1896 April 29 El Paso Livery stable after the explosion
El Paso Livery stable after the explosion
In late April 1896, Cripple Creek, Colorado, endured two catastrophic fires over a period of 96 hours.
[1896] Bennett Avenue, Cripple Creek, Colorado, first fire
Bennett Avenue, Cripple Creek, Colorado, first fire
The first, on April 25, 1896, began around 1 p.m. when a gasoline stove overturned on the second floor of the Central Dance Hall on Myers Avenue. A brisk wind spread the fire to adjoining buildings. By the time the fire was out, two lives had been lost and eight blocks of the city’s central business district had been destroyed.
[1896] Cripple Creek – after the fire
Cripple Creek – after the fire
Just a few days later, on April 29th, a second fire broke out. The headlines of the April 30, 1896, Rocky Mountain News declared:
CRIPPLE CREEK WIPED OUT BY FIRE / Second Conflagration Destroys Nearly All That Portion of the Town Not Touched by Flames—Thousands Are Destitute / Buildings Blown Up in an Attempt to Save the City / Three Men Are Dead and a Number Injured, Several of Them Fatally / Snow is Falling and Hundred of Campfires Dot the Surrounding Hills
[1896] Bennett [illegible] and Penrose Blk
Bennett [illegible] and Penrose Blk
The newspaper went on to include details of a fire that rendered 6,000 of the city’s 16,000 residents homeless:
The second great fire came with the swiftness and deadly energy of the lightning’s bolt. At 1 o’clock this afternoon fire started in the kitchen of the Portland hotel on Second street, below Myers.The whole city rushed to the scene, dropping tools from their hands. The fire jumped with a roar like a hungry giant at his food. Floods of water and the demolition of buildings with deafening explosions of dynamite were childishly impotent to stay the fire, and men stood with tears running down their cheeks, helpless.
Check out the Western History and Genealogy Department’s Cripple Creek Fires, 1896 gallery, which includes images taken during and after the fires.
[CLICK IMAGE TO ANIMATE] El Paso Livery stable explosion, Cripple Creek, April 1896
[CLICK IMAGE TO ANIMATE] El Paso Livery stable explosion, Cripple Creek, April 1896
Photo NewsResearch NewsCripple CreekfiresdisastersPhoto Gallery:
Bennett Avenue, Cripple Creek, Colorado, first fire
[1896]
The fire at Cripple Creek, Colo.
1896
Cripple Creek, Colorado after first fire
[1896]
Cripple Creek, Colorado after first fire
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El Paso Livery Stable before the fire
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El Paso Livery Stable, the explosion, 1896
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El Paso Livery Stable burning, fire 1896
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Cripple Creek fire
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El Paso Livery stable after the explosion
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Cripple Creek
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West half burned 3 days after east half
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After the 2nd fire
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After the fire
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After the fire
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Bennett [illegible] and Penrose Blk
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Bennett Ave.
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Bennett Ave.
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Bennett Ave. after 2nd fire
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Bennett Ave. after the fire
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Bennett Ave. looking west
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City Jail, Crippe [sic] Creek fire
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Cor. Tutt and Penrose blk.
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Cripple Creek
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Cripple Creek – after the fire
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Cripple Creek after the fire
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Cripple Creek fire, early 1890’s
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Destruction caused by second fire, Cripple Creek
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Destruction caused by second fire, Cripple Creek
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Destruction from second fire, Cripple Creek
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Examining a safe
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First National Bank after first fire, Cripple Creek, Colorado
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General view after the fire, Bennett and 4th
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General view after the fire, Cripple Creek
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Palace Hotel
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Part of First St. saved from the fire
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Part of First Street
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Rebuilding over the hot ashes
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The only [illegible] Bennett Ave.
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West, Cripple Creek after the fire
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Cripple Creek, the famous mining town of Colorado, almost obliterated by two disastrous fires
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The new Cripple Creek, showing the town’s rapid recovery from the disastrous fires of April, 1896
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Cripple Creek Fires, 1896