ONE HUNDRED MULES
BURNED IN STABLES.
GUYTON & HERRINGTON SUF-
FER BIG LOSS BY FIRE.
Animals, Fascinated by Flames, Re-
fuse to Escape -- Two Hundred
Horses, Released From Adjoin-
ing Stable, At Large.
More than 100 mules were burned to death in Guyton & Herrington's stables at Seventeenth and Genessee streets last night. Fascinated by the flames, they made no effort to save themselves, but slowly roasted to death, while hundreds of men stood outside shouting to scare the mules away from their death. The building was completely destroyed.
William L. Orvis, salesman for the firm, said there were 300 in the stable. The number of incinerated animals may reach 150.
Sam and Laurence Crane, who live at 2 Kansas avenue, Kansas City, Kas., were the first to see the flames, which had already gained considerable headway inside the locked building. They began trying to lead the already terrified mules out of the fire.
Companies were hurried from Nos. 1, 7, 9, 15 and 16 stations were sent. The Crane boys were inside the building when the first stream of water hit the windows. One of the sashes was knocked off and fell upon the head of Sam Crane, knocking him unconscious. He was dragged out of the flames by his brother and later revived.
Other men rushed into the furnace-like heat and strove to make the mules run out, but the blinded beasts huddled together. Volunteer horse saves raided the barn of Cottingham Bros., next door, and released more than 200 animals, which scattered in every direction. At midnight only sixty-nine had been recovered. A platoon of eight horses rushed up the viaduct of the Twelfth street trolley line and stampeded Twelfth street to Grand avenue, where they turned left and were lost in the North End.
Cottingham's barn next door was not damaged. Two small stables used by Guyton & Herrington, across the alley on Seventeenth and Wyoming streets, were saved.
A watchman was supposed to sleep in the building. What became of him is not known.
The value of the stable, which was of brick, is estimated at $20,000. The mules were worth from $200 to $250 apiece. The building was the property of the stock yards company and was insured. Both Guyton and Herrington were out of town when the fire occurred. They will continue business in the stables on Wyoming street.
