The herald., 1898-09-12
A CAROUSAL AT JEROME
CAUSES DESTRUCTION OF EVERY
BUSINESS BLOCK
LIFE LOST AT PHILADELPHIA
New Westminster, B. G., Practically
Destroyed and Thousands of
People Homeless and Hungry
Associated Press Special Wire.

ASSOCIATED PresS special wire.
PRESCOTT. Ariz., Sept 1.-THE :owr
Of Jerome. near here. was completely w!pee
out this morning by tire. In addition to tho
loss Of over $l.00O.000 10 property. clever
bodies so far have been recovered, while 9
score or more ara said to be in the ruins OIL
missing.
The fire originated from a gasoline stov,
In cabin, and Travelled so furiously ant
ferce.y that 1t was impossible to save ever
clothing
The fire was confined exclusively 20 the
bus,nesA portion Of the town, and the oper
ground intervening between It and Tho
mammoth works Of the United Verde com.
pany saved the lat;er's plant; otherwise
ths loss and suffering would have beer
even more terrible. Many people from
Jerome are arriving here on special rains
while those remaining are being cared for
by the company. The area Of the fire was
confined TO narrow gulch and the ravines
leading 40 it, In which were located sub.
stan,!al wooden and stone buildings. the
latter melting as rapidly before the flames
as II bull; Of pasteboard. Over $50 resi-
dences, averaging in value $1,000 each. to-
ether with 2s general. merchandise and
are wiped out Not a single business house
remains The Only pubic building 10 escape
was the Methods; church
The number OF people who are homeless
is placed at 1900 and they are being cared
for by Giroux & Allen Of the mining COM
pany.
TIVE special trains left here tonight for
the scene Of the disaster. carrying tents and
other materials to comfort the distressed.
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 20 tho
great risk and inadequate water supply
The United Verde. management Is now
kindly caring for The sufferers until other
arrangements are made.
Where the fire originated was the scene
Of a drunken carousal last night, and. while
no demons ra tions are being made against
the men who are responsible for It. atten
t!on will be given to the men who caused
T.. when the victims have been cared for.
Many parties are now endcavoring to ex-
tiscate remains from the ruins, and until
the ground cools sufficiently 10 permi. res
cuers to approach The debris. It will be i'm
possible to ascertain defln1 VIZ the names,
of The victims. Several prominent mining
men in the west are said to have been in the
town a; the time and are unaccounted for
The fire started at o'clock in the morn
Ing and spread with such rapidity that in
less han Two hours not house in a radius
that would cover five blocks was left
standing On the other side of the gulch
hundreds of pounds OF giant powder were
used In the attempt to arres' the flames
by demolish!ng buildings, but eyewitness
es s;ate that so soon as a gap was made,
the shattered buildings were licked up as
II by suction and thrown hundreds Of feet
in every direction. only to ignite and In
crease the fury Of the flames.
1t Is said that an entire family Of man,
wife and three children. who endeavored
to save wha; they had been years in ac-
cumula,ing. have been found in the ruins;
and as the arrivals from the scene reach
the city. the devastation Is reported only
the more pitable and sad. DR.. Woods, The
company 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 repairs al
the time, bu; eye-witnesses state that, had
the water been abundant after the fire had
gained headway, the result would have been
the same. So complete Is the disaster that
refugees In this city tonight are not only
penniless but are without necessary cloth
irg at all. Owing to the excitement and
difficulty OF communication, no list Of the
dead can be obtained at present.