The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-02-25
BURNSIOOHOUSES
Fire at Hot Springs Causes Loss
of 81, 900, 900.
Three Women Reported to Have
Lost Their Lives.

Hot Springs, Ark, Feb. 25.-This city
was visited by disastrous fire today,
entailing a loss conservatively esti-
mated at one million dollars. Three or
more lives are said to have been lost.
The fire started at $3.50 O'Clock this
morning in the Grand Central hotel at
Central avenue and Chappelle street in
the southern part of the city A high
wind was blowing, the flames quickly
spread to the south and west. The
Plateau hotel, the Hotel Moody, the
GARNER fats and several lodging houses
were quickly destroyed.
The fire department rendered good
service until o'clock when the water
pressure gave out and the threatened
area was left to the mercy of the flames
Dufy's general store, one of the larg-
est in the city, is total loss.
About 100 houses were destroyed be-
fore the flames were checked.
The district between Ouachita avenue
and Prospect street was swept by the
flames More than 1000 people are
homeless. Fortunately the cold weather
has passed and spring-like temperature
prevails. The streets are filed with
merchandise taken from stores in the
threatened district.
The charred bodies of three women
are reported to have been found in the
ruins of the Grand Central hotel
After the water pressure gave out
bucket brigades were formed and hun
dreds OF citizens and visitors volunteer
ed their services.
At 8 o'clock the fire was still burning
but it was pronounced to be under con-
troll
The spring season always attracts a
large number of visitors to this resort.
The city has been filling up with visi-
tors for several weeks and it is esti-
mated that fully 10000 of these sojourn-
ers are here. The three large hotels,
the Arlington the Eastman and the
Park We're not damaged by the fire.
The fremen put forth every effort TO
save the county court house and Jail,
but their efforts were of no avail, both
structures being consumed. Many val
liable records were burned and the 20
prisoners in the Jail We're rescued with
difficulty.
In the South Hot Springs cottage dis
trict. which was consumed, several per
sons are missing, but it is not known
that any loss of life occurred there
There is great confusion in all parts cf
the city.
The Jewish synagogue. Central
Methodist church and residences of
Mayor Belding and Sheriff Williams
were among those destroyed.
The district occupied by the bath
houses and the entire government
reservation on the east side of Central
avenue escaped the flames.
When the fire broke out a high
wind was blowing and it soon famed
the flames into a confiagration, which
swept the buildings directly in its path
as though they were constructed of
paper. The guests of the leading ho-
tells were awakened and many Joined
the throngs on the street and did what
they could in an effort to check the
progress of the flames.
Mayor Belding personally assumed
command of the fire fighters and
police and Sheriff Williams posted his
Ior,7 toe in Yac rfc f1f threat
ened district to prevent looting. Men,
women and children were seen run
ming in all directions, many carrying
bundles of clothing and seeking
place of safety To the west of Cen
trail avenue is a wood park and this
strip of timber directly in the path of
the fire arrested it's progress in that
direction. The fashionable hotel dis
trict was not damaged.
The races were declared off today
on account of the fire.