The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1900-07-19
BIC FIRE IN PRESCOTT
Losses Aggregate More Than
81, 900.


MANY HOMELESS AND PENNILKSS
Principal Business Portion Of the revs
Destroyed = Merchants Ready
for Business In Tents.
Prescott. Arix.. July ia scene Of
great desolation and feeling OF deep-
est gloom pervades this town today.
All that remains OF the principal bda.
ness portion of the town 10 tottsri1w
walls and piles Of charred and burn Ing
debris.
The fire, which started at 1O:%S
O'Clock last night, was not under con-
troll until o'clock this morning. whom
the fighters went q considerable die.
tance in advance Of the flames and blew
up the buildings on the south side Of
Goodwin street, preventing the fre
from crossing that street. The most
conservative estimates Of the total losses
are from $1,000, 900 to $1,000. .000.
The burned district embraces I've
blocks. in which were located the prin.
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, q 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.
1t 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 $850,0OO.
At daylight this morning teams were
at work hauling lumber to the public
plaza, and this evening IL 10 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 BashiOrd. Bur.
meister Company will be open for bust.
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 IL IL 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, T. w. Otis
and j. /. Gardner. grooars, and w. w.
Ross and w. p. Covilland. drug stores.
The express office and postofice were
both out Of the fire limits, but the
latter had close call. All the mail
and effects were ready 10 move at .
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 q place of safety.
The Western Union opened its Office
this morning in q grocery store, and
the Postal has opened an Office at the
railroad depot. The electric light
poles and wires were in the burned dis
trict, and the town will be In darkness
until they can bs replaced. The com.
pany also owns the telephone system.
and loses more than half it, instru.
ments.
Many citizens who yesterday were
fixed are today homeless
and penniless. Q number losing both
their business places and their resi.
dences. An army Of carpenters have
been busy all day putting mp tempor.
ary structures, many Of which have
been completed and will open for bad.
ness tomorrow.
OF the three printing Offices In town
oil that was saved was about 30 cases
Of type by the Courier. Tho destruc.
tion of the others was complete. ]. G.
Martin. proprietor Of the Journal.
Miner, saved only his books. Included
in his loss was . Mergenthaler linotype.
installed in the ONCE only three months
ago. The two papers have already
made arrangements for continuing pub-
lication, although but little insutancs
was carried BY either. Most -Of the
heaviest losers will rebuild st once.
The origin Of the frs was unknown
until this evening, when IL was learned
that . man rooming over the bottling
works was lying, in bed reading BY
when piece Of loose paper
Dn the wall caught dre. He ran out
10 give the alarm, and before others
reached the place the nre was beyond
control.