The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-06-27

ing them, even if the company desired
10 do so"
In this connection it may be stated
: that while little danger of a shortage
/ OF food exists, numbers Of citizens viii
be sorely distressed when it comes to
furnishing new homes. If some kind
of a fund could be provided from which
small sums might be loaned to deserv-
ing ones considerable actual distress
would be prevented. The unfortunates
themselves would be first 10 resent a
suggestion, but they would gladly ac-
cept loans to tide them over their diff
ficulties.
The first place Of business to be re-
opened in MercUr was a saloon. To the
/ credit of the town it may be said that
! the place was not very literally pat
ronized.
The Salt Lake & Mercur railroad can
not be too highly commended for its
work in connection with the disaster.
All of the rolling stock Of the COM
pany was placed at the disposal of the
relief committee and supplies were car
ried without charge. No fares were
collected from passengers who went up
TO Mercur on the relief train Wednes-
Gay night nor was any charge made
for carrying refugees from the camp
TO Fairfield. where the oregon Short
Line connection is made.
The run form Fairfield up with the
Salt Lake supplies was one Of the
fastest i'm the history Of the road. The
train was under the direct supervision
of General Manager Higginbotham
and Jack Ault one of the best engi-
neers in the company's employ. was at
the throttle. The road is a maze of
curves and grades and is easily the
most picturesque in all the west. But
grades and curves counted for naught
Wednesday night. The train simply
WhiZZed over them, and no feature of
the fire and the work Of relief has
been more generously or more deserv-
edly praised.
John Dern of Salt Lake won the
hearts Of the newspaper men by see
ing that they did not lack for the COM
forts of life. Mr.. Dern and his sons,
George and Fred, were unceasing in
their efforts at relief generally. George
Dern is still in Mercur, but his father
and brother returned to Salt Lake last
night.
Father Keenan, came up from Salt
Lake this morning and returned this
afternoon after looking up his scattered
flock. Fortunately, there was enough
insurance carried on the burned Cath
Ollie church to furnish an excellent
start toward rebuilding it at once.
Father keenan, is by no means dis
couraged over the outlook.
The corpse of a cat, doubtless a be-
g. - #1ar
ruins Of dwelling this morning.
Out Of 200 men ordinarily employed
in the Mercur mine, only fifty reported
for the day shift this morning. The
others were picking over the wreckage
of their homes in the hope of finding
something Of value. 1t was thought
that the full force would be at work
again within the next day or two.
80 long as the Con. Mercur mill
stands the town is all right" said
Manager Marshall of the Union Mer-
camille company. Mr.. Marshall feels
sure that the town viii be rebuilt more
substantially than before.
There was very little vandalism or
footing which so often follows a great
disaster. The police force was on the
alert for such ghOuls, but no arrests
were necessary.
The old MerCUr mine boarding house
was thrown open today, and several
hundred people were substantially fed
there. 1t viii be kept open as long
as the necessity for it is apparent.
Frank Erath, the Mercur grocery
man and baker. was in Salt Lake yes
terday. He sent word to The Herald
that his bake oven had survived the
fire, and he will begin to supply Mer-
cur with fresh bread Saturday morn
ing.
The local lodge of Elks. at their reg
ular meeting Wednesday night, voted
the sum of $500 for the Mercur fund.
Postmaster Thomas yesterday re-
ceived information from MeTcur that
the pOstofice there is an almost COM
plete prey of the flames. While the
( books and stamps were saved, all
blanks Of the money order and reg
istry departments are burned. This
necessitates d suspension of business
in the latter departments till other
stamps arrive. Postmaster Thomas tel
eEraphed the state of affairs to the
pOStOffice department at Washington.