The state herald., 1898-10-07
A DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.
GREAT LOSS AT COLORADO
SPRINGS.
The Antiers Hotel aud Several Lumber
Yards Burned Besides a Large Number
of Other Buiidings-Loss of Half u
Million.

Denver, Oct. 1.-The following dis
patch to the Rocky Mountain News
tells of the great conilagration that
ragged ut Colorado Springs yesterday:
Three fires broke out almost simul'
taneously here this afternoon. One OF
them set off Il carload of black blast
ing powder. A terrific explosion fol
lowed, and an hour later over half n
million dollalrs' worth of property was
destroyed and the whole city threatened
Denver, Pueblo and Cripple Creek
were asked for aid, and each of these
cities sent firemen and fire apparatus.
The greatest excitement prevailed af-
ter the fire began TO gain headway, ana
soon the streets were crowded with peO-
pie fleeing for places of safety. Houses
We're stripped of their furniture and
the goods We're loaded Oh wagons and
conveyed to streets far away.
With the aid furnished by the out
side fire department, the flames We're
gotten under control at about O'Clock,
but three blocks Of property had been
destroyed, including the handsome Ant
lers hotel, half dozen lumber yards,
two freight depots and numerous
shacks and shanties.
The fire started shortly before 3
O'Clock under the Rio Grande freight
depot, at the foot OF Cucharas street.
There was carload OF powder stand
ing next to the platform OF the depot,
consigned to q. S. Barnes & Sons. At
tached to the carload OF powder was a
carload of dynamite. The flames burst
through the platform and spread 10
rapidly that the clerks had barely time
to escape.
The alarm was quickly given and the
carload of dynamite was removed to a
place of safety. A few minutes later
the flames enveloped the powder ear.
a duh explosion followed, the ear flew
into thousand pieces, and cans of
powder We're hurled through the air Il
distance of two and n half blocks.
Some of them fell into the lumber
yard of Crcsscy & Fowler, a block and
n half away, and set fire TO the dry
timbcrs. A wind that is estimated to
have been blowing AT the rate of forty
miles an hour carried the flames across
IuerfanO street 10 the lumber yards
of Spcrry X Tuckcrman. the III Paso
Lumber Company and the Newton
Lumber Company.
These yards all adjOin each other,
and We're soon in n blaze. The Anllers
hotel. whose rear WAS opposite the
Newton lumber yard. caught fire. The
employees displayed marked bravery
and cndeavored to wet the building
down with garden hose and pals Of
water. but their efforts We're useless,
for the flames burst in through the
rear windows and ignitcd everything
in their way until the entire rear was
in one big blaze.
In the meantime the guests hurried
out through the front entrances
Trunks and other belongings We're
dragged into the street, and there was
the greatest confusion. BY this time
the local fire department discovered
that II could not cope with the fire, and
the call for assistance was sent O
The water pressure was not what was
expected, and in fact, the blaze was so
fierce at this time that even n deluge
would scarcely have done any good.
The people in the buildings In the
neighborhood Of the fire moved out as
ms fast as they could. Truckmcn
charged from SO 10 SD for taking
away load OF goods.
At dusk the city was in darkness, the
electric wires had been thrown down.
and the people were compelled TO use
candles for light. The wind died out
mt o'clock, and the iircmen made
good progress. but, after lull of about
two hours, II sprang mp again. and the
iiremcn We're compelled TO Use every
effort To prevent the adjoining property
catching fire. In addition TO the prop
erty destroyed which has already been
described. there was one Gulf railroad
coach, which was standing close TO the
freight depot, ana four ears, which
were destroyed with the depot. The
Rio Grande freight depot was entire
ly destroyed and eighteen freight cars
which stood near II.
The loss Is estimated at 100000 with
$500, 900 insurance.