San Andreas independent., 1859-08-27
Destruction of Murphys bv Fire

ee'i ueIion vi our helSnDorlng town
salIecto-by fire. Just eight days later the
same affiicting catastrophe befel the pleasant
and prosperous village of Murphys, the bust
ness part of which was totally consumed on
Sunday last.
The fire commenced in the Magnolia Saloon
situated near the west end of town, On the
north side of Main street, and surrounded
by wooden buildings that would ignite and
burn as readily as SO many hay-stacks. The
Magnolia was used as fandango house and
was tenanted by some disreputable Mexican
women at the time, one of whom, it is suspect
ed, acted the incendiary in revenge for some
harsh treatment she had received.
1t was first observed by gentleman who
was standing directly opposite in Mr.. Girls
pins store, and was burning in the upper
part of the building, apparently within a verv
small space. This was about 2 o'clock. p. NJ.
Before effective efforts were made to extin-
guish it, the flames burst out of the windows
roof and doors, communicating with wooden
tenements on either hand and crossing the
street. The wind was stirring pretty briskIy
from the west which carried the fire rapidly
down through the business part of town along
both sides of Main street. leaving not a siuole
house, eastward from the starting point of the
fire, on the south side of the street, and but
one on the north side, viz: Mr.. Traver's large
fre-proof store. The excellent and Justly
popular hotel of Sperry & Perry, which was
thought to be fire-proof was destroyed with
the rest, and everything within its walls in the
line of personal effects, belonging to the pro-
prietors, boarders, and travellers who were
temporarily stopping there. One gentleman,
Mr.. Davis, from Sonora, who, with his wife,
had just arrived lost $1,000 in travelling ward
robe and jewelry. The loss of the propre-
tors and the destruction of this fine hotel are
public calamites. They kept one of the best
houses in the interior of the State and were
gentlemen of praiseworthy public spirit, using
the advantages of their position to the benefit
of the town and its interests. Their loss is
estimated at S25,OoO, which figures, if any,
are but little exaggerated.
Traver's store contained an immense stock
of goods. 1t was surrounded by large frames
and the fire ragged with fearful violence all
about it, but the thick walls and stout iron
window and door shutters were proof against
the fiery element. Not a particle of damage
was inflicted upon any of the goods within the
building, though Mr. I. lost considerable prop
/ bv tbo Inn of,
in which were stored some articles of merchan-
disc.
The entire business portion of town, with
the exceptions of Mr. Travers store, Remand
Metz's bakery, and building opposite the
latter, occupied as retail liquor establish
ment was swept away in less than forty min
utes. In fifteen minutes from the discovery of
the fire, over thirty houses were in fames.-
So rapid was the communication that no time
was allowed to save personal movables hence
the losses in clothing, bedding and household
furniture are fully equalt to the value of build
ings destroyed. Below we append list of the
sufferers, with the amount lost by each. 1t
will be seen that the total foots up near $780,
900. we are informed that merchants and
others who deposited choice articles of prop
erty at a safe distance from the fire. lost a
number of valuables which are supposed to
have been spirited away by thievsh Diggers
Mr. Matteson whose livery stable was burned
but who saved all his horses and most of his
equipage, lost number of fine saddles by this
"spiriting" process. Sperry Perry con-
template rebuilding the hotel at once. A
gentleman who left Murphys on Monday even
ing stated that some fifteen to twenty houses
were then started in the burnt district Dr.
Jones lost his case of surgical instruments,
valued at $500 They were placed in an iron
safe, and upon opening it after the fire, though
the papers therein were all sound and right,
the instruments were all untempered and ru-
ined. The affliction is severe and general ;
but it is borne with fortitude and nonchdlence
no where so admirably exhibited as among
California Pioneers overtaken by adversity-
Here is the list of losses