The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-09-12
TOWNS WIPED OUT
JEROME, ARIZ., AND NEW WEST
MINISTER, ON THE FRASER
RIVER
4 LARGE LOSS OF LIFE
So Complete at Both
Places That Many Are Without
Either Food or Shelter-Deaths
RumOred In the Canadian Blaze,
but the Story Ks Not COnGrmed-
Started I'm q CarousaI.

PRESCOTT, Ariz., Sept IL The
town of Jerome, near here, was COM
pleteiy wiped out tonight by fire, en-
failing a loss of over 81, 900, 900 in prop
erty.
Eleven bodies have so far been recov-
cred. while a score or more are said to
be in the ruins or missing. The fire
originated from a gasoline stove in a
cabin and spread so rapidly and fierce
ly that it was impossible to save even
the clothing. The fire was confined ex-
clusively to the business portion Of the
town, and the gap intervening between
ir and the mammoth works of the
United Verde company saved it, other
wise the loss and suffering would have
been terrible.
Many persons from Jerome are ar
irving here on special trains, while
those remaining are to be cared for by
the company.
The town Is situated in a narrow
gulch and ravineS leading to 1t, in
which were many wooden and stone
buildings, the latter melting as rapidly
before the flames as pasteboard. Over
$50 buildings. averaging in value $4,000,
many merchandise houses, saloons and
general stores were wiped out, and
nothing Of the business portion re-
nlaans, The only building to escape
was the Methodist church.
The number OF people rendered home
less is placed at 1,500, and they are be-
ing cared for by Measrs. Giroux and
Cross, Of the mining company.
Two EnAQial trains left hara tonight
for the scene Of the fire, carrying food
tressed, and q meeting is being held
tonight to raise money for the needy,
Of whom there are many.
LOSS COMPLETE.
The loss is complete, but little in
surance being written In that place,
owing to the great risk and made
quate water supply. The United Verde
company Is now caring for the suf-
ferers until other arrangements can
be made
The place where the fire originated
was the scene of a drunken carousal
last night, and when things settle a
bit short shift will be made Of the
men who caused 1t. They are said to
be Italians. No efforts are being
made to extricate the remains from
the ruins, and until the ground cools
sufficiently to permit rescuers to ap-
proach the debris 1t will be impossible
to ascertain definitely the names Of
the victims. Several prominent men
from the West are said to have been
In the town at the time and are un-
accounted for.
The fire started at o'clock this
morning, and in the incredibly short
time of two hours not a house within
a radius Of five blocks was left stand
ing. On the other side Of the gulch
hundreds of pounds of giant powder
was used in the attempt to arrest the
flames, by demolishlng buildings, but
eye witnesses say that, as soon as a
gap was made, the scattered buildings
were licked up as if by suction and
thrown hundreds Of feet in every d.
rection, only to spread and increase
the fury OF the flames. 1t is said a
man, his wife and six children, who
endeavored to save what they had
saved by years of accumulation, have
been found dead. The arrivals from
the city make the situation all the more
pitiable and sad.
The hospital was burned, and the
inmates had a narrow escape, but by
good judgment the score Of patients
were saved