The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1900-07-20
BIG FIRE IN PRESCOTT.
Losses Aggregate More Than
$I,ooo,ooo
MANY HOMELESS AND PENNILES'
Principal Business Portion of the TOwT
Destroyed Merchants Ready
for Business In Tents.


for Business in Tents.
Prescott, Ariz.. July IA scene OF
great desolation and q feeling of deep
est gloom pervades this town today.
All that remains OF the principal busi-
ness portion of the town is tottering
walls and piles OF charred and burn ing
debris.
The FIRE, which started at lO:4O
O'Clock last night, was not under con-
troll until O'Clock this morning, when
the fighters went considerable dis
tance in advance OF the flames and blew
up the buildings on the south side OF
Goodwin street, preventing the fire
from crossing that street. The most
conservative estimates of the total losses
are from $l,OOO,O00 to $l,50O, 900.
The burned district embraces flve
blocks, in which were located the prln-
cipal mercantile houses, both banks,
both telegraph Offices, the three news
paper offices, four hotels, and every
! saloon and restaurant except one IN
the town, besides scores OF private resi-
dences. To add to the prevailing
gloom, a high wind has prevailed all
day, sending smoke, dust and burning
embers in every direction, requiring
the greatest vigilance to prevent an
other outbreak OF the flames. Owing
to the chaotic condition existing today,
it is impossible to obtain an accurate
account of the loss or individual insur-
ance. From interviews with insurance
agents, the total insurance does not ex-
ceed $3.50, 900.
At daylight this morning teams were
at work hauling lumber to the public
plaza, and this evening 1t is covered
with tents and temporary frame build
ings. The occupants will be ready for
business tomorrow. Both banks have
secured temporary quarters and will be
open tomorrow. The Bashford.Bur-
meister Company will be open for busi'
ness tomorrow in their warehouse, two
blocks from the plaza.
Hon. w. A. Clark, of the United
Verde Copper Company, who was visit
ing the works at Jerome, wired draft
for $500. All the sufferers from the
fire are provided with food, shelter and
clothing, and it is not thought any
outside assistance will be required.
The only business houses remaining
in the town are Goldwater Bros, A.
Blumberg and Mrs. X. r. Blaine, dry
goods; Joseph Dougherty. 7. W. Otis
and ]. /. Gardner, grocers. and W. w.
Ross and W. P. Covilland, drug stores.
The express Office and postoffice were
both out of the fire limits. but the
latter had q close call. All the mail
and effects were ready to move at
moments notice.
The Office Of the supervisor OF censuf
for the territory was located in tht
Prescott National Bank building, anf
contained all the official statistics of tn
census of the territory, but they wer
removed to place of safety.
The Western Union opened its oftic
this morning in grocery store, an
the Postal has opened an office at tn
railroad depot. The electric ligh
uoles and wires were in the burned dis
trict. and the town will be in darkness
/ until they can be replaced. The com
pany also owns the telephone system
and loses more than half its instru
ments.
Many citizens who yesterday wer
comfortably fixed are today homeless
and penniless, number losing bot
their business places and their resi-
dences. An army of carpenters hav
been busy all day putting up temper
. ary structures, many of which hav
r been completed and will open for busi
ness tomorrow.
OF the three printing Offices In tow
: all that was saved was about 30 case
| of type by the Courier. The destruc
ton of the others was complete. ]. @
/ Martin, proprietor of the Journal
Miner, saved only his books. Include
| in his loss was Mergenthaler linotype
, installed in the Office only three month
+ ago. The two papers have alread
, made arrangements for continuing put
lication, although but little insuranc
, was carried by either. Most of tn
heaviest losers will rebuild at once.
) The origin of the fire was unknow
! until this evening, when 1t was learne
] that man rooming over the bottlin
works was lying in bed reading b
candlelight when piece of loose pape
|, on the wall caught fire. He ran OF
to give the alarm, and before other
. reached the place the fire was beyon
-, control.