Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1901-05-07
IS A SNOULDER|NG RUIN
Desolation and Distress Prevail
in the Fire-Stricken City of
Jacksonville.
MANY LIVES ARE REPORTED TO Be LOST,
People Lose Their All.-MiIitin Rushed
to City to Prevent Lnwlessness-
Efforts ut Relieving the Distress
Begun-Outside Cities Respond to
- the Great Need.

Jacksonville, Fla, May 6.-The hot
May sun rose smoke-enshrouded over
the devastated city. The fire, which
broke out Friday noon and was aided in
its work by southwest gale, spentits
force by nine o'clock at night. The
damage is enormous. One hundred
and forty-eignt blocks We're swept by
the flames and as far as known seven
persons lost their lives.
A report is in circulation that a
party of 20 persons, driven to the docks
along the St. Johns river, were forced
into the water, all attempts at rescue
by boats being futile. The river is be-
ing searched.
Mlitin Being Rushed to City.
All the local companies of the state
militia have been on duty since mid
night, and, on order of Gov. Jennings,
the military companies from four
cities are speeding to Jacksonville by
special trains. Many extra police have
been sworn in and every able-bodied
man, not doing duty in some capacity
in the fire-swept district, is impressed
died in groups in different parts of
the city and the fear of an attempt at
lawlessness by them, although not
openly expressed by the whites, is the
reason for the large military force or
1ered here.
Soaking Rain Needed.
The fire companies from Savannah,
Fernandina. Ocala and other cities
worked the entire night on the fire,
but soaking rain will be necessary
TO etfectually quench the flames. The
losses by the fire will not be known
for week. The path of the flames
was 10 blocks wide and nearly two
miles long.
Practically all old Jacksonville has
been destroyed, nothing being left
but few suburbs and Riverside the
most fashionable part of the city. 1t
is believed the fire is the largest in
proportion to the size of the place
that has ever visited any city.
A Distressing Feature.
A distressing feature of the con-
aagration was the loss by many fam
lies of libraries, pianos and house
hold goods after they had been
moved to supposed place of safety.
The street-car service has been at
complete standstill since Friday aft
ernoon. The city was IN darkness.
The electric light circuits were inter-
rupted and the gas plant destroyed.
conservative estimate places the
number of homeless people in the
city at 10000 Most of these spent
the night in the parks, on the docks,
on barges and some slept on what
few belongings they had managed to
save from the general wreck.
steps to Relieve Suffering.
The board of trade and other COM
mercial bodies held meetings at TO-: 80
to take action looking to the alleva-
ton of the suffering. 1t is expected
that an appeal to the people of the
United States will be issued some time
during the day. Leading business
men and insurance agents estimate
the total loss of property at from
Sl0,0O0,000 to $15,000,000.
The ST. James hotel, which was de
SlEOASu, ms DCSll SloSCd SibSC ~Hpi
49, The loss on this building is $175
900. Among the buildings destroyed
are:
The Emery auditorium, board o
trade. st. James hotel, Windsor hotel
The Seminole club the Daily Metrop
oils, the city hall and market, the Gar
diner building, the largest Office build
ing in the city; the Hubbard building
Mayors Message to World
Mayor Bowden said to the press re
porter Saturday morning:
Say to the world, please. that the los
to Jacksonville Is greater than ever be
fore inflicted by fire upon a city of tn
south, but her best wealth survives in he
people / estimate our loss in property a
k15000,00O
"There Is not hint of lawlessness; GU
people of every race and condition hav
shown the most helpful spirit to eac
other nd cannot find words OF commend
alton s.rong enough TO express my admra
ton Of the work done.
f'lhe progress Of tho FIRE was SO rapl
hHa ths heat IL hetet thai u va ant
$ss Z