Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-09-10


What will easily prove to be the most
disastrous fire that ever visited Salt
Lake City occurred this morning IL
started in the basement Of the Ore
gon Short Line building directly under
the store above, occupied by the
Spencer Clawson wholesale Dry Goods
company. Its exact origin is a mys-
terry that may never be solved.
AS result OF the fire all OF the Off
ces of the Oregon Short Line are
wiped out Of existence as are also the
big store Of the Mine and Smelter Sup
ply company, Spencer Clawsons store,
the salt Lake Soda Water company
and the Chicago, Milwaukee and ST.
Paul railroad offices. while the north
east corner Of the High school build
ing and number of offices on the
south side OF the Dooly block are
more or less damaged, as Is also a
boarding house at 2A South West
Temple street. run by Mrs. 7. G. NJ.
Smith.
The exact loss is difficult TO deter
mine, but the most conservative es-
innate places 1t at from $4,000 TO $780,
900, The insurance, so far as could be
ascertained, is about $4,000, though
further inquiry may cause these fg-
ures to be revised somewhat.
Never did a fire department render
more valiant service than did Salt
Lakes today; and seldom did a de-
partment have more obstacles TO meet
or dangers TO confront. II was prompt
ly on the scene and would have had
the fire under control in a compare
lively short time had II not been for
O terrific explosion which tore an i'm
mense hole in the building making d
large opening through which the draft
carried the fire to the upper stories
into the Offices OF the Short Line COM
pany where It soon got beyond all hui
man control. That half dozen fire.
men, including Chief Devine. were nos
blown to atoms, is little short Of a
miracle. They had just left the set
beneath which the explosion oc-
cured when 1t rent asunder
that portion Of the buildinS.
Preceding the big explosion there
was series OF smaller ones. Some
Of those present are OF the opinion that
there was only one, but Spencer Claw
Son, who was on the ground at the
time. and some OF the iiremen, declare
that there were several distinct con-
customs. or course II is going to be a
diilicult proposition TO prove what these
explosions were caused by The fremen
make the specific charge that powder
was stored In the basement OF the Mine,
Shelter and supply company. and that
they were rushing in to remove the
same when there was a violent shak-
Ing up that hurled them through the
doors and windows on 20 the sidewalk
u is further charged that giant caps
and other explosives were also in
the basemcn; OF the building. SO Tar as
powder Is concerned the smelter cUip-
pany deny absolutely that they car
fied pouhd OF II IN stock. In answ,r
70 ms me iii' men say they care moth
ing ior the dtnials and declare they 60
not count as they know beyond all
question OF doubt that the building
contained powder and that the powder
explosion gut the building in such son.
dluon as 10 make Il beyond All hu.
man effort 20 save Il.
The building was 1855 feet by $50 feet
ana OF two story pressed brick and
ftone II was erected in 1897 by John
y Dooly for London capitalist named
Menzies, expressly for the Oregon
short Line company, which took tho
Whole upper floor. The first floor was
occupied by the stores whose names
are given above The Shelter and SIM.
Ply company had the largest apartment
" the building, and nearly the whole
OF The basement. which extended as
iar north as the north line of the spen-
Ger Clawson store. II Is In This Thai
NE explosion Is said 10 have occurred
IRON early morning until late This
afternoon the police and FIRE depart-
mehts have been on duty at the scene
% me confagratlon. each doing its best
w put out the FIRE and keep back the
SIoNds; these latter were very great
ne spot was visited by thousands OF
leopie today who were anxious Ia gage
.p'n We rr.ls aad 10 see the fremen
~ men work They were kept back
io"eNer' the street being completely