Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1901-05-10

ulS6SLrOuS IRE In the history OF this
city began in a small factory, started
by a defective wire, according to the
best belief, and burned for nearly 10
hours. In that time a property loss
estimated at from $10,000,000 to $15,-
600, 900 was caused.
Losses.
According to the city map 1870 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 wreckage. The mayor states that
he estimates the loss at SIS, 900, 900 and
that from $4,000 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
ton, 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
situations will be called Saturday morn
ing to devise ways and means for meet
inc hn oil Dc,
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 a 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
plI6u uiSn III VdCdnC lOLS.
Rich and Poor.
Jacksonville, Fla, May 5.-The fire
disaster has effectually obliterated the
dividing Line between rich and poor
and 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. The
sidewalks are thronged with homeless
people. The whafves are crowded with
sleepers and every available craft in
the harbor has been made into a tenn
porary hotel
Religious services will be held Sun
day in the open air. Not city church
remains standing. Fire Chief Haney is
improved and it is thought he will en-
tirely recover.
Jacksonville is in total darkness save
for the reflection that Eliminates the
sky In the western portion of the city, |
marking the vast fields of glowing en-
bers that now and then are famed into |
flames.
At o'clock additional troops reach |
ed the city to relieve the soldiers who |
had been on duty for more than "a |
hours Crowds are leaving the city on |
outgoing trains, yet the multitude of |
homeless people on the streets does not |
appear decreased.
The night scenes are picturesque and |
pitiful. About the city are cordons of |
soldiers, and at each corner a police |
man or soldier stands. Amid the
greatest excitement the day passed and
the city tonight is quiet. Little dis
order has been reported. At meeting
OF the citizens committee a resolution
was adopted prohibiting the running of
excursion trains into the city. If the
trains are run the excursionists will
not be allowed to leave the train.
The negroes, though hungry and ter
ror-stricken, have so far shown no dis
position to give trouble. The Times
Union and Citizen announces tonight
the receipts of nearly $4,000 contribut-
ed to the relief of the city.
Surgeon General Wyman is sending
a carload of tents for the sufferers.
sailboat that was at the boat yard
1t Third and Main streets was made
Use of by Alfred Ball of Springfield.
suburb. Mr.. Ball says:
There were certainly many lives
ost at that point. The shrieks and
,ries for help that came to my ears dur
ng the first moments of the four hours
hat was in the river were heartrend- 1
ng. was utterly helpless to aid.
I'm positive at least five persons were s
drowned at that place. II
Arthur GUNNER, of the GUNNER
lumber company, told the following:
We got a glimpse of the sailboat drift
ng inshore and then it disappeared in [
he flames. AS the Edith steamed to- {
ward midchannel to escape we heard 4
ries for help. There is no doubt but
hat all in the boat suffered a fright
ul fate" q
The officers and crew report that they ]
aved 60 persons who had jumped into l
he river to escape the flames. "a
A large number of prostrations are j
eported. The terrific strain, added to t
he warm weather ia falling IN nanv