The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-09-13
JEROME LIES IN ASHES
The Flames Sped With Incredi-
BILE Swiftness and Fury.
SCENES OF DESOLATION
The United Verde Company Loses Fifty
Houses, Valued at $4,000 Each-Ihe
Total Loss Nearly a Million.
The Dead and Missing.

one OF the greatest calamities in the
loss of human life and destruction of
property that has ever occurred in the
territory occurred in Jerome Jerome.
through the agency of fire in the past.
has suffered heavily, but it would seem
that yesterday was decreed to shatter
its previous progressive existence and
| finally wipe IL out 1t was nearly Z
! O'Clock when the first alarm was given
and the slumberels arose to realize that
a shack in the Italian quarter, near the
Grandview hotel, was being consumed
by the fiery elements. Although people
assembled rapidly after the first alarm
the flames seemed to be more rapfd
and spread. licking up building after
building. From the beginning of the
fire to its end on the hill near the compa
ny property, the flames swept with such
rapidity and fury that it was simply be-
wildering.
Strong, brave men faltered in the per-
/ romance of what they as solemn duty
owed to themselves and their friends,
but in the frightful scenes which faced
I them and theirs to hesitate was only TO
/ be lost. Every eyewitness states that
/ II was horrible panorama, and as the
/ fire progressed in the course of half a
dozen distinct channels, it's hideous
]
ing. All that anyone knows is that they
could see the flames strike against a
house with herculean force and their
destructive work was ACCOMPLISHED and
they sped on and on.
In less than two hours an area cover
ing the space of five blocks was smoul-
dering ruin. Structures of the most
substantial material were consumed as
though they We're tissue and seemed to
be the fiend's delight. Nothing was
spared. Men and women who by years
or industry and thrift had accumulated
household goods and comforts for them
selves saw all but their scanty apparel
swept away. The scene last night was
one of horror and gloom. While no
suffering for ordinary necessities pre-
walls, despair is written on many coun-
tenances. Added to the loss of property
and the fact that the once thrifty town
Is no more, that its $500 people are i'm
most instances destitute the grim reap-
er of death hovers over the scene Of
desolation, intensifying the frightful
work of destruction. Many men and
children are missing. Eight charred
bodies have thus far been discovered
and 1t is feared that possibly twice that
number have perished. No one, however,
at present knows the exact extent of the
loss of life, and until the ruins have
sufficiently cooled to permit a careful
search will the list of casualties be COM
pleted.
After the alarm was given and the
utter futility Of any effort to arrest the
progress of the fire by fighting ii with
water was seen, dynamite was resorted
TO. But it did not avail The cinders
were carried aloft by explosions and fell
on house after house, setting them rap
idly on fire. In some instances the en-
bers Travelled a distance of more than
a..
quate and was only effective i'm a few
remote and isolated buildings The |
scenes enacted We're pitiable in the ex- |
treme. particularly among the women, /
who, frenzied at the loss of all, watched |
with tears the destruction Of their homes |
and household property. while men he |
roically endeavored to stem the tide of |
destruction, but in vain. for only i'm a |
few cases were they able to save any
thing.
Ia property loss it is difficult to make |
an estimate. In cases, however, like the |
houses owned by the United Verde |
company, numbering at least so and .
having d valuation of 81 900 each, the /
magnificent hospital building and gem
eral merchandise stores, saloons, hotels /
and other business houses, some idea /
may be had of the extent of the loss.
Many people familiar with Jerome place
the loss at figures ranging from a half
TO three-quarters of million dollars
There was but little insurance. the to-
tai aggregating less than $4,000.
The loss is complete, IL being stated
that not even the commonest articles
of use were saved. Much merchandise
and other valuable goods were removed
to places on the hillside, but the heat
became so intense that nearly every
thing was destroyed in the end. Fol-
lowing are some of the principal losses: /
In ]
total.
c. O'Keefe's general merchandise,
$50, 600; total loss.
Merrill Bros. general merchandise,
value $4,000; insurance nominal.
Hoover & Gardiner, resort, value $lO,-
900; insurance nominal.
Senate saloon. $4,000; insurance nomi-
nal.
Annex, loss $1,000.
George Lanham, loss s. 500
William Hok * Co., loss 900.
Joseph Temborino, loss SO. 900.
Mrs. Boyd, lodging house. loss So, 0OO
ST. Charles hotel. loss S2O.O0
Grandyiew hotel, loss S25,0O0 insur-
ance nominal.
Fifty company cottages, 100000; in
suTanCe nominal
Also al least POO additional places Of
business, including confectionery. to-
5acco, fruit. barber shops. meat mar
hets ana IKE places, aggrtgatlng a big
sum. Building contracts are already I
being entered into and the place in /
few months viii be the scene Of activity
and prosperity. The Bashford- Burmis- /
ter company, sam Hill and others have
sent over tents, and to this stock con-
stant additions are being made. \
money subscription is being circulated /
md literally signed. Among those who
Ost theiT lives and have been Identified
! re
ler two caildren: Wilford. an under ,
-aker; a dry goods clerk. name un- ,
Known; two laborers. names unknown. !
rhe number Of missing tonight is +
placed at Il. !
The following losses from yesterdays 4
ire are total: Grandview hotel. w. j. ]
Parks barber shop, W. T. Cody. res Z
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