victor has employed
two fire wardens for every business block
in that city as IL has been rumcred that
frebugs are after that town az well as
Cripple Creek. a man was caught in the
act OF firing the rear wall OF the Newell
Hardware Compapy's store. He is IN jail.
The total loss by Yesterdays fire is es-
timated at 81, 600, 600. The insurance will
probably foot up between s400, coo and
$500, 600. The heaviest losers sre: Louls
Weinburg, clothing store, S40 900; Palace
Hotel, $40 600: Portland Hotel, $40, ,00o:
furniture, $1,000; insurance on furniture,
$1,000; w. 4. Booth, furniture, $50, COO;
Wright Hardware Company, $40, GOD;
Elpho Lumber Copmany, so, 600; Hellers'
drug store, 10000. Many other indi-
vidual losses run as high as $50, 0C0. All
the local newspapers, banks and express
offices, and nearly all stores, hotels aud
lodging houses are wiped out.