The silver star., 1898-10-06
A DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.
GREAT LOSS AT COLORADO
SPRINGS.
Tho Antirrs Hotel and Several iumnsr
Yarcs Burned Besides Large Number
lsof Other Buiidings-toss of Half -
L. Million. -.is- e

Denver. Oct. 1.-The following dis
patch to the Rocky Mountain News
tells of the great contiagration that
ragged at Colorado Springs yesterday:
Three fires broke out almost stimuli
taneously here this afternoon. One OF
them sci of carload of black blast
ing powder. 4 terrific explosion fol-
lowed, and an hour later over half Il
million dollalIs worth of property was
destroyed and the whole city threatened.
Denver, Pueblo and Cripple Greek
were asked for aid, and each of these
cities sent iiremcn and fire apparatus.
The greatest excitement prevailed ar
ter the fire began to gain licadway, ana
soon the streets were. crowded with pco-
pie fleeing for places of safety. Houses
We're stripped of their furniture ana
the goods were loaded on wagons and
conveyed TO streets far away.
With the aid furnished by the out
side fire department. the ilnines We're
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 dcpo,s and numerous
shacks and slanties. ~
The fire started shortly before .
O'clock under the Rio Grandc freight
depot. at the foot of Cucharas street.
There was a carload of powder stand
ing next to the platform of the depot.
consigned TO q. $. Barnes X Sons. At
tached to the carload of powder was II
carload Of dynamite. The flames burst
through the platform and spread so
rapidly that the clerks had barely time
to escape.
The alarm was quickly given and the
carload of dynamite was removed 10 n
place of safety. \ few minutes later
The flames envcloped the powder car.
\ dull explosion followed the ear flew
into u thousand pieces. and cans of
powder were hurled through the air Il
distance of two and n half blocks.
Some of them fell into the lumber
yard of Cressey X Fowler. n block and
Il half away. and set fire 10 the dry
timbers. 4 wind that Is estininied to
have been blowing at the rate of forty
miles an hour carried the flames across
lIucrfano street 10 the lumber yards
of Sperry Il Tnckcrman. the III Iaso
Lumber Company and the Newton
Lumber Company.
These yards all adjoin each other.
and We're soon in IL blaze. The Anilers
hotel. whose rear WAS opposite the
Newton lumber yard. caught ire The
employees displayed marked bravery
and endeavorcd 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 ignitcd 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 We're
dragged into the street. and there was
the greatest confusion. BY this time
the local fire department discovered
that II could NOT cope with the fire. and
the call for assistance was sent
The water pressure was not what was
expected. and. in fact. the blaze was so
fierce at this time that even n dclugc
would scarcely have done any good.
The people in the buildings in the
neighborhood of the fire moved ont as
as fast as they could. Truckmen
charged from $40 to SO for taking
away II 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 o'clock. and the fircmcn made
good progress. bur. after a lull OF about
iwo hours, II sprang up again. and the
tircmen We're compelled 10 use every
effort to prevent the adjoining property
catching fire, In addition TO the prop
crty destroyed which has already been
described, there was one Gulf railroad
coach. which was standing close Ia the
freight depot. and four ears. which
We're destroyed with the depot. The
Rio Grandc freight depot was entire
ly destroyed and eighteen freight cars
which stood near II.
The loss * estimated nj S5oOO00 with
S:.pD.OO0 insurance.