Arizona weekly journal-miner., 1898-05-11
EPIDEMIC OF FIRES!
An Early t-. slaze on the Nor.a
 Side oftne Pi-za Sunoay Morning.
The Opera House the Scene q a Good Sized Co-7a-aticn This Morning.

PreSc Ott seems to De eypeElencinS q scr. oi epidemic Of fires just now.
 At two o'clock on Sunday morning an alarm vas sounded for very dangerous and threatening 6re on the north side of the plaza.
 At just an hour later in the mora ing. or al three o'clock this morning the city was again awakened and the fire department summoned to extinguish a blaze in the opera house.
 Both fires are supposed to have been of incendisry origin, and but for the heroic and efficient work of our hremen, both must have inevit- ably been very disastrous in their results.
 Sunday mornings fire started in the rear, between Gregory X Smiths grocery store, and the old Elite res taurant building. whish was being fitted up by James Griffin for a saloon. These two buildings were completely destroyed.
 The building adjoining occupied by F. s. Davis's, Prescott Transfer Company, and the Akers-Tritle- Brown Abstract Company were pret- ty badly scorched, but can he re- paired.
 While the building occupied by E. A. Kastner & Co. was not hurt much by the 6re. tue go0Gs Of the firm were pretty badly damaged by being flooded with water. \ lsrge portion of their goods were carr-cl out on the plaza, and despite 5-e fact that a guard was placed n them, there was a considerable le amount stolen. Mr. Shepard sa s one man was capya liking away with the nickel-iu- .- 1 | mae inc.
 Gregory X Shit sustained total less of their stock of groceries, valued at about 5000. snd had all insurance oD them of 5000.
 Griffin had spent nearly Sl.500 in fitting up ti> place, and was talking on Saturday of taking out Sl.0OO insurance, but postponed it until to- day.
 The entire TOW of buildings, from the Bashford- -BuTrister blocS. which adjoins Gregory k Smith'S store, to CorteZ street, are frame structures and with the slightest breeze to have famed the flames, they could hardly have been saved. is it was, the fire men again added to theIr reputation for the very efficient work done by them in saving the block, as the fire was a hard one 10 fight. The block is owned by Levi Bashford, who Is at present stopping in Los Angeles. He was notified srC,- by hi- agent, H. D. Aiken. of tG. los. bG' had not replied up 10 uo5U c13ay to signify b 1tious oi what as will do about building. Mr Az ken. however, experts t w,ii Te-jli in visit LcUe from Mr. H1~L.oIt. The value of the buildings is plsc-J at S3.OG0. with no insurance. The rates IR the block are sO high that Mr. B7sA.ord has carried his own insurance.
 The opera house fire this morning st 1rsec in one corner Of the rear of tEe building and very strong odOr of coal oil peIvaded the place when the 6Te was first reached. This taken in connection with the fact that there has been no fire in or around the place seems conclusive as to incendiary origin of 1t. As the building is located between Mrs. NJ. H. Gould's boarding and the old city hall school building had the flames not been arrested it would have resulted in the loss of the for mer and serious damage to the lat ter.
 Mrs. B. H. Smith who has been arranging for the production of Cinderella next Thursday evening had a lot of costumes and wigs stored there which are a complete loss, of several hundred dollars. The wigs were of her own manufacture and were extemely fine.
 Too much praise cannot be be- slowed on the fire department for their very effective work at both fires and Prescott has just cause to be proud of her fire department.
 The city reservoir had been cleaned out on Friday but had been re6lled and after the fire Was over is said to have had four feet of water in it. City Engineer DeWitj bow ever started up his pump during the progress of the fire to maze as- surance doubly sure.
 The ToUghs hose company made the record on Sunday morning and the Dudes this morning.
 On going to his ice factory this morning W. J. Muivenon, who Is chief of the tire department, dis covered that parties had been dis proving around there dur ing the night.
 The loss on the opera house has not been estimated vet but the in- surance on the building Is more than enough to repair the damage.