The record-union., 1898-09-12
Eleven Bodies Have Been Recovered So
Far.
A Score OF More Said to be Still in
the Ruins-The Fire Was the
Result of n Drunken CarousaI
and Spread so Fast That Many
Were Caugkt-Over Fifteen
Hundred People Rendered
Homeless.

PRESCOTT (Ariz), Sept. II. - The
town of Jerome, near here, was COM
pletely wiped out this morning by fire,
attending a loss of over S1,OUO,000 in
property. Eleven bodies have so far
been recovered, while a score or more
are said to be in the ruins or missing.
The fire originated from a gasoline
stove in cabin. and spread so furi-
ously that it was impossible To save
even clothing
The fire was confined exclusively to
the business portion of the town, and
the open ground intervening between
it and the mammoth works of the
United Verde Company saved the lat
ter'S plant, otherwise the loss and suf-
fering would have been terrible.
Many people from Jerome are arriv-
ing here on special trains, while those
remaining are being cared for by the
company.
The area of the fire was confined to
a narrow gulch and ravines leading to
it, in which were located substantial
wooden and stone buildings, the latter
melting as rapidly before the flames
as pasteboard. Over 100 residences,
averaging in value $1,000, twenty five
general merchandise and other stores.
saloons and stands of all kinds are
wiped out; in short, not single bust
ness house remains. The only build
ing to escape was the Methodist
Church.
The number of people who are home
less is placed at / 500, and they are
being cared for by Messrs. Giroux and
Allen of the mining company Two
special trains left here tonight for the
scene of the disaster, carrying tents
and other material to comfort the dis
tressed, and a meeting is being held
here tonight to raise, money for the
needy of whom there are many. The
loss is complete. but little insurance
being written in that camp, owing to
the great risk and inadequate water
supply The United Verde manage
ment is now kindly caring for the suf-
fering, until other arrangements are
made
Where the fire originated was the
scene of a drunken carousal last night.
and While no demonstrations are being
made against the men who are re-
sponsible for it, when the horrors of
the deed wear away from the victims.
attention will be given to the men who
caused it. They are said to be Ital-
ians.
Various parties are now endeavoring
to eXtricate the remains from the ruins.
and until the ground cools sufficiently
to permit rescuers to approach the de-
bris, it will be impossible to ascertain
definitely the names of the victims.
Several prominent mining men in the
West are said to have been in the
town at the time, and are unaccounted
for.
The fire started at Z o'clock in the
morning, and spread with such rapid
ity that in less than two hours not d
house in a radius that would cover
five blocks was left standing
On the other side of the gulch hun
dreds of pounds of giant powder was
used in the attempt to arrest the flames
by demolishing buildings, but eye-wit-
nesses state that as soon as gap
was made the shattered buildings were
licked up as if by suction and thrown
hundreds of feet in every direction,
only to ignite and increase the fury of
the fire.
1t is said that the entire family of
man and wife and three children. who
endeavored to save what they had been
years in accommodating have been
found in the ruins, and as the arrivals
from the scene reach the city the
devastation reported is only the more
pitiable and sad. DR.. Woods, the COM
pany physician, narrowly escaped los
ing all his patients in the hospital. but
by good judgment a score Of inmates
were saved by him, by being removed
early and hastily.
The reservoir which supplies the
town with water was undergoing re-
pairs at the time, but eye-witnesseS
state that had the water been abund-
ant after the fire had gained headway
the result would have been the same.
So complete is the disaster that refu-
gees in this city tonight are not only
penniless, but are without necessary
cI bipo we'll