Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-09-10

What will easily prove to be the most
disastrous fire that ever visited salt
Lake City occurred this morning. 1t
started In the basement Of the Ore
gon Short Line building directly under
the store above, occupied by the
Spencer Clawson wholesale Dry Goods
company Its exact origin is a mys-
terry that may never be solved.
AS result OF the fire all OF the OH
ces Of the Oregon Short Line are
wiped out Of existence as are also the
big store OF the Mine and Smelter Sup
ply company. Spencer Clawson's store,
the salt Lake Soda Water company
and the Chicago, Milwaukee and ST.
Paul railroad Offices, while the north
east corner OF the High school build
ing and a number OF Offices on the
south side Of the Dooly block are
more or less damaged as Is also a
boarding house at PA South West
Temple street, run by Mrs. T. G. NJ.
Smith.
The exact loss is difficult TO deter
mine but the most conservative es-
innate places II at from $4,000 to $780,
600. The insurance, so far as could be
ascertained, is about $4,000, though
further inquiry may cause these fig
ures to be revised somewhat.
Never did a fire department render
more valiant service than did Salt
Lakes today; and seldom did a de-
partment have more obstacles to meet
or dangers 20 confront. II was prompt
ly on the scene and would have had
the fire under control In a compare
lively short time had 1t not been for
a terrific explosion which tore an Inn
mense hole in the building, making
large opening through which the draft
carried the fire to the upper stories
into the Offices of the Short Line COM
pany where It soon got beyond all hu.
man control That half dozen fire.
men, including Chief Devine, were nof
blown TO atoms. is little short Of a
miracle. They had just left the set
beneath which the explosion &C
CURED when It rent asunder
that portion Of the buildrns,
Preceding the big explosion there
was series OF smaller ones. Some
Of those present are OF the opinion that
there was only one, but Spencer Claw
son. who was on the ground at the
time, and some OF the firemen, declare
that there were several distinct con-
Cussions. or course IL is going to be
diihcult proposition to prove what these
explosions were caused by. The hremen
make the specific charge that powder
was stored In the basement OF the Mine.
Smelter and supply company, and that
they were rushing In 20 remove the
same when there was violent shak-
ing UP that hurled them through the
doors and windows on TO the sidewalk.
ii Is further charged that giant caps
and other explosives were also In
the basement OF the building. SO far as
powder is concerned the smelter cUil-
pany deny absolutely that tncy car
ried a pound oil II In stock. In answ,r
q this the iifmen say they care moth.
ing for the dtnials and declare they Co
not count as they know beyond ali
question Of doubt that the building
contained powder and that the powder
explosion put the building In such eon-
dltion as TO make II beyond all hui
man effort to save H.
The building was is5 feet by 80 feet,
and OF two story pressed brick and
stone. II was erected in 1897 by John
4. Dooly for London capitalist named
Menzies, expressly for the Oregon
Short Line company, which took the
Whale upper floor. The first floor was
occupied by the stores whose names
are given above. The smelter and Sup
ply company had the largest apartment
IN the building, and nearly the whole
OF the basement, which extended as
far north as the north line Of the Spen-
Ger Clawson store. Ii Is In this that
The explosion is said 10 have occurred.
From early morning until late this
afternoon the police and FIRE depart
meniH have been on duty at the scene
Of the coniiagration. each doing its best
70 put out the fire and keep back the
crowds; these latter were very great.
The spot was visited by thousands OF
people today who were anxious to gaze
upon The ruins and 10 see the firemen
~ their work. They were kept back
however, the street being completely