The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-07-16
MADE AN ASH HEAP
City Of Prescott, Arizona is AL
most Wiped Out.
Loss is Estimated at Over a
Million Dollars.

Prescott, A T., July ia scene of
the greatest desolation and feeling OF
deepest gloom pervades this town today.
All that remains of the principal bust
ness portion of the town is tottering
walls and piles of charred and burning
debris.
The fire which started at 10:45 o'clock
Saturday night was not under control
until 9 o'clock Sunday 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 estimates of the total
losses are from 81, 900 900 to 81, 500, 600.
The burned district embraces five
blocks in which are located the prln-
cipa1 mercantile houses both banks,
both telegraph offices, the three news
papers, four hotels, every saloon and
every restaurant except one in the town,
besides scores of private residences.
To add to the gloom a high wind pre-
walls, 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 exist
ing today it is impossible to obtain an
accurate account of the loss or of in
dividual insurance. From interviews
with insurance agents, the total insur-
ance does not exceed $3.50, 900. The heav-
lest losers are as follows:
Bashford, Burmister & Co, $3.50, 900;
Sam Hall, SIS, 900; Hotel Burke $50, 600;
D. Levy & Co, $40, 900; Jake Marks, $685.
900; R. H. Burmister & Sons company.
$4,000; J. w. Wilson, $4,000; Kelly &
Stephens 10000; Journal Miner, $12,-
600; Bank of Arizona, $4,000; Prescott
National bank. $4,000; pr Prescott house
IS, 900; Golden Eagle hotel, IS. 900; Scopel
block, $4,000; E. G. Becht, $40, Wind
sor hotel, $4,000; Mountain City drug
store, $4,000; Brinkmeyer hotel, $4,000;
Cabinet saloon, SIC, 900; Palace saloon,
$40, 900 Prescott Electric Light company,
$4,000.
In addition to the above there were
fourteen saloons, with losses ranging
from 81 900 to $4,000.
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, which was soon covered with
tents and temporary frame buildings.
Both banks have had temporary quar-
tiers located and will be open tomor-
row.
Bashford, Burnister & Co. will open
for business tomorrow in their ware
house, two blocks from the plaza
w. A. Clark, of the United Verde Cop
per company, who was visiting the
works at Jerome, wired a draft for $500.
All the sufferers from the fire are pro-
vided with food, shelter and clothing
and it is not thought any outside assist
ance will be required.
The only business houses remaining
in the town are three dry goods stores,
three grocery stores and two drug
stores The express office and post
office were both out of the fire limit,
but the latter had a close call. All the
mail and effects were ready to move at
a moments notice.
The office of the supervisor of census
for the territory 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 its office
this morning in a grocery store and the
Postal has opened Office at the rail-
road depot The electric light poles and
wires were destroyed 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 of its instru-
f11aufG.