The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-02-26
Three Chartd and DisfguTGd Bodies Are Recovered
 from the Ruins
PROPERTY LOSS WILL 60
 BEYOND S1,OOO,OOO MARK
Flames Rage for Five Hours ane Burn Over an Area one Mile Squarc-RelIef Fund
 Started.

Hot Springs, Ark. February 25-Fire swept the southern portion of this city early today, doing immense damage and causing the known death of three persons. The losses are varlously estimated at from one million to two millions dollars. Three charred oorpses have been found among the ruins, and, as several per sons are reported missing, the death list may be increased. 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 33o 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, bus mess houses, hotels and other buildings 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 telegraph and tolephone poles were destroyed and these sa ices Seer knniporary demoralized. The Ire tfeptf 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.
 Big Hotels Destroyed.
 Among the buildings destroyed are the Grand Central hotel, the Lee house, Moody basel, rlnteau hotel. Columbia ho- tel. the county court house, jail. First Methodist church, the Jewish church and residences and stores to a large num- Der, conservatlvely estimated at from 200 to 250.
 The fire started in the Grand Central hotel and it's origin Is a mystery. All the guests had retired for the night and only the night clerk and the watchman were on duty when the flames were dis covered.
 A strong north wind was blowing and before the fire department could reach the scene the fire spread rapidly to adjoining buildings A general alarm was sounded and every engine in the city responded. Guests in the big hotels were awakened and hundreds of these hastily dressed and repaired to the scene of the conffagration. The firemen and police worked vailiantly but their efforts 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 then formed, hum dreds of citizens and visitors alike vol unteerng their services
 Excitement was manifested everywhere 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, and many In their anxiety jumped from windows and sustained severe bruises and shocks.
 Famed Flames Into Soothing Glare.
 At daybreak the wind increased in force and famed the flames into a seething glare which lit up the country for miles around. The fire swept along Central avenue. south, eating up build ing after building before the occupants could recover their valuahles, and many of them barely escaped with their lives.
 On the west side of Central avenue strip of woods covering about ten acres arrested the progress of the fire to the west The Park hotel, one of the most noted hotels in the south, through a favorable shift in the wind, escaped pos sible destruction. The guests were hur- riedly summoned from their rooms and many of them packed their trunks and yalises and made their way to the streets. The Arlington and Eastman hotels were not in the threatened district. After the | fire had gained full headway the streets became choked with people. Hundreds of those who had been driven from their houses were running frantically about, some carrying clothing, valises and other property looking for place of safety. The police and citizens rendered these unfortunates every aid.
 Bedding Directs the Work. n f.olx nal charge of the fire and police forces and directed their efforts. With the assis- tance of Sheriff Williams patrols were es- | tablshed and the crowds kept back to | the danger lines.
 At o'clock the fire had practically l burned itself out and the work of rescue and relief was begun. In the ruins of l the Grand Central hotel charred fe- male body was found. The remains 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 unknown male corpses were discov- 1 cred
 Mayor Bedding issued a proclamation calling upon the citizens to open their houses to the destitute and the appeal 1 was responded to on every side. The large hotels took hundreds who had lost l their belongings and fed hundreds more. | A mass meeting called by the mayor met this afternoon. Mayor Bedding asked | for contributions to assist the destitute 1 and generous donations were made. Many | turfmen subscribed liberally to the fund. | Mayor Belding said at the meeting that | It was his opinion that the city can take
 care of the situation without an appeal | for outside aid. ts ..s
 City Flooded With TeIesrams. The telegraph offices tonight have been | flooded with teiegrams from all parts of | the country. asking If friends and rela- | tives of the senders are safe. A large | number of these messages were probably | occasioned by sensational reports sent out
 
 (coutinued on Ninth Paaal