OCR Text |
Show ALT A IX ASHES. Disastrous Conflagration at Little Cottonwoad. The Whole Camp, With thg Exception Ex-ception of a Few Cabins, in Rains. Forty Famlles Rerdered Houseless and Destitute. The Rumored Cremation of Judge Varnes Untrue. THE LOSS IS HEAVY-THE INSURANCE LIGHT- 4qU All From a Smoking -'Bar. Yesterday afternoon a fire broke out in Alta city, Little Cottonwood. Toe report of the conflagration reichei this oily last evening, and Wd3 to the effect that the business onrt of the town had been burned down, but nothing definite could be learned until a lato hour. At G.30 o'clock a special train was sent from this city to Sandy to connect with a ipecial over the Wasatch and Jordan Villey road, to bring down such of be surJerers as should wish to come. About 9.30 the special arrived here, bringing but a few passengers. From Mr. Ed. J. Hall we learn tho follow ing particulars: The origin of the lire is not positively known, one idea wing that it was the work of an incendiary, and another looking ipon it as growing out of the care- 'essuess of an intoxicated per3on, bo smoked a cigar in bed. The fire broke out in the Swan hotel, and it was asserted, in a room occupied occu-pied by Judge Varues, though this story is not given as the positive origin. From this building, which i at the west end -of the main street, the Mimes com-uunicated com-uunicated with a blacksmith 'hop and then with the Fuller house. The fire then crossed the street and, t wind blowiug up the caum, it swept from the west end of the town to the eastern extremity, carrying everythirg before it. In forty minutes from the time of the discovery, the whole central portion of the town was burned down. Sweeping up both j sides of the main street, the fire consumed con-sumed everything before it, and pas sing around the powder magazine, whicn, by some remarkable means, scaped untuched, it blazed up Part S mar ley's bill for considerable distance, burning down timber and underbrush. Reports of the i plosion of powder confined in the buildings being consumed, were heard every few minutes. The fire originated origin-ated at the extreme western part of ifte town, and only ceased when it carried away everything before it to I the eastern end, destroying in its ; march the Valejo and Bay City Tun nel properties. The tramway was saved, the ravages of the fire ending at this point. But a few buildings were left standing, these being the court house and Colonel Sell's, ud perhaps others. Following aro among tho losers: Tucker & Co., J. J. O'Reily, Rowe & Starber, butchers, John Strickley, Brandy house, and the Grundy hotel ou the south side of the main street. The Swan hotel, a blacksmith shop, the Fuller house, Fitzgerald's saloon, Baldy Filz, Albert Thomas' Canon house, the poatomce, drug store and express office, a shoemaker shop, H. Ziegler, Street & Ralph's news depot, Fitz Adolpho's hotel, Thomas, Masters, Mas-ters, Dearden &, Co. 'a saloon and newe depot, Felix's barber shop, Dan Simmons' restaurant, the CaliToro: brewery and the I. X, L. bakery on the north side. Tne loss can hardly be estimated, but is pretty certain to amount to all of 5100,000. It wes reported and pretty generally believed that Judge Varnes had been burned to death in the fire, and it was also stated that his bones had been discovered in the ruins of the Swan hotol. However, a dispatch received by Mrs. Varnes, sent from Alta about 7. SO o'clock last evening, proves this to bo incorrect, as the gentleman is neither burned nor any way injured physically. The people are homeless and almost destitute. From thirty-five to 'orty families are without shelter aud food, and many have not tho means with which tu purchase anything to cat. All woo were not obliged 'to remain iu Alta on account ac-count of their property, and could pay their way down, cime to town last night. However, a great many are expected to como to Salt Lke today. to-day. A call will be made on our citizens, to d:y, for assistance for the euQerers, and it is to bo hoped that the worthy object will meet with a liberal and hearty response. Everything in the shape of clothing and provisions is needed, and auyone desirous of reuderiDg help may do so to Mr. E J. Hall, who will endeavor to send a epecial train out during the day with nccwaaries tor the suhVrens in thd late prosperous ruioini camp of Alta. |