The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-02-26
HOT SPRINGS
 GREAT BLAZE Fire Damage More Than a
 Million Dollars. THREE CHARRED CORPsES Many Hundreds Homeless and
 Destitute. Mayor Issues Proclamation and Mass Meeting is HeId--CIty Will Not
 Have to Appeal for Any Outside Aid.
THREE CHARRED CORPsES

Hot Springs, Ark, Feb. 25,--Fire swept the southern portion of this city early today, doing immense damage and causing the known death of three per- sons. The losses are variously esti- mated at from $1.000,000 to $2,000,000. Three charred corpses have been found among the ruins and as several persons are reported missing the death list may be increased. The identity of the vic- tims has not been established. One of the bodies is supposed to be that of a female guest of the Grand Central Hotel.
 The fire, which started at s:3o o'clock this morning. was the worst this State has ever experienced, and in five hours had burned over an area of one square mile. Block after block of residences, business houses. hotels and other build lngs were swept away and the entire town was panic stricken, although the fire was confined to the southern part of the city. Street car wires and tele- graph and telephone poles were de- stroyed and these services were tenn porarlly 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 Church and residences and stores to large number. conservative ly estimated at from 200 to 250.
 Origin a Mystery.
 The Ire originated in the Grand Gen. tral Hotel, and its origin is mystery. All of the guests had retired for the night. and only the night clerk and watchman were on duty when the flames were discovered.
 A strong north wind was blowing, ana before the Fire Department cepld reach the ecene the flames spread rap- fdIy to adjoining buildings. A general alarm was sounded and every engine in the city responded. Guests in the bir hotels were awakened and hum dreds of these hastily dressed and re- paired to the scene of the conhagra- ton.
 The firemen and police worked val iantly but their efforts did not check the onward march of the flames and to add to their difficulties, the water pressure gave out at 5 o'clock. Bucket brigades were then formed citizens ana visitors alike volunteering their ser vices.
 Excitement, was manifested every where when the flames got beyond con- trol Many lodging houses and cheap restaurants were directly in the path of the fire and the occupants were hurriedly apprised of their danger. Many, in their anxiety, jumped from windows and sustained severe bruises and shocks.
 Ia force and famed the flames Into a seething glare which lit up the coun- try for miles around The fire swept along Central Avenue south, eating up building after building before occu- pants could recover their valuables, and many of whom barely escaped with their lives.
 Arrested Fires Progress.
 On the west side of Central Avenue A strip of woods covering about ten acres arrested the progress of the fire to the west.
 The Park Hotel one of the most not ed caravansaries in the South, through a favorable shift in the wind, escaped possible destruction. The guests were hurriedIy 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 dis trict.
 After the fire had gained full head way the streets became choked with neople. Hundreds of those who had been driven from their houses were running frantically about, some carry ing clothing. valises and other proper ty, looking for place of safety. The police and citizens rendered these un- fortunates every aid.
 Mayor George R. Bedding took per- sonaI charge of the fire and police forces and directed their efforts. With the assistance of Sheriff Williams pat rols were established and the crowds kept back to the danger lines.
 At o'clock the fire had practically burned itself out and the work of res- cue and relief was begun. In the ruins of the Grand Central Hotel a charred female body was found and the re-, mains could not be identified and as the hotel register and other records were burned the name may never be known. In a lodging house two un- known male corpses were discovered.
 Mayors Proclamation.
 Mayor Belding issued a proclama- tjon calling upon the citizens to open their houses to the destitute and the appeal was responded to on every side. Tine large hatels took in hundreds who had lost their belongings and fed hum dreds more.
 A mass meeting called by the mayor met this afternoon. Mayor BeldinA, asked for contributions to assist the destitute and generous donations were made. Many turfmen sumscribed fiber ally to the fund Mayor Belding said at the meeting that 1t was his opln- ion that the city can take care of the cituation without an appeal for outside aid.
 The telegraph offices tonight havs been flooded with telegrams from all parts of the country asking if friends and relatives of the senders are safe A large number of these messages were probably occasioned by sensational re- ports sent out from here that the loss of life was great. Four or five per sons are unaccounted for but the only victims that are known to have per ished are the three persons whose bod les have been found.
 Among the houses destroyed are the residence of H. Williams. che Williams Hardware store. Tennessee stables. Val lev stables and all of Market street