The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-22

Cripple Creek. Col, Aug. 21.-Fire has
utterly destroyed the business portion
of the city of Victor, causing a loss
estimated at S2O0O,0OO. Beginning
shortly after noon, the fire ragged until
evening, consuming everything in its
way. 1t had its 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 few minutes all the surround
ing houses were atire.
Help was summoned from Cripple
Creek. but the ,own had been built in
the early days of the camp and was
of pine timber for the most part, and
burned like paper. Efforts We're made
to stop the progress of the flames by
blowing UP buildings in their path by
means of dynamite and all afternoon
the hills have roared with the eXplo-
sions. but 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 the
Victor Banking company. the Western
Union Telegraph company's office and
the office of tie Colorado Telephone
company. the Hotel Victor, on the op-
posite side of Fourth street. and the
three great shaft houses of the Gold
Coin Mining company and its ore bins,
among the largest in the Cripple Creek
district.
From there the flames were swept
northward by the half hurricane which
was blowing. and never stopped until
they had taken the Florence and Grip
pie Creek depot and the fine new de-
pot of the Midland Terminal road at
the head of Fourth street. All the
buildings between these are total loss,
with practically all their contents, for
the flames were so rapid in their prog
ress that nothing could be saved
The scenes of the great Cripple Creek
conflagration were duplicated. Hurry
ing before the roaring 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 timbers hastenei
their flight, and the pail of smoke ad-
ded a terror to the spectacle.
A special train was placed at the
command of this city by the Florence
& Cripple Creek railroad and three
companies of firemen, with apparatus.
were rushed to the scene. They worked
all afternoon in a vain endeavOr to
stay the march Of the flames
The residence portion of the city has
suffered comparatively little. but the
business portion is paralyzed and suf-
fering is bound to follow.
The burned area may be roughly des-
ignated as the space between the head
of Fourth street and Victor avenue, eX-
tending from the Gold Coin mine build
ings on the west to a point near Sec
ond street, and down Third street al
most to Diamond avenue.
The fire was gotten under control this
evening. Conservative estimates place
the loss at S2,00O,000 The heaviest
losses are:
Gold Coin mine. consisting of shaft.
storehOuse and machinery, 100000.
The Woods investment company,
500, 600.
]. b. Cunningham, s75 900
Morrell Hardware company. $4,000.
Florence & Cripple Creek railroad,
s25. 600.
Tomkins Hardware company, $4,000.
A. b. Bumstead. $50 600
Mayor Robert DonnellS. $25 900
Keller & Company. $50. 900.
|. Ampter, clothing, $4,000.
George e. Simonton, drugs, Sl2, 600
George Bockfinger, $1,000.
]. J. Trenchard, $4,000.
William Sexton, $4,000.
Victor Banking company. 5000.
Bank of Victor. $4,000.
Daily Record. $1,000.
Evening Times. $1,000
Colorado Trading & Transfer com
p3ny. $4,000
Victor Supply company. S2j 900.
Gardner Mercantile company $4,000.
Midland Terminal railway, $500
Jim Durey, $4,000.
Arthur Reynolds $50. 900
Stebbins & Co.. $4,000.
Shilling Dry Goods company. 81, 900.
Y. NJ. l. Convention.
Seattle, Wash, Aug. 21.-The fourth
annual convention of the Northwestern
Grand Council of the Young Men,s In