The Placer herald. [volume] (Auburn, Placer County, Calif.) 1855-1991, 1859-10-15
GREAT CONFEDERATION IN AUBURN.
Fifty Eight Buildings Destroyed.
Loss S11o, 26o.


the dreaded cry of fire on Sunday morning
last, about twenty minutes after seven o'clock,
which, unfortunately, was the warning note
Of sad disaster. Many had not arisen from
their beds at the time, but the alarm soon
brought out the whole population, who went
to work with almost superhuman energy to
combat the fierce element, and to remove
valuables to secure places.
From all the information we can obtain,
the fire originated in small frame building,
two doors south Of the American Hotel,)
occupied BY some colored men AS restau
rant, the stove pipe from which passed tho
the roof near the side of the Globe Saloon,
a huillng adjoining. It is the belief that
this pipe had become unjointed, and fire
having been kindled in the stove, the sparks
communicated to the Globe Saloon. There
is much difference Of opinion on this point
some believing it to have commenced in the
Saloon, and being the work of an inrendiary,
as the flames appeared to burst from that
building first But we have learned nothing
to convince us that such was the fact, and
adhere to our first conviction, that the fire
was accidental, caused by sparks from the
stove pipe of the first mentioned house,
which communicated probably to the Saloon
| first
From the place where first seen, the fire
spread rapidly on all sides, enveloping build
ing after building in rapid succession, and
driving their inmates forth in haste. The
great tongues of flame seemed to lap up the
houses from their very foundations, so soon
did they disappear under the wasting element.
But few minutes elapsed before both sides
of the street were in flames, which then ran
north and south, with fury that seemed to
threaten the total annihila,on Of the town;
bu, fortunately the walls of the brick houses
proved buwarks, that broke the force Of the
storm, and enabled our citizens to make
successful fight against further destruction.
From the American Hotel, to Russel's or
chard. on the west side of the street, and
from the residence of VIM. Mcdaniel (oppo-
site Russell's) to the Banking House of Hall
& Allen on the east side, all the houses were
DESTROYED. These included Wells, Fargo Il
Co.'S Office, the Gem Hotel, Vanmater's
Hardware and Tin Store, Crescent Livery
Stable, Lafayette Saloon, Globe Saloon, the
old Methodist Church, three clothing stores,
and large number Of other houses, pin
cipally business establishments, occupied by
whites and Chinese.
For some time there was great danger
that the fire would pass the American Hotel
fire -proof) in the rear, and take Zentmyers
Livery Stable, and the Empire and Orleans
Hotels. as the kitchen of the "Amercan"
ia frame building) was soon upon fire, but
at this point determined stand was taken
by quite number Of persons, who stationed
themselves upon the 'Amerian" and he
Livery Stable, fought with the energy of de-
spair, and happily conquered the fire being
checked within fifteen feet the Livery
Stable.
While this hard work was being done, the
houses on the south of the "Amerlcan," to
the top Of the hill were all destroyed, and
the flames had reached down to the block of
brick buildings that line Commercial and
Main streets, and sweeping upward toward
the Court House, for time threatened all
that part of the town by its rapid approach
to Wilments store. But here more hard
and successful work WAS done, and the flames
now lessenng by reason of the brick walls
encountered, were stopped within a few fee:
Of Wiment's, and the storm Of desolalion
ceased.
The time of the fire occupied about three
four,hs of an hour, the number of houses
DESTROYED were ff:v.eight, exclusive offs ahles
and out. buildings; the loss, as careful taken
amounts to over $4,000. This is sad
disaster to our prosperous town, and loss
that falls heavily upon many Of our ctiz MS,
but they seem to rise superior to their mis-
fortune, and with an energy only known to
Californians, have commenced to rear struc-
lures upon the blackened foundations Of the
old that will soon oblilera:e the marks Of
misfortune.
Many Of the houses destroyed were occu-
pied by Chinese, some of whom lost very
heavy stocks of goods. One individual alone
as much as $4,000. The a gregate loss
of the Chinese. as made up by themselves,
is $4,000. This is considered fair esti-