The Nevada Democrat., 1857-09-02
Destruction OF Columbia by Fire-Loss OF
li7fnih 9aair Life and Property. "

pestrpet,on Of coiumbia BY Fire--Loss OF
i'7faia Yaa' life and Property.
On Tuesday evening, August 25th, the twon
Of Columbia, In Tuolumne county, was swept
away by fire, and several lives were lost. The
following account Of the catastrophe was tele-
graphed to the Sacramento Bee:
t7H A'a ''ti't STOCKTON, August 26,
We are informed by Mr. Woodworth driver
of the Columbia stage, that the town Of Coluna-
bia was entirely destroyed by fire last evening.
The fire originated in China House in the
upper end of the road, at $50 r. NJ. It spread
very rapidly, and was all over by IL O'Clock.
Only three buildings we're saved-D. o. Mills
4 Co.'s bank, O'Keef's building, and Gllespie's
building. A large quantity of gunpOwder ex-
ploded in the store of H. N Brown, killing him,
his clerk. and j. B. NJ. Crooks. President Of the
Sonora Gas Company. and seven or eight others,
who were endeavoring to save the building.
Main street was c, mpletely swept away. not a
house remaining Wells, Fargo Il Co.'s vault
was destroyed, with all their papers. The loss
had not been estimated when Mr.. w. left
COLUMBIA, August 26.
Mr.. Heckendorn, an old resident of Columbia.
furnished US with the following, which may be
relied upon as correct: At six o'clock P. NJ.
Yesterday. the alarm of fire was given, and in
three hours the town was laid in ashes-a few,
only of the buildings on the outskirts Of town
escaped the devOuring element; large num-
Der of flre-proof buildings. with valuable con-
tents. are mass of mouldering ruins. The
large business house of H. N. Brown. * Co.. on
Main street. was blown to atoms by the explo-
sion Of some fifty kegs of powder. At the time
of the explosion, there were quite number of
persons in the building. and five are known to
have been instantly killed, and quite number
dangerously wounded Fo
The names of the killed are: Fl. N Brown.
". N. Toomey, Rudolph, "a clerk of Brown d
Coz Crooks, (gas man of San Francsco.l and
miner named Briscoll. w. o. Sleeper 4 CO..
bankers Post Office and Telegraph Office. Ma
sonic Hall. Broadway Hotel. McChelsey's block.
DR.. Parsons. Brainard's block. and the Courier
office, slightly damaged, have escaped the &C.
vouring element
Alarge amount Of valuable furniture. &c.
was deposited in the banking house of W. o.
Sleeper d Co. and are perfectly safe, the build
ing bling among the best and most thorough
tire-proof of any IN the place This dispatch IL
sent from the inside of the banking house. and
we feel no very great Inconvenience from heat.
No estimate of the loss has been made, but il
must be some $780, 900 more than It was In '64,
which was $450,000 '
Many of those in fre-proof buildings were
so confident of being saved that they remained,
removed none Of their effects, but received and
stored what was brought TO them.
The territory embraced in the burnt district
is as follows; Broadway, from Smith, Morse g.
Co.'s lumber yard, including their office, to
Masonic Hall; all east of Broadway to jackson
street, including Odd Fellows Hall; Main street
with the exception of those above mentioned
and the Philadelphia House. On the east az
far as DR.. Charmoux's Hospital; Washington
Street Hall ruined; State and jackson streets
as far east as Columbia street with but one or
two exceptions.
The fire originated in Chinese brothel on
jackson street, between Main and Broadway,
and. it is said, was caused by an opium smoker
The wind was from the northwest and blew the
flames Immediately to Miller q Williams large
livery stable, and from there to Columbia street
1t then veered to the southwest and swept all
in its course to Main Gulch, is far as Smith,
Morse & Co. lumber yard.
The dead bodies are now in the Phenlx Hook
and Ladder Co.'S building, awaiting the Core
ner's inquest -
Our people are gloomy and sad--all Is con-
fusion. Thousands are coming in from all the
adjoining camps. who. deeply sympathize with
us In the loss of life and property.
The telegraph line was burned down, but Is
temporarily repaird, and enables US to give the
news of our sad calamity.
There are materials being brought on the
ground preparatory to putting up temporary
tenements. The families are being provided for
by the people of the adjacent towns. Three
thousand men, women and children have net
had a morsel of food since yesterday noon.
Thank God, they will be provided for in few
hours .... ..