The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1901-05-10
II WAS 4 s|5,OOO,OOO FIRE
JACKSONVILLE FLA, BURNED.
Started ~ Defective Wtre-Fire
Barsed T@s ssosrs-Iao Blocks
Burned-Nunaber Of Laves Less-
Property Lo~s Enormous.

1 Property L0~s EnoS@oass
jacksonville, Fla. May 1.-THE moss
| disastrous IRE In the history OF this
city began In a small factory. started
/ by defective wire. according 10 the
best belief. and burned for nearly 10
hours In that time a property loss
estimated at from sl0.ooo.ooo TO Sl5.-
/ 000, 900 was caused.
| According 70 the city map $50 blocks
were burned. many OF them Ia the
heart OF the business and residence sec
ton. The estimate OF houses 10 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 10 clear
the wreckage. The mayor states that
he estimates the loss at SIS. 200. 900 and
that from $1,000 to $4,000 people were
homeless.
Thousands OF persons are on the
streets tonight. homeless. with prae-
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 hne. so that there viii
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
ing the situation. II Is not yet known
IL an appeal for help will be issued.
though II Is thought likely that the
exigencIes OF the occasion will demand
such action. II Is hoped that an appeal
can bs 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
piled high In vacant Iots-
Rich ass Pser.
Jacksonville. Fla, May 5.--The IRE
has efYectually obliterated the |
dividing line between rich and poor
and a common catastrophe has made
all kin Women wealthy yesterday. /
penniless today. sat on the curblng be-
side the beggar. sharing alike the pitt |
less fate that befell them both. The |
sidewalks are thronged with homeless /
people. The wharves are crowded with I
sleepers and every available craft In /
the harbor has been made into tenn
porary hotel.
Religious services will be held Sun
day in the open sir. Not a city church
remains standing. Fire Chief Haney Is
Improved and II Is thought he will en-
.irely recover.
Jacksonville IL In total darkness save
or the reflection that Eliminates the
Ky in the western portion OF the city,
the vast fields Of glowing en-
,ers that now and then are famed into
lanes.
At O'Clock additional troops reach
ID the city to relieve the soldiers who
rad been on duty for more than "a
sours. Crowds are leaving the city on
'utgoing trains, yet the multitude OF
lomeIess people on the streets does not
Ippear decreased.
The night scenes are picturesque and
dtiful. About the city are cordons Of ]
oIdiers, and at each corner police ]
nan or a soldier stands. Amid the
reatest excitement the day passed and /
he city tonight IL quiet Little dis I
rder has been reported. At meeting
I the citizens committee resolution
'as adopted prohibiting the running of