The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-09-12
JEROME WIPED OUT CLEAN.
BIT ONE RVILDTyG LEFT STAND
ING IN THE TOWN.
Eifteen Hundred People Homeless.
Many Penalties and without
Clothtng-Seven Bodies Recover
ed From the Ruins-Ioss Great.

PRESCOTT. Ar. Sept N-TTss town -
Jerome. near here. was completely wiped
oct this morning by fire. enta1liug a loss 81
over 81 .aU."s n property. Eleven bodies
have 80 far been recovered. while = score
or more are said TO De II tAs ruins or
missing
The fire originated trorn gasoline Stove
il 3 cabin ana spread 20 rapidly and fssTcs-
y that Il was impossible 20 save even
clothing.
TIE FIRE was confined exclusively 10 The
business portion Of the toxn and the opeG
ground Intervening between Il am the
mammoth WORKS OF the United Verde Con-
pany savad tbs latt-r's plant: otherwise
the loss and suffering would aave been
terrible. Many peopis from Jerome are az
riy-ng here On Special trains, while those
remaining ale being cared for by the CON-
pany- The area Of The fire was confined TO
a narrow gu}ch and ravires leading 70 =
In which were located substantial wooden
and stone buildings. The latter melting ~
rapidly before the flames as paste board
Over 80 residences. Averaging II value
& 80. twenty-five general merchandise and
other stores, saloons, etc, of all kinds, are
wiped cat: n short, Tot single business
house remains. The only bIildlag 10 escape
was the Methods. church.
TIE number Of people who are homeless
for ny Messrs. GiroUz and Alien, Of the min
ing company.
Two special trains left here tonight fer
the scene Of the disaster. carrying tents
and other material to comfort the distressed
and a meeting is being held mere ron.g>>
% raise money for TIE needy, OF whom
there are many. The less IS complete but
little insurance being written IN that camp
owing 10 the great risk ard Inadequate
water supply. The United Verde manage
nleni IS nov kindly caring Cor the suffer
ers until other rargeneu;s are made.
Where the fire orig mated was the scene
81 drunken carousai last night and while
nc demonstrations ara being made against
the men who are responsible for il, when
tre horrors Of the deed wear away from tbs.
victims attention VIII be given 10 the men
who caused X They are said 10 De Italians
Various PARTIES are now endeavoring 70
extr:cate the remains from the ruins and
until the ground coois sufficiently 10 permit
rescuers TO approach thu debris, II will b.
impossible 20 ascertain definitely the names
Of the victims. Several prominent mining
men IN the West sare said 10 have been
in the town al the time and are unaecounr
ed for
The fire started al O'Clock in the morn
ing and spread with such rapidity that in
less than two hours not house in radius
Aii6i "DE91 COVER HFE D5oGHS was lett stand
ing.
On the other side OF the gulch hundreds
OF pounds Of giant powder we've used in
the attempt TO arrest the flames by 3er,oi-
-shing the buildings. but every time a gap
was made the scattered buildings We're lick
0i up as Il by suction and thrown hundreds
OF feet in every direction, only 10 ignite
ard increase the fury OF the fire.
1t Is said that an entire family. consisting
OF man. wife and three children. who en-
deavored 10 save what they had been years
n accommodating. have been found in the
ruins and as the arrivals from the scene
reach the city the devastation reported is
only more pItisble and sad. DR.. Woods,
the company physician. narrowly escaped
losing al his patients In the hospital. but
by good judgment score OF inmates were
saved by him by being removed early AMI
hastily.
The reservoir which supplies the town
With water was undergoing repairs at the
time, but eye witnesses state tina; 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 ara not only
penniless but are without necessary cloth
ing, as well.