Aspen, Colorado Fire
July 18, 1884
ASPEN’S FIRST FIRE.
A Baby Conflagration Costing About $2,500.
At about three o’clock yesterday afternoon fire
was discovered in the carpenter shop of
Kester, Murdock &
Brown, on Durant st., east of the
Times office. The alarm was given, and within a
few minutes over a thousand people responded.
The heat was so intense that nothing could be
saved from the shop, but willing hands were
ready to do what they could. Within three
minutes the building was enveloped in flames,
and communicated with the building on the west,
owned and occupied by
Jas. McDonnell and family, consisting
of himself and wife, two children and two
brothers. The men were away working in the
mines. Most of the furniture was saved.
Mrs. Maggie Webber’s
two story ten room house, east of the shop,
occupied by Thos.
Combs, melted like wax, making it
impossible to save only a portion of the
furniture on the ground floor.
The next building east, owned by
Mayor Hooper,
was licked up in a jiffy, but most of the
furniture of J. M. Lockerby, who occupied the
building, was saved.
The next was Dick
Taggart’s cabin, occupied by
Mr. Martell.
This structure was torn down; which saved
Fisher and Pearson’s
house, and arrested the progress of the flames.
Four buildings were burned, and one torn down.
The wind was blowing a gale from the northwest,
which fact saved the entire business portion of
the town. McKinney’s
new saloon building, just across Galena street
from the Times building, was saved only by the
greatest efforts of men with buckets and wet
blankets, it having caught fire several times.
There was no insurance on any of these
properties. The approximate losses are as
follows: McDonnell,
house, $400; furniture, $100;
Kester, Murdock & Brown, shop and
tools, $400; Taggart,
$100;
Hooper, $150;
Lockerby, $50;
Combs,
furniture, clothing and jewelry, from $200 to
$300; Mrs. Webber,
house, $1,000. There were numerous offers
of the hospitality of their homes made by
citizens to the three homeless families.
Mr. McDonnall
is quartered in the Times building;
Mr. Comb’s
people found a refuge at
Capt. Noble’s; and
Mr. Lockerby and family are at
Mr. Fink’s.
After the fire was under control, the firemen
brought out the fire engine, which to the
surprise of all, did effective work in
extinguishing the embers, which, had the wind
changed, would have soon spread over the town.
This is a fortunate fire for Aspen, although
severe upon a few. It is a reminder to the
council to have the city bonds negotiated, even
at 25 per cent discount, if they can’t do any
better, and provide further fire preventives.
There should constantly be a trained team at the
engine house; and we understand that Foreman
Williamson, who did effective work yesterday by
his presence of mind and rapid execution, offers
to furnish his own fine team and train them for
the work, provided the city will build him a
stable at the engine house, which generous
proposition should be immediately, forth-with
and at once accepted.
The dying embers were still hot and smoking,
when a paper was started for the benefit of the
fire sufferers, which was generously responded
to on all sides.
Aspen Weekly Times, Aspen Co 19 Jul 1884
Transcribed by Audrey. Thank you,
Audrey!
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