Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1900-07-20
BIG FIRE IN PRESCOTT
Losses Aggregate More Than
$I,ooo,ooo.
MANY HOMELESS AND PENNILEss
Principal Business Portion of the TowD
Destroyed = Merchants Ready
for Business in Tents.

ASA DusAhCso Az - SnsDs
Prescott, Ariz.. July IA scene of
great desolation and 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 10:45
O'Clock last night, was not under con-
troll until O'Clock this morning, when
the fighters went a 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 $1,O0O,OO0 to 81, 800, 900.
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 off ices. four hotels, and every
saloon and restaurant except one in
the town, besides scores of private resi-
dences. To add to the prevailing
gloom, 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 $35O,0O0
At daylight this morning teams were
at work hauling lumber to the public
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. K. r. Blaine, dry
goods; Joseph Dougherty, T. w. Otis
and ]. I. 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 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 place of safety.
The Western Union opened its 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 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 it's instru.
ments.
Many citizens who yesterday were
comfortably fixed are today homeless
and penniless, number losing both
their business places and their resi-
dences. An army of carpenters have
been busy all day putting up tempor-
ary structures, many of which have
been completed and will open for bust
ness tomorrow. .--
OF the three printing Offices in town
all that was saved was about 80 cases
of type by the Courier. The destruc-
tion of the others was complete. J. G.
Martin, proprietor of the Journal
Miner, saved only his books. Included
in his loss was Mergenthaler linotype,
installed in the Office only three months
ago. The two papers have already
made arrangements for continuing pub
lication, although bnt little insurance
was carried by either. Most of the
heaviest losers will rebuild at once.
The origin of the fire was unknown
until this evening, when it was learned
that man rooming over the bottling
works was lying in bed reading by
candlelight when a piece of loose paper
on the wall caught fire. He ran out
to give the alarm, and before others
reached the place the fire was beyond
control.