The Nevada journal., 1856-08-08
Full History of the Destruction of Nevada
by fire, on the 18th of July.

by ire, on the 18th of July.
1t becomes us as eye witnesses and
sufferers in the late awful confagration
of our rich and thriving city, and as
chroniclers ofihe events of passing time,
to employ the first cool breath, after
shaking from ourselves the cinders, the
ashes, and the dust of our devoted home,
in relating the story how Nevada van
ished, in one short hour, in clouds Of
smoke and whirlwind of fire.
The morning sun rose as bright on
the 10Th of July, on the fairest city OF
the mountains, as was his won't Life
swarmed in our streets, as if in the seal
ed book of fate, was not written DELEN-
DA EST NEVADA. The joyous sun Of
the morning, set, bloodshot eye, look
ing through volumes of smoke upon
acres Of blackened ruins.
At about ] gi<iock, p NJ, the start
iialg cry of'pRE s-Friedmell from their
stores and dwellings, into the streets,
and awoke hundreds from reveries Of
prosperity and happiness, to the certain
realities Of poverty and want. The fire
broke out in Hughes blacksmith shop,
in the rearof DIR. Adams brick, on Pine
street, between Broad and Spring. The
wind blowing smartly from the west at
the time, quickly communicated the
flames across the street to the Z. S.
Hotel. The streets about the corners
Of Broad and Pine were Immediately
filled with human beings anxious and
willing to risk even life to stay the de-
stroyer; but the rapid progress of the
flames, soon demonstrated thatno earth
ly power was able to conquer the fiery
element.
We have witnessed the indomitable
will, activity, daring and skill of our
citizens heretofore, III combating the
flames, and better men any place may
be challenged to produce. But the vet
erans Of former conflicts, read in the
increasing pyramid Of fire, conqu rer,
against whom it were mockery to con-
tend, and the boldest stood aghast, or
fed before the angry march of the swift
and inexorable invader.
The fire could not have originated in
a more favorable place to destroy the
entire town. Hughes blacksmith shop
was connected with long row of wood
en- buildings, occupying all that business
portion of the territory bounded by
Broad, Pine and Spring streets. One
brick building, DR.. Adams alone offer
ed an obstacle to the flames in this quar-
ter Of the city. nc wind, driving the
flames in the direction of the u. S. Ho-
tel, insured the demolition of the nu-
merous wooden buildings, between
Broad and Spring streets, from Pine to
the bridge. The southwesterly side of
Broad street, could not well be in
blaze, without commanding with west
erly wind, the entire business aud valu-
able portion of the city, scattering brands
in thick profusion far and near until the
whole combustible material of which the
town was principally built, burst into
sheets of flame and convolving clouds of
inky blackness. 1t was evident from
the first, that every wooden building in
the heart Of the city must be swept away.
The only hope remained in the reputed
fre-nroof bricks, Of which there were
twenty-eight in number, and few eel
lars and vaults, distributed here and
there over the fated district. Hum
dreds Of thousands of dollars in goods,
noured into the bricks in the few mo-
ments allowed for removal. The doors
and windows of these were shut and
barred in the greatest haste, and the ow-
ners fed before the hot pursuit, joined
the crowds of fugitives, unwillinglyleav-
ing all to be destroyed with fervent heat, |
and watched how well their costly
buildings, salamander like. would stand
the fiery ordeal.
Collected in croYds upon the hills,
about an ocean of fame, were hundred ds
of the houseless and homeless, appalled,
by the scene beffe them, and the
thoughts of the calamity which had
befallen them. fiilA4ows Of Iiqgid
flame dashed against the walls of
brick, and swalloFed them ever and
anon from sight. The roaring, the
cracking, the blazing faggots shot hsa-
venward, the sooty pavilion of cloud
that overhung all, and the intense anKi-
ETY. of the many whose eyes were fixed
unon the masonry that encIo,o5 +bo; Ill.