The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1910-04-29
PART OF CITY OF LAKE ST,
CHARLES COMPLETELY
WIPED OUT.
1000 PEOPLE HOMELESS
Several Hundred Buildings Burned,
With Loss Of So, 1000, o00.-Depart-
rnents From Nearby Places
Unable to Check Blaze.

Lake ol. NIolltS,
Famed by a high wind, fire swept 20
or more blocks of the city, destroying
several hundred buildings and result
ing in a property loss estimated at
about $4,000, 900. Two thousand per-
sons have been rendered homeless.
When it became apparent to the To-
cal fire department they could not
cope with the blaze, requests for aid
were wired to Beaumont and Orange,
Texas, and to Jennings, La, all Of
which were within q radius OF 80 miles
of Lake Charles. The Southern Pa
cifc railroad offered special trains to
bring the volunteers from n~eighboring
cities.
Many houses in the path of the
flames were d%ynamited, but showers of
sparks were swept beyond the gaps
thus made, igniting the buildings on
the farther side. Within a short time
the wind had driven the fire over a
space of two miles in length, leaving
a mass of ruins in its wake.
While many of the building de-
hAl ~ w 'Sol& ~ VI
handsome structures also fell prey to
the flames. Stores, churches. the city
hall and other prominent buildings
were reduced to ashes.
Starting in the old opera house in
Rival street, lear PujO, the fire spread
to adjoining buildings, burning out the
northern portion of the business sec
ton and then sweeping into the resi-
Dental district.
Hundreds of frame cottages were
burned to the ground and while about
1000 persons were thus rendered
fering. That portion of the city which
escaped the ravages of the fire threw
open its dOOrS to the needy and in
some instances as many as five and six
families are being cared for in one
home.
The Catholic convent with several
hundred inmates was totally destroyed
but the sisters as well as their charg-
es, were given immediate shelter in
the homes of Catholic families in the
city.
While no disorders marked the eX-
element, which the town experienced,
the mayor last night deemed it advis-
able to enlist the aid of the local com
pany of Louisiana state troops, and
the members OF this organization were
placed on guard in the burned district.
Early estimates of the fire, which
n1ocn tho amount of don1oon Of CD 0nn
600 are believed to be excessive and
more conservative figures range from
81 ,000, 900 to $4,000, 00C. The northern
half of the business portion was com
Dletely destroyed, all stores, ware
houses and other buildings there hav-
ing been burned.
The principal building destroyed was
the new Calcasin Parish court house.
erected a few years ago., at a cost of
several hundred thousand dollars.
Mayor Behrman, of New Orleans,
wired, offering any assistance that
might be needed, but it is believed
that the city will be able to handle
the situation without outside assist
ance.
Next to the courthouse the cOstliest
buildings destroyed were those of the
Holy Cross convent, Catholic church
and rectory, the loss amounting to
100000.
Three hotels, including the Clair, the
Walker and the Walden, were burned
which with the buildings adjoining
them represented another loss OF
about 500, OOO.
In addition to these buildings the
Catholic Knights hall, the Lake house
the Drew building, the City hall and
the Christian church, the BourneauX
market, the Braden warehouse and
scores Of small stores, shops, Office
buildings and many residences were
reduced to ashes. 1t is estimated that
the insurance will amount to less than
one-third of the total loss incurred in
the fire.
In the burning of the courthouse al
of the tax collectors records and part
of the records in the clerks and as
SCISSORS Office were destroyed.