Miscellaneous newspaper articles about Denver County Colorado
October 3, 1864
Daily Alta California, San Francisco California
Terrible Explosion
Denver City was startled out of its propriety, on the 12th
ult., a few minutes before three o’clock, just as the church bells were ringing
for afternoon service, by the most terrific explosion ever witnessed in that
country. A column of smoke and dust shot far up into the heavens from the
very heart of the city and floated away in an immense black cloud.
Thousands of people rushed to the scene of the catastrophe to find the gun shop
of M. L. Rood and the adjoining premises, a mass of ruins. Fire had broken out
in two places among the broken and fallen timbers and threatened a general
conflagration, but by a quick and well-directed effort of those present, it was
soon extinguished and there was time to enquire the cause and see the effect of
the accident.
The shop was one of a long row of
small, low wooden buildings fronting on F, just below Larimer Street. A
workman was repairing a shot gun, and when done put on a cap to try it.
The gun proved to be loaded and exploded with a terrible report, followed in
about two seconds by the explosion which citizens aver shook the ground and
caused buildings to rock and tremble to the outer limits of the city. It
is the belief that the gun when fired, bursted or the breech pin was blown out
and the flash ignited three or four open and partly filled powder kegs that
stood under the counter. Hocum, who fired the gun, was taken from the
burning ruins very badly bruised and cut and burned black with his clothes
entirely torn off. It was first thought that he was fatally injured,
but there is a prospect now of his recovery. Mr. Rood, who was in another
part of the shop, was somewhat cut and bruised, but not seriously.
Dr. Gehrung, whose office next door was totally demolished, was considerably
hurt but able to take care of himself. Mr. Rood estimates hiss loss at about
four thousand dollars in the two buildings, machinery, tools and stock.
Dr. Gehrung lost several hundred dollars in office furniture, medicines and
damages to his library, etc. The desk at which he was sitting at the time,
as also the chair he occupied, were entirely broken to pieces. Mr. Gehrung,
brother of the Doctor, who had a well stocked family grocery on the opposite
side of the gun-shop, lost over four thousand dollars in damage to stock and
building. The whole side of the latter was torn out, his goods, solids and
fluids, and the plaster from the ceiling and walls were completely mixed
together.
Other buildings on either side were
considerably damages and a good deal of glass was broken through the
neighborhood. In our office considerable type was thrown down and the
windows that happened to be closed were pretty well broken out. Portions
of the buildings destroyed were thrown across the street and half the roof of
one of them was landed entire, but upside down, on a neighboring building.
Marshal Bailey, who was riding nearby, was thrown off his mule and is oblivious
as to how he escaped from the wreck.
But for the
very prompt efforts a destructive fire must have followed and it made one
nervous after the flames were subdued to see dozens of cans and flasks of powder
picked out of the charred and drenched debris. It seems miraculous that no
one was killed and so few hurt. Some uncharitable persons think that the
explosion was a judgment for working on Sunday, it being the habitual practice
in the shop to work on that day. At any rate, we hope it will serve as a
warning to the city authorities to enforce a more strict observance of the fire
ordinance respecting the sale and storage of powder.
August 01, 1900
The Quincy Daily Journal
Mr. Dell Churchill and Mr. John Vandyke left Monday for Denver, Colorado, where
they expect to secure work. Quite a number of our boys have left for the Western
states. [transcribed by Debbie Gibson]
Jan 3, 1922
The Daily Messenger. Canandaigua, NY.
Evelyn’s awful Predicament
Denver, Colo., Jan 3 – Evelyn Brewster, three, was left in the bathtub for a few
minutes by his sister, who went to answer the door. The bathroom door blew shut,
locking it. Frantic Mrs. Brewster called the fire department. Evelyn was rescued
via ladder. [Submitted by Melissa Rodriguez]
January 7, 1917
Lima Daily News
Buffalo Bill is Said Near Death
Great Wild West Character
Rushed
to Home on a Special Train
DENVER, Colo., Jan.
.—Critically ill following a severe nervous and mental collapse last night at
Glenwood springs. Colonel W. F. Cody, (Buffalo Bill), is due to arrive in Denver
at 7 o'clock tomorrow morning, on board a special car attached to a Denver & Rio
Grande train. Upon arrival in Denver he will be joined by his wife and his
sister, Mrs. May Docker, and by his family physician. Dr. J. H. East. The party
will then start for Cody, Wyoming, the colonel's old home, if his condition
permits the journey.
Colonel Cody's collapse came very
suddenly last night following a two days stay in Glenwood Springs, during which
time it was declared the colonel seemed to be in better condition than he had
been for several weeks. Little hope can be held out for his recovery, according
to a statement issued by Dr. W. W. Cook, of Glenwood Springs. Colonel Cody's
mental faculties are impaired, and his memory is almost gone, according to Dr.
Cook.
Questioned as to whether Colonel Cody would be able
to stand the strain of a long railroad journey, Dr. Cook declared that he "did
not know". Colonel Cody became seriously ill upon his return to Denver, December
15, following a trip to his ranch at Cody, Wyoming. A severe cold contracted on
the trip brought on a nervous breakdown rendered grave by the age of the famous
plainsman. Colonel Cody is 70 years of age. (Submitted by Linda Dietz)