The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1905-03-03
MANY ARE HOMELESS
One Square Mile Of Hot Springs Swept
By ConflagratiOn.
THREE cHARRED BODIES FOUND.
Hotel Guests Driven Out By the Flames
Failure of Water Pressure and q High
Wind Caused the Blaze to Get Beyond
Control-Mayor Bedding Leads Work Of
SuccorIng the Destitute.

Hot Springs, Ark (SpeciaD Fire
swept the southern portion of this city,
doing immense damage and causing the
death of at least three persons. The
losses are variously estimated at from
$I,ooo,ooo TO 100000.
Three charred corpses have been
found among the ruins, and as several
persons are reported missing, the death
list may increase. The identity OF the
victims has not been established One
OF the bodies is supposed to be that OF
female guest OF the Grand Central
Hotel
The fire, which started at 3 80 o'clock
A. NJ, was the worst this State has ever
experienced, and in five hours had burn
ed over an area of one square mile.
Block after block of residences, busi-
ness houses, hotels and other buildings
were swept away, and the entire town
became panic-stricken Street-car wires
and telegraph and telephone poles were
destroyed, and these services were tenn
porarily demoralized.
The fire-swept area includes every
house on Chapel street, all OF Market
street from Central avenue west, Orange
street TO Grand avenue and a portion
of Oak street.
Among the buildings destroyed are
the Grand Central Hotel, the Lee House.
Moody Hotel, Plateau Hotel, Columbia
Hotel, the County Court House. jail.
First Methodist Church, the Jewish
Synagogue and a large number of resi-
dences and stores, conservatlvely esti-
mated at 200 to $50.
The blaze started in the Grand Central
Hotel, and its origin is a mystery. All
of the guests had retired and only the
night clerk and Waterman were on duty.
A strong north wind was blowing, and
before the Fire Department could reach
the scene the flames spread rapidly to
adjoining buildings.
Bucket brigades were then formed, cit
liens and visitors alike volunteering
their services. Excitement was general
when the flames got beyond control.
Many lodging houses and cheap restau-
rants were directly in the path OF the
fire, and the occupants were hurriedly
appraised of their danger. Many, i'll their
anxiety, jumped from windows and sus-
tanned severe bruises and shock.
At daybreak the wind increased i'll
force and famed the flames into seeth
ing glare, which lit UP the country for
miles around.
The FIRE swept along Central avenue
south, enveloping building after build
ing before the occupants could recover
their valuables, and many persons bare
ly escaped with their lives.
On the west side of Central avenue
strip of woods covering about 10 acres
arrested the progress of the fire in that
direction.
The Park Hotel, owing to favorable
shift i'll the wind, escaped destruction.
The guests were hurriedly summoned
from their rooms and many of them
packed trunks and valises and made
their way to the streets. The Arlington
and Eastman Hotels were not in the
threatened district.
Mayor George Bedding took personal
charge OF the fire and police forces and
directed their efforts. With the assist
ance of Sheriff Williams patrols were
established and the crowds kept back
to the danger lines.