Rocky Ford enterprise., 1898-10-06
A DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.
GREAT LOSS AT COLORADO
.Ef. SPRINGS.
Tho Antiers Hotel aud Several Lumber
Yards Burned Bcsides y Largo Number
of Other BuIldinBs-Loss g. Half -
Million. ..

Denver, Oct. 2.-The following dis
patch to the Rocky Mountain News
tells of the great conhagration that
ragged Mt Colorado Springs yesterday:
Three fires broke out almost stimuli
taneously here this afternoon. One OF
them set Off carload Of black blast
Ing powder. A terrific explosion fol-
lowed, and nm hour later over half
million dollnlrs 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 flremen 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
were stripped OF their furniture nnd
the goods were loaded on wagons and
conveyed to streets far away.
With the aid furnished by the out
side fire department, the flames were
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 dep0ts and numerous
shacks and shanties
The fire started shortly before 3
o'clock under the Rio Grande freight
depot, ut the foot of Cucharas street.
There was IL carload Of powder stand
Ing next to the platform OF the depot.
consigned to q. $. Barnes 4 Sons. At
tached TO the carload of powder was Il
carload of dynamite. The flames burst
through the platform and spread 50
rapidly that the clerks had barely time
to escape.
The alarm was quickly given and the
carload OF dynamite was removed to n
place OF safety. 4 few minutes later
the flames envclopcd the powder car.
A dull explosion followed, the car flew
into u thousand pieces. and cans OF
powder were hurled through the air IL
distance OF two and half blocks.
Some of them fell into the lumber
yard of Crcssey 4 Fowler. IL block and
n half away. and Sc, fire to the dry
tmbers. A wind that is estimated to
have been blowing ut the rate of forty
miles nn hour carried the flames across
HuerfnnO street to the lumber yards
OF Sperry L. Tuckcrman, the FL Pnso
Lumber Company and the Newton
Lumber Company.
These yards nil adjoin each other,
and We're soon in n blaze. The Antlers
hotel, whose rear wns opposite the
Newton lumber yard. caught fire. The
and endeavored to wet the building
down with garden hose and pals of
water, but their efforts were useless,
for the flames burst in through the
rear windows and ignited 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 were
dragged into the street, and there was
the greatest confusion. By this time
the local fire department discovered
that 1t could not cope with the fire, anu
the call for assistance was sent q
The water pressure was not what was
expected, and, In fact, the blaze was so
fierce at this time that even deluge
would scarcely have done any good.
The people in the buildings in the
neighborlood of the fire moved out as
as fast as they could. Truckmcn
charged from SO to S25 for taking
away n 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
at Z O'Clock, and the tiremen made
good progress. but. after lull of about
two hours. it sIranS up again, and the
firemen were 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, and four cars, which
were destroyed with the depot. The
Rio Grande freight depot was entire
ly destroyed and eighteen freight cars
which stood near 1t.
The loss is estimated at 100000 with
100000 insurance.