Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1853-08-16
Correspondence OF the San Francisco Herald.
DESTRUCTION OF THE TOWN OF oPHIR


Correspondence OF the San Francisco Herald.
DESTRUCTION OF THE TOWN OF oPH1R.
OPnIR, Tuesday, July IL, 1858.
EDITOR THE HERALD: We have to give you
the painful news of another confagration in the
mining districts. Our town of Ophir, which of
late, from the influx of the fairer sex, had assum-
ed so neat and charming an appearance as TO at
tract attention from every traveller Though Placer
County, is now one pile of cinderS and ashes.
About O'Clock this afternoon, the dread alarm
of fire sounded from the Union Hctel, in the CEN
ter of the main street, and never speedier de-
struction. InIess than one hour our thriving town
was in ashes. Some so houses were burned, leav-
ing, indeed, of the whole settlement, but two
houses at either end of the main street. So rapid
was the progress OF the flames, that some of our
most enterprising merchants had bately time TO
save their books and valuable papers; their stores
of costly merchandise all fell prey to the con
Stunning element.
The miners came in from all quarters and work
ed likemen 1t would be impossible to praise too
highly the efforts of some of our NewYork fire.
men. Lives were saved by their exertions as well
his property. But all worked we'll; yet Ophir was
doomed; ii is now i'll ashes.
One can hardly estimate the loss, but it cannot
fall short of one hundred thousand dollars. Some
fifty buildings are burned with many valuable
stocks of merchandise. But American enterprise
here as elsewhere shows itself IN its true Light
The streets are now alive with burning cInders
but contracts already entered into for lull one
half the number Of buildings destroyed, and we
hope that two weeks will see Ophir as brgh and
joyous as ever. The express Offices of Wells,
Fargo & Co., and of Adams & Co., did not seem
to suspeud their business moment, although their
Offices and fixtures were destroyed. Under the
surrounding trees they dealt outetters and "chan-
ged'' gold dust, TO the entire satisfaction of the
throng that had assembled. They seem TO be pio-
neers in every enterprise.
correspondent of the Shasta Courier, writing
from Pittsburgh, mining town in the northern
part of the State, says:
Quite an excitement was produced here short
time ago by the discovery of itch diggings i'll the
hill this side of Rich Gulch, Just where the trail
enters the gulch. As high as Sc was taken out in
one bucketful of dnt. The depth to the rock is
about 3 feet. People tsrun all night 10 secure
claims, and friend who was on the ground early
on the following morning, informs us that he saw
some Ten or dozen notices within few rods of
each other, having been posted in the dark.
About week since a companyof four English
men took out two pounds of gold near The mouth
of Rich Gulch.
p a packing road is about being opened from
Pittsburgh, across the Trinity Mountains to Scotts
Valley.
INDIAN MURDERous oulRAGE.-By Todd's Ex-
press we are in possession of tue following brief
particulars of another murderous outrage perpe-
trated by Indians.
1t appears that two men, one named Saunders,
(thename Of the other asyet unknown) who were
employed:in driving ice teams for Holt & Co. from,
Sonora to the mountains, attacked by Indians
about 20 miles from Sonora. Saunders was shot
with rifle, the ball entering his forehead; when
found, there were nine arrows in his body. The
companion Of Saunders was shot the same time,
with an arrow, which entered his body. He, how
ever, succeeded in making his escape, andreached
asranch about three miles distant Hlsrecoveryi is
doubtful. The Indians stole the horses and made
for the mountains. IL
GLoRIous UNcERTAIaTY OF THE LAVA laugh
able illustration of the heading of this article
CURED in Illinois lately will be seen by the fol-
lowing fromithe Peoria News
MI. B.was out hunting with his rife, and Cross
ing the field of Mr.. O., Frenchman, CPS large
dog attacked him sayagely, while c. stood looking
on, without attempting tocalloR his dog; b. get
ting out of patience shot the dog, and he fell apa
larentlY dead. o., in high dudgeon forthwith got
out warrant and had b. arrested for killing his
dog-swoIe to the killing, and was coTroborated
by two of his neighbors, who were present at the
shooting. The magistrate fined b. ten dollars and
costs, which amounted to about ten more; B. paid
the fine and coSts-and when the parties got home
rom the al, the dog had come home also, and was
not killed: b. then got warrant against the
Frenchman and hls two associates Tor perjury, in
swearing b. had killed the dog. They were fright
ened, and made peace with B., paid him back his
twenty dollars, and ten more for his trouble-and
no trial was had; and when the parties returned
home from the last suit, 1oI the dog was dead. Inn
agine the feelings of the Frenchman and hisp
party he shsot my dog-he die-eI ssweas-and 2
dam dog resuITects himself. By gar find swear .
badj settle for m7-then my dog he die by CARL
Sacregs 5sss,s - 80. s
siLTvING GrRAFTEs.-An enormous pair of living
gitaffes, OF cameleoparJs, arrived in the steamer
Washing ton yesterday from BIsnen. One is seven
Teen and the other fifteen feet in heig ht Theyare
accompanied by their oWneE Herr BERNHARD Hart
MANN who has brought them all tine way from
Egypt for exhibition in this country. No animal
1.-THE kind hes been in America since 1886, at
which time panwe ere imported by lIessis Weeks,
w eistf q Clayton; at an expense of come $40, 600.
They are rare, IS Welld beautiful and graceful