The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-12
Many People Said to BE Missing and
Property Valued mt over $1,000
900 Destroyed by Fire.
HEAVY LOSS In NORTHWEST
BUSINESS PART OF NEW WEsTMIN-
STER, b. c., BURNED.
Value of the Buildings Reduced to
with Insurance of $1,5CO,OOO.

PRESCOTT, Ariz., Sept. 1.-THE town of
jerome, near here, was wiped out this
morning by fire, entailing loss of over
$l,0OO,OOO in property. Eleven bodies have SO
far been recovered, while score or more
are said to be in the ruins or missing. The
rire originated in a cabin and spread so
rapidly and fiercely that it was impossible
to save even the clothing. The fire was
confined exclusively to the business portion
of the town and the open group intervening
between it and the mammoth works of the
United Verde Company saved the latters
plant otherwise the loss and suffering
would have been terrible. Many people
from Jerome are arriving here on special
trains, while those remaining are being
cared for by the company.
The area of 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 be-
fore the flames pasteboard. Over one
hundred and fifty residences, averaging in
value s., 900, twenty-five general merchandise
and other stores, saloons, etc, of all kinds
are wiped out: in short, not a single bust
ness house remains The only building to
escape was the Methodist Church. The
number of people who are homeless is
pidCtu DIT LOW, dlQ tHSS dtS DclH5 ca LII
by Messrs. Giroux and Allen, OF the mining
company. Two special trains left here to-
night for the scene of the disaster, carrying
tents and other material TO comfort tn,
distressed. and d meeting is being held here
tonight to raise money for the needy. of
whom there are many. The loss is COM
plete, but little insurance being written in
that camp owing to the great risk and in
adequate water supply. The United Verde
Company is now kindly caring for the sui
ferers until other arrangements are made.
Where the fire originated was the scene
of drunken carousal last night, and while
no demonstrations are being made against
the men who are responsible for it, when
the horrors of the deed wear away from
the victims attention will be given to the
men who caused 1t. They are said to be
Italians. Various parties are now endeav-
oring to extricate the remains from the
ruins, and until the ground cools sufficient
ly 10 permit rescuers to approach the debris
it will be impossible to ascertain definitely
the names of the victims. Several promi-
nent mining men in the West are said to
have been in the town at the time and are
unaccounted for.
The fire started at o'clock in the morn
ing and spread with such rapidity that in
less liIlle imam TWO hours not a mouse IN a
radius that was covered by five blocks was
left standing. On the other side of the
gulch hundreds of pounds of giant powder
was used in the attempt TO arrest the flames
by demolishing buildings, but eyewitnesses
state that as soon as gap was made the
scattered 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 an entire family, consisting 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 DIR.
Woods, the company physician, narrowly
escaped losing all his patients in the hos
pital, but by good judgment a score of in
mates were saved by HIM by being removed
early and hastily. The reservoir which sup
plies the town with water was undergoing
repairs at the time, but eyewtnesses state
that had the water been abundant after the
fire had gained Roadway 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 clothing as well.