The Monte Vista journal., 1899-08-26

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At 1:15 o'clock yesterday afternoon
fire started In Y small shack In Parn-
disc Alley, on South Third street. The
blaze was insignificant Mt first. but n
high wind was prevailing and the
iiames Threatened the town.
| The fire department responded
promptly, but the flames swept rapidly
and In short time had iiared across
| Third street TO the east. and caught
the buildings, which were soon u mass
of roaring flames.
The fire then spread through the
block east TO Second street. II travel
ed very rapidly up Third street, on
both sides. north TO Victor avenue.
ON Second street the fire was soon
past control and also reached Victor
avenue. All OF the buildings from the
corner OF Second street and Victor ave-
nue. and east on Victor up to the cor
ner of Fourth street and Victor were
within nm hour and half from the
time the fire began mass of roaring
hames, II each moment gaining addi-
tional force.
Tho postofiice. on the corner OF Third
ana Victor avenue. caught fire. and the
flames then travelled up Third street,
burning all of the buildings on either
side as far as the Florence & Cripple
Greek railway tracks.
Great efforts We're made to stop the
spread of the flames east from Victor
avenue and Fourth street, but II was
impossible to accomplish this. The
water In the hose. which was being
handled In different places by the fire
department. became exhausted and left
the city at the mercy OF the flames.
tsnT ,nIn t.. aVt
the fire from reaching beyond Fourth
street, but the heat was so great that
1t drove everybody away.
AT o'clock the Hotel Victor caught
fire, and was soon envelopcd in flames.
The employees at the Gold Coin mine
shaft house concentrated in force and
had number OF streams in operation
and 1t was thought that the big build
ing would be saved. The shaft house
is situated north OF the Hotel Victor n
few hundred feet, but at 3 o'clock the
heat became so terrible that II drove
everybody AWAY and few moments
later the shaft house was also in
flames.
The new Gold Coin club house. on
Diamond avenue. Just across the street
from the shaft house. next took fire
and was completely ruined.
The fire then worked Its way up
North Fourth street, burning all the
buildings and finally reached the new
Midland Terminal railway depot.
which wns completely destroyed. The
fire then caught the new Florence X
Cripple Creek depot and II soon melted
away.
On North Third street the conf,agra.
ton travelled across the track and took
the Florence 4 Cripple Greek depot
The big warehouses east OF the depot
also took fire and burned very rapidly.
AZ one time. about G o'clock, 1t was
thought that the splendid Strong mine
shaft house and machinery plant were
doomed
The high trcs,lc leading from the
shaft house over the Florence n Grip
pie Creek tracks took fire. but by al
most supcrhumnn efforts on the part
OF the Strong mine employees the firc
was held Mt that point where II start
cd on the trcstlc work.
The total area covered by the con-
fakihtion will bc confined to less than
fourteen blocks, which comprises the
entire business section of the city.
The total estimated loss nt this hour
IL $500, 600. with xGOO. 600 To SSOO. GOO
insurance. Nlnc.tcnths OF all the
buildings destroyed were wooden. and
burned with extraordinary rapiiity.
Most Of the buildings were erected i've
or six years ago. and were rs dry ms
tindcr. Prompt measures for relief
have been taken. There are probably
200 people who nre without places OF
shelter. The mayor. W. !. ponnclly.
and members Of the city council held
meeting at q. A. X. hall. on West Vic.
tor avenue. and messages were rccciv-
ed offering assistance from Colorado
Springs. Cripple Greek and many other
towns In the district.
The total number OF buildings lost Is
estimated at 500. The entire section
OF the city contained within the follow
Ing boundaries was destroyed: From
Portland avenue. on the south. To Fifth
street, on the west and First street on
the east: north To the Midland Tcrmln.
al railway. n distance OF half n mile.
The west side OF Fifth street. which
contained residence houses. was saved
by heroic work by volunteers and tile
Nrc department. which kept the flames
from spreading Into that section Of the
town. All of the buildings ON the
west side were badly scorchcd