The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-08-22
. DISASTROUS BLAZE
BUSINESS PORTION OF VICTOR Al
MOST ENTIRELY DESTROYED.
Buildings Were Blown Up with Dyna-
mite to Check the Flames, but the
Loss Reached y, 100000.

CRIPPLE CREEK, Col, Aug. 21.-Fire
has destroyed the business portion Of The
city of Victor. causing a loss estimated ut
100000. Beginning shortly after noon, the
fire ragged until evening. consuming every
thing in It's way. 1t had it's origin, it is
thought, In the Merchants cafe, adjoining
the Bank of Victor, on the corner of Third
street and Victor avenue. A strong wind
from the south famed the flames and in a
few minutes all the surrounding houses were
afire.
Help was summoned from Cripple Greek,
but the town had been built in the early
days of the camp and was of pine timber
for the most part and burned like paper.
Efforts were made to stop the progress Of
the flames by blowing up buildings in their
path with dynamite, and all afternoon the
hills have roared with the explosions, hut
the effort was in vain.
The fire claimed the Bank of Victor. the
postoffice, on the corner opposite, crossed
Third street and followed the row of blocks
between Third and Fourth. streets to the
north, taking in the Victor Banking Com
pany, the Western Union Telegraph Com
pany's office and the Office of the Colorado
Telephone Company. the Hotel Victor, On
the opposite side of Fourth street, and the
three great shafthouses of the Gold Coin
Mining Company and its ore bins, among
the largest in the Cripple Creek district.
From here the flames were swept north
ward by the half-hurricane which was blow
ing and never stopped until they had taken
the Florence & Cripple Creek depot and the
fine new depot of the Midland Terminal
road, at the head of Fourth street. All the
buildings between these are a total loss,
x-;.I &~aot;oalIxy Ill tL1;r oo-tA-t. uh4
flames were so rapid in their progress that
nothing could be saved.
The scenes of the great Cripple Creek fire
were duplicated. Hurrying before the roar
ing flames went men. women and children,
carrying what they could snatch from the
flames. racing for their lives. The crash of
buildings torn asunder by dynamite and the
crackle of the flames as they consumed the
dry buildings fastened their flight and the
pail of smoke added terror to the spectacle.
A special train was placed at the command
of this city by the Florence x Cripple Creek
Railroad and three companies of firemen,
with apparatus. were rushed to the scene.
They worked all afternoon In a vain en-
deavor to stay the march of the flames. The
residence portion of the city has suffered
comparatively little. but the business portion
low.
The burned area may be thoroughly desig-
mated as the space between the head OF
North street and Victor avenue. extending
from the Gold Coin mine buildings on the
west TO a point near Second street and down
Third street almost TO Diamond avenue.
The fire was under control this evening.
Conservative estimates place the loss at two
and one-half millions OF dollars. The heav-
lest losers are:
Gold Coin mine, consisting of shaft, ore
house h0ns,m and machinery. $1,000: the WOODS
bingham, $4,000: Morrell Hardware Com
pany. 5000; Florence < Cripple Creek Rail-
way. $1,000: Florence Hardware Company,
S2l,Oc0: A. b. Bumstead. $4,000: Mayor
Robert Donnelly. s25.000; Ketten * Co.. 800
900; l. Ampter. clothing. $4,000: George K.
Simonton, drugs, $1,000; George Bocknnger,
1900: j.. ]. Trenchard. $1,000: William Sud-
ton. $1,000: Victor Banking Company, So
0O: Bank OF Victor. 5000: Daily Record, 81
500; Evening Times, 5000: Colorado Trad
ing and Transfer Company. $4,000: Victor
Supply Company. $4,000; Gardner Mercan-
tile Company. $4,000; Midland Terminal
Railway. $500: Jim Ducey. $4,000; Arthur
Reynolds. 10000 Stetbins & Co. sl6,Oc0;
Shilling Dry Goods Company, $4,000.