The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-06-26
UTAH TOWN
| WIPED OUT
One Thousand People Without
Food or Shelter.
DETAILS VERY MEAGER
Wire Communication Was
Destroyed Early.
APPEALS FOR AID OUT
Fire Started in SaIoon---Loss
About a Million.
APPEALS FOR AID OUT

Salt Lake. Utah, June 25.-Aercur, the
great cyanide gold camp, and the second
largest mining town in Utah. was prac-
tieally wiped out of existence by fire to-
day. The orogin of the fire remains a
mystery beyond the fact that it began
with an explosion of some kind about 9
o'clock this morning in the upper story of
the Preble block, in which the Oquirrah
hotel and saloon were located. A short
time after the fire broke out. the tele-
phone exchange was destroyed and all
wire communication cut on
AT 2:3 o'clock this afternoon a courier
rode into Fairfield a station on the Tin
tic branch of the Oregon Short Line and
teiephoned that Mercur had been wiped
of the map so far as the business dis
ness district is concerned. Not less than
forty or fifty stores have been completely
destroyed and there is not single store
left in the camp. The people are in a des-
titute and pitiable condition. At least
LOCO are without food and shelter.
Governor Wells and Mayor Thompson
of Salt Lake were appealed to for immed-
late assistance. Fully so per cent of the
town has been destroyed. Not one bus
mess house remains and scores Of resi-
dences are in ashes. So far as known,
however, no loss of life resulted.
A conservative estimate places the total
loss at between 100000 and 8, 10000 and
the insurance at $4,000.
The census of 1900 gave Mercurs popu-
lation at 1881.
Salt Lake, June 25.-Shortly after the
fire broke out ii was realized that the en-
tire town was in danger and Immediately
the greatest confusion prevailed. All
available vehicles of every description
were pressed into service and every eff
fort made to save household goods and
stores; but so rapidly did the flames
spread that the people were forced 10
fee for their lives and practically moth
ing was saved The streets became con-
gested with teams and the excitement
was increased by the frequent explosions
of giant powder stored in various por-
tons OF the town.
Among the buildings destroyed are the
Mccormick and company bank, the large
structure of the Union Mercantile com
pany, the Palmer house, the Catholic and
Baptist churches and the telephone ex-
change.
The Mormon and Methodist churches
were not damaged and have been con
verted into places of refuge for the most
helpless and destitute of the women and
children.
Governor Wells. Mayor Thompson of
Salt Lake, Oregon Short Line railway
officials and a number of prominent Salt
Lake citizens late this afternoon arranged
for a special train with needes supplies.
which left Salt Lake early this evening
for the stricken town.
Mercur is the western terminus Of the
Salt Lake and Mercur railroad. situated
IS miles southwest of Salt Lake City. In
the old days it was silver camp. Fin
ally it was abandoned and remained IN a
deserted state until the cyanide process
Of extracting gold from low grade ores
was given to the world.
Then Mercur became a lively camp and
finally was incorporated in 1858. IT is
famous as the home of the noted Mercur
and Golden Gate mines. The town has
enjoyed the reputation Of being the most
moral and quiet mining camp on the con-
tinent It has a good school system and
a number of churches