The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-07-16
All the Important Houses,
the Banks, Hotels and Saloons
Destroyed by the Flames.
MANY MINOR BUSINESS HOUSES
THREE-sCORE RESIDENCES IN THE
VORTEX OF DESTRUCTION.
Insurance Not More Than n Third of
the LOss-Wo rk of Rebuilding
Already Is in Progress.

PRESCOTT, Ariz., July ia scene. of
the greatest desolstion and a feeling of
deepest gloom pervades this town to-day.
All that remains of the principal business
portion of the town is tottering walls and
piles of charred and burning debris. The
fire. which started at 1O:45 o'clock last
night, was not under control until 8 o'clock
this morning, when the fire fighters went a
considerable distance in advance of the
flames and blew up the buildings on the
south side of Goodwin street. preventing
them from crossing that street. The most
conservative estimate of the total losses
are from 81. 900 TO 81, $1,000. The burned
district embraces five blocks in which were
located the principal mercantile houses.
both banks, both telegraph offices, the
three newspapers, four hotels, every saloon
and every restaurant except one in the
town, besides scores of private residences.
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
another outbreak of the flames.
Owing to the chaotic condition existing
to-day 1t is impossible to obtain an ac-
CuIdl dCNOuHl IL III lOSS VI II
surahce. From interviews with insurance
agents the total insurance does not exceed
$3.50, 600.
The heaviest losers are as follows: Bash
ford Burmister Company. S250,OC0: Sam
Hall, $4,000; Hotel Burke, 100000; d. Levi
& Co, $4,000: Jake Marks, 49, 00; r. II.
Burmister & Son. $4,000; c. A. Drake, $780,
600; Ed Block. $4,000; j. w. Wilson. $4,000;
SIP. 600; Bank of Arizona. $4,000; Prescott
National Bank. $4,000: Prescott House.
$1,000; w. III. Smith, $4,000; the Courier,
$1,000; Gold Eagle Hotel, $1,000; Scopel
block, $4,000; f. G.. Becht, $4,000; Windsor
Hotel, $4,000; Mountain City drug store,
$1,000: Brinkmeyer Hotel, $1,000; Cabinet
saloon, $4,000; Palace saloon, 10000; Pres
colt Electrical Light Company, 5000. In
addition to the above there were fourteen
saloons with losses ranging from $1,000 to
$1,000. Five restaurants, five barber shops,
two meat markets and sixty residences
were destroyed. In many cases the above
losses do not include buildings.
At daylight this morning teams were at
work hauling lumber to the public plaza
and covered 1t with tents and temporary
frame buildings. The occupants will be
ready for business tomorrow. Both banks
have had temporary quarters located and
will be open tomorrow. Bashford, Bur-
mister & Co. will open for business, to-
morrow. I'm their warehouse. two blocks
from the plaza.
Hon. w. A. Clark, of the United Verde
| Copper Company, who was visiting the
/ WOTkS dl JtTOfnt, NIItQ a uTdIl " SOVt. al
the sufferers from the fire are provided
with food. shelter and clothing and II is
not thought any outside assistance will be
required.
The only business houses remaining in
| the town are three dry good stores, three
grocery stores and two drug stores. The
| express and postoffice were both out of the
| fire limits. but the latter had a close call,
| All the mail and effects were ready 10
| move at a moments notice. The Office of
the supervisor of the census for the terri
tory was located in the Prescott National
Bank building, and contained all the official
statistics of the census of the territory,
but they were removed to a place OF
| safety.
The Western Union opened it's office this
morning in a grocery store, and the Postal
| has opened an office at the railroad depot.
The electric light poles and wires were de-
stroyed in the burned district, and the
town will be in darkness until they can
be replaced. The company also owns the
telephone system and loses more than half
of its instruments.