The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-12-23
FORTY FIVE CONSUMED
IN FIRE AT ZACATECAS
Mexican Market House COIIapSeS and Bude8 Their
Bodies in Its Burning Ruins.
Citizens Engaged in Saving Property Become vctms-een
COTpses Found.
KANSAS CITY, No, Dec. PA spe-
n ciaI to the Star from San Antonio,

KANSAS CITY, No, Dec. PA spe-
ciaI to the Star from San Antonio,
Tex, says;
By the collapse of the city market
house at Zacatecas, Mex. fully forty
five lives have been lost and over a
score of persons seriously injured, some
of them so badly that they cannot re-
cover. Fifteen bodies have been taken
from the ruins and large force is at
work clearing away the debris in order
to recover others, though there is no
hope that any of those caught in the
collapse Of the big structure ell be
found alive. 1t is impossible IT this
time to learn the names Of the victims.
Among those caught in the collapse
were several of the minor officials
charged with the management of the
building.
The market house was one of the
largest buildings in Zacatecas, and was
owned BIZ the city Its lower portion
was composed chiefly of cold-stOrage
cellars. in which local merchants stored
their. perishable goods and it was in
the basement section that the fire Origi-
mated
The flames had gained such Roadway
when discovered that the entire build
ing was seen to be doomed, and the eff
forts Of the firemen and citizens
were directed to saving goods from the
storage compartments in the basement
and on the first floor.
Hundreds of men formed into gangs
and were busily engaged in the work OF
saving goods, when the entire super
structure, weakened by the rapidly
spreading flames, collapsed without
moments warning. crushing and bury
ing dozens of those engaged in the
work of salvage.
Panic-stricken Crowd.
Those who escaped uninjured from
the blazing ruins were SO panic-stricken
that it was some time before an or
ganized attempt at rescue could be
made. and in the meantime the means
and cries Of those who had not been
killed outright could be heard. Many
of them begged to be killed before the
fire could reach them, as they saw there
was no hope of rescue.
The fire department is poorly equip
ped, and the supply Of water made
/
could be offered TO prevent the spread
ing OF the fire, which finally burned it.
{ self out leaving many unfortunates
buried beneath tons Of wreckage. As
soon as possible. an effort was made
to get out the bodies of the dead. but
! the heat drove back the rescuers for
hours, and only fifteen OF those who
were nearest the outer walls of the
building could be removed.
Exactly how many have been killed
cannot be known until the ruins are
completely cleared away, and this
work, with the primitive methods in
use will occupy days
The market house was one of the
/ handsomest buildings in the city, and
was erected only a few years ago by
the municipality to meet the demands
of growing business It cost over Sl5t.-
! O0O and in it were stored stocks Of
/ merchandise and provisions valued at
several thousand dollars more 1t was
one of the chief sources of revenue for
/ the city Of Zacatecas. The insurance
I on it was light, and it is doubtful if 1t
/ viii be rebuilt.