The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-09-13


one of the greatest calamities. in the
loss of human lives 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 it out.
1t was nearly o'clock when the first
alarm WAS given, and the slumberers
awoke 10 realize that a shack in the
Italian quarter. near the Grand View
hotel was being consumed by the nery
elements. Although people assembled
1apldly after the first alarm, the flames
seemed to be more rapid, and S0read,
licking up building after building. From
the beginning of the fire 20 Its end
Oh the hill near the county property,
the flames swept with such raDidity
and fury that it was simply bewilder-
ing.
Strong. brave men faltered- in the
performance of what they, as solemn
duty. owed to themselves and their
friends. but in the frightful scenes
which faced them and theirs, to hesi-
tate was only 30 be lost. Every eye
witness states that it was horrible
panorama. and as the fire progressed
III the course of half a dozen distinct
channels. its hideous work was well
done. They can tell nothing. 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 after the
alarm an area covering at least the
SPACE of five blocks was a smouldering
1ial material were consumed as though
they were tissue. and seemed 10 be the
fiend's delight. Nothing was spared.
Men and women, who, by years of in
dustry and thrift, had accumulated
household Goods and comforts Tor
themselves. saw all but their scanty
apparel swept away.
The scene last night was one of hoT-
Tor and gloom. While no suffering for
81 binary necessaries prevails, despair
is written on many countenances.
Added 10 the loss of property, and the
fact that the once thrifty town is no
more, that its $500 people are in most
instances destitute, the grim reaper OF
death hovers over the scene of desc
lation, intensifying the frightful work
of destruction.
MANY ARE MISSING.
Many men and children are missing.
Eight charred bodies have thus far
been discovered. and it is feared that
possibly twice that number have per-
ished. No one, however. at present. |
knows the exact extent of the loss of |
life. and not until the ruins have SUE !
fciently cooled TO permit a careful
search VIII the list of casualties be |
com1leted.
After the alarm was given and the |
utter futility of any effort to arrest the |
progress OF the fire by fighting it with /
water was seen, dynamite was resort
ed TO. But il did not avail. The Gin
ders were carried aloft by EXPLOSIONS.
and fell on house after mouse, setting
them rapidly on fire. In some instances
the embers Travelled a distance of
over 200 yards. The water supply was
inadequate. and was only effective in
O few remote and isolated buildings.
The scenes enacted were pitiable in
the extreme. particularly among the
women. who. frenzied at the loss of all.
watched with tears the destruction Of
their homes and household property, |
while men heroically endeavored TO
stem the tide of destruction, but in
vain, Cor only in a few cases were
they able 10 save anything.
PROPERTY LOSS.
In 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 a valuation OF $4,000 each, the
hospital building and gen.
.ral merchandise stores, saloons, hotels .
md other business houses, some idea
nay be had of the extent of the loss.
Many people familiar with Jerome
place the loss at figures ranging from a
lalf to three-quarters of a million dol ,
ars. There was but little insurance, !
he total aggregating less than $4,000. /
The loss is complete, it being stated ,
hat nor even the commoneSt articles !
# use were saved. /,
Much merchandise and other valu- !
.hle goods were removed to places on {
he hillside. but the heat became so in 7
ense that nearly everything was de- S
troyed in the end. :
Building contracts are already being :
ntered into. and the place. in a few +
months. will be a scene of great activ- S
y and prosperity. a
The Bashford- -Burmister company,
am Hill and others have sent over
ants, and to this stock constant ad- i
itions are being made. a money sub ]
criDtion is being circulated and lib il
rally signed. c
Among those who lost their lives and d
ave been identified are the following: :
Mexican woman and her two chii- c
ren; Wilford, an undertaken; a dry a
pods clerk, name unknown: two la $
0rers, names unknown. The number L
missing tonight is placed at 10. =
SCENE OF RUIN. s.