The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1901-03-20
/ VILLAGE i'm ASHES.
business and Residence Portion of
Cloverport, KY. Devastated.
oNa THOUSAND PEOPLE HOMELESS.
Connagration started by 'Bursting of
Natural Gas ripe = Every store'
Two Hotels, Two Churches and
Newspaper swept Away.

Cloveport, KY, March 14.-Fire
caused by the bursting of natural
gas pine, destroyed property worth
100000. The greater part of the lit
tie town was completely wiped out and
over 900 persons, about one-half the
population, are homeless and up to
the time special relief train from
Louisville reached here were In great
distress. The heaviest loser is the
American Tobacco company which
lost two large steamers and 1,OOO,Ooo
pounds of tobacco. The American loss
has not been estimated but Will be
very heavy.
Other large structures destroyed
were Lucille Memorial church, Meth
odist church and the two hotels,
Breckenridge Inn and Cloverport
hotel. The losses on these have not
been computed, the owners and occu-
pants deYotIng themselves entirely to
fighting the flames in other parts of
the little town and doing what they
could to succor the women and chill
dren huddled in little groups wherever
shelter could be found from the biting
cold of the night and early morning,
The following business houses are
In ruins and their losses are estimated
900; f. Frabee, $15,O00; F. N. Depuy,
$4,000; Seaton G Sippel, $4,000;
Haynes & Co., $4,000; Moreman &
owens, $4,000; Alex Boyd's building,
$4,000; Short & Haynes. druggists,
So 900; c. & l.. Lippel, confectioners,
$1,000; w. II. Bowner, two story
building. $4,000; the Breckenridge
News, SIS 900; Breckenridge bank, loss
unknown; Fisher, druggist, $4,000.
Other business houses destroyed
and whose losses have not been esti
mated were those of Miss Juna Miller,
millinery; Mrs. Frank Trays, dry
goods; II. e.. Wingert, merchant tail.
or; Johnson's boarding house; j. @.
Boyd, unoccupied; j. ID. BabDage,
bookstore and printing Office; II. l..
Newsome, physician; a. II. Fisher,
drugs: James II. Skillman, law office;
four meat stores, three barber shops,
three blacksmith shops. Sanger's dry
goods store, II. IL. Dohlers shoe store
and the postoftiCe.
The following are among those
whose residences were destroyed:
Charles Mayse. Marion Hamilton, l..
Lippel DR.. II. Newsome, Mrs. Sawyer,
also a storchouse, Mrs. Lee Herset,
DR.. owen, Fred Trays, owen Raitt,
Mrs Il. l.. Suites, MIS-. Jordon, Tom II.
Tousey, Miss Newton and DR.. Light
foot. Dozens of smaller houses were
also burned. There is little left, the
remaining houses being scattered and
away from the business and res, once
section. AS soon the the management
of the Louisville, Henderson and st.
Louis railroad learned that hundreds
Of persons were homeless every avail
able coach between Louisville and
Henderson was hurried to Cloverport,
and in these the unfortunates will for
the time being make their homes. The
management also sent 5000 loaves of
bread and other food which came as
great blessing, since not store was
left in town where mouthful of food
could be bought. Adjutant General
Murray sent 80 tents from Frankfort.
The authorities at Louisville sent
trainload of relief Help was asked
the fire departments OF ouisville,
greensboro, Henderson and Evansville.
An engine company arrived but 1t was
of little use as the flames had been
famed by high wind and had by that
time done their worst. AS far as
known no one was seriously injured.