Kootenai County Republican. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1899-1903, 1901-05-10
n WAS A S|5,OOO,OOO FIR!
JACKSONVILLE, FLA, BURNED
started by Defective Wire-Fire
burned Ten Hours-l3O blocks
Burned-Number of Lives Lost
Property Loss Enormous.

u
city began in small factory, started
| by defective wire. according to the
. best belief, and burned for nearly 10
hours. In that time property loss
estimated at from $10,000,000 to $15,-
| 600 900 was caused.
According to the city map 13O blocks
were burned, many of them in the
heart of the business and residence sec
ton. The estimate of houses to the
block is 10, hence 1900 Of them went up
In smoke. Many of the finest public
and private buildings were destroyed,
! Including hotels, theatres, churches
and residences.
The mayor has ordered all saloons
closed and has impressed help to clear
the wrcckage. The mayor states that
he estimates the loss at SIS 100000 and
that from $1,000 to $4,000 people were
homeless.
Thousands of persons are on the
streets tonight, homeless, with prac-
tically all their worldly possessions up
on their backs. The depots of the rail
roads, situated in the southeastern sec
tion, have been turned into temporary
= lodging houses and hospitals. Luckily
the weather is fine, SO that there will
be no suffering on that score.
Meetings of the city council. the COM
mercial bodies and the charitable in
stitutions will be called Saturday morn
ing to devise ways and means for meet
ing the situation. 1t is not yet known
if an appeal for help will be issued,
though it is thought likely that the
eXigencieS Of the occasion will demand
such action. 1t is hoped that an appeal
can be avoided.
Dropped Dead.
w. w. Cleveland, in whose premises
the fire originated, and who was one of
the heaviest losers, dropped dead from
excitement. A stalwart negro bringing
a trunk on his head from burning
building, went crazy from the horror
of the situation. He ran around in a
circle with the trunk on his head until
he sank exhausted and died.
At midnight the military was order
ed out to guard the household goods
piled high in vacant lots.
Rich and Poor.
Jacksonville, Fla, May 5.-The fire
disaster has effectually obliterated the
dividing line between rich and pool
and a common catastrophe has made
all kin. Women wealthy yesterday
penniless today, sat on the curbing be
side the beggar, sharing alike the pitt
less fate that befell them both. Tht
sidewalks are thronged with homeless
people. The wharves are crowded will
sleepers AID every available craft II
the harbor has been made into TEN
porary hotel.
Religious services will be held Sun
day in the open air. Not city churcl
remains standing. Fire Chief Haney /
improved and it is thought he will en-
tirely recover.
Jacksonville is in total darkness saw
for the reflection that illuminates tn
sky in the western portion Of the city
marking the vast fields of glowing EN-
bers that now and then are famed int
flames.
At Z O'Clock additional troops reach
ed the city to relieve the soldiers VIII
had been on duty for more than 2
hours Crowds are leaving the city o.
outgoing trains, yet the multitude Q
homeless people on the streets does nc
appear decreased.
The night scenes are picturesque an
pitiful About the city are cordons Q
soldiers, and at each corner police
man or a soldier stands. Amid tn
greatest excitement the day passed an
the city tonight Is quiet. Little dis
order has been reported. At meetin
Of the citizens committee resolutio
was adopted prohibiting the running
excursion trains into the city II tn
trains are run the excursionists wi
not be allowed to leave the train.
The negroes, though hungry and te
ror-stricken, have so far shown no di
position to give trouble. The Time
Union and Citizen announces tonlgf
the receipts of nearly $4,000 contriou
ed to the relief of the city.
Surgeon General Wyman Is sendin
carload OF tents for the sufferers.
A sailboat that was at the boat yar
at Third and Main streets was mac
use of by Alfred Ball Of Springfield.
suburb. Mr.. Ball says:
There were certainly many liv'
lost at that point. The shrieks ar
cries for help that came to my ears du
ing the first moments Of the four hou
that l was in the river were heartren
| ing. was utterly helpless to aid.
| am positive at least five persons We
drowned at that place.
Arthur GUNNER. OF the Cumm
Lumber company, told the following
I'VE got glimpse of the sailboat drii
ing inshore and then it disappeared
the flames. As the Edith steamed I
ward midchannel to escape we heal
cries for help. There is no doubt o
that all in the boat suffered frlgf
ful fate"