The Cairo bulletin., 1905-02-26
DISASTROUS FIRE
At HOT SPRINGS
$4,000, 90 in Property and ESQ
Buildings Destroyed
THREE LIVES WERE LOST
WATER PRESSURE GAVE OUT,
LEAVING THE CITY AT THE
MERCY or THE FLAMES
SQUARE MILE OF
HOUSES BURNED.


Hot Spr ngs, Ark. Feb 25.-Flrc
swept the southern portion OF this
CITY TO-DAY. doing immense damage
and causing the death Of at least
three persons. The losses are yari.
ously estimated at from one to two
millions. Three charred corpses have
been found among the ruins and as
several persons are reported missing,
he death list may be increased. The
Identification OF the victims has not
been eS abl,shed.
Worst state Ever Had.
The fire was the worst this state
has ever experienced and in fiye
hours burned over an area OF a square
mile. Block after block OF residences.
business houses, hotels and other
buildings were swept away and the
entire town was panic-stricken.
Street car wires and telegraph and
telephone poles were destroyed and
these services we're temporarily de-
moralized
The areswept area includes every
house 90 Chapel street, all OF Market
street, from Central avenue west; Or
ange street to Grand avenue and
portion of Oak street
Bulldogs Destroyed.
Among the buildings destroyed are
The Lee House, Grand Central, Moody.
Plateau and Columbia hotels, the
county court house, Jail, First Meth.
odist church. Jewish church and a
large number Of residences and stores
conservatiyely estimated to number
200 TO $50.
The fire started in the Grand Cen
tral hotel and bs origin Is a mystery.
Before the fire department could
reach the scene the flames spread
rapidly 70 adjoining buildings Guests
in the big hotels were awakened and
hundreds hastily dressed and repair
ed to the scene of the confagratlon.
Water Pressure Gave Out.
The firemen and police worked va
llantly, but their effors could not
check the onward march OF the
flames, and to add to their difficulties
the water pressure gave out at
o'clock Bucket brigades were form
ed, citizens and visitors alike yolun-
teerlng. Many lodging houses and
cheap restaurants were directly In
the path of the fire and many occu
pants jumped from the windows and
sustained severe bruises and shocks.
Heavy Winds Helped Flames.
At daybreak the wind increased
and the fire swept along Central ave.
nue. south, eating up building after
building before the occupants could
recover their Yaluables and many OF
whom barely escaped with their lives.
On the west side OF Central avenue
a strip of woods arrested the progress
of the fire in that direction. The
streets were choked with people. Hun
dreds OF those who had been driven
from their houses were running fran
tically about. carrying what little per.
sonal effects they had saved.
Woman's Body Found.
At O'Clock the fire had practical.
ly burned bself out and the work OF
the rescuers was begun. In the ruins
Of the Grand Central hotel a charred
female body was found. The remains
could not be identified. In lodging
house two unknown male corpses
were discovered. Tonight the home
less and needy are all well cared for.
and it was the mayors opinion that
the city can take care of the situa-
tion without an appeal for outside aid
Telegraph Offices tonight have been
flooded with kilograms from all parts
of the country asking If friends and
relatives Of the senders are safe. A
number of these messages were prob
ably 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 known to have perished
are the three persons whose bodies
have been found.