Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-02-25
CONGREGATION
At HOT SPRINGS
Over Two Million Dollars Loss
and Thousands Of People
Rendered Homeless
FIVE LIVES REPORTED LOST
Water Supply is Exhausted and the
City Left to the Mercy of the Flames
Hundreds of Citizens Join Bucket
Brisade-Fire Burned From Mid
night Until O'clock Today.

Hot Springs, Ark, Feb. 25. - Fire
which broke out at midnight in the
southern portion of the city and not
under control until after this morn
ing, destroyed nearly a hundred build
ings, rendering a thousand people
homeless, including many visitors. The
estimated loss is $1,OOO,000. High wind
and failure of the water supply left
the city at the mercy of the flames.
The fire was checked at the Methodist
church, the district where the Hotel
Moody is located having been entirely
destroyed.
The burned section comprises about
a fifth of the entire area of the city.
and was occupied almost exclusively
oy the poorer classes. Eastman Park
and Arlington hotels are safe and
both the railroad stations are saved.
Among the buildings destroyed were
the Grand Central, Plateau, Moody
hotel, GARNER flats, several lodging
houses, and DUTIES general store.
The charred bodies of three women
are reported to have been found in
the ruins of the Grand Central hotel.
AT least two thousand people are
homeless, but fortunately the spring.
like temperature prevails. The fire
department rendered good service until
srJ0 II trv.
out. Then bucket brigades were form.
ed and hundreds of citizens and visl.
tors volunteered their services. At .
o'clock the fire is still burning, but Is
under control. The city has been fill
ing up with visitors for several weeks
and it is estimated that fully twenty
thousand sojourners are here.
The 'o)unty court house, containing
many valuable records, and the Jail
We're burned Twenty prisoners in tire
latter were rescued with difficulty In
the South Hot Springs cottage district,
which was consumed, several persons
are missing. There is great confusion
in all parts Of the city. The Jewish
Synagogue, Central Presbyterian
church and the residence of Mayor
Belding and Sheriff Williams are
among those destroyed. The district
occupied by the bath houses, and the
entire government reservation escaped
the flames. Telephone and street car
service is suspended.
When the fire broke out at 80 this
morning general alarm was turned
in. A high wind was blowing, and 1t
was soon famed into conflagration
which swept the wooden buildings di-
rectly in it's path, as tho they were
constructed of paper. The guests OF
leading hotels were awakened and
many dressed and securing their valu-
ables 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 Fo-
lice Sheriff Williams posted his depu-
ties in many parts of the threatened
district to prevent looting. Men, wo-
men and children were running in all
directions, many carrying bundles OF
clothing and seeking place of safety.
To the west of Central avenue is Q
wooded park and this strip of tim
ber, directly in the path of the fire,
arrested it's progress in that direction.
The fashionable hotel district was not
damaged
Systematic search of the ruins has
resulted in the finding of two male
bodies. This makes total Of f1vo
known deaths, all burned beyond rec
ognition. The lossE are now placed
at s2,000,000.
Mayor Belding has issued an appeal
to all reidents, urging them to assist
the homeless in eevry possible way.