The Placer herald., 1863-10-31
AUBURN, OCTOBER 81, 1862.
Fire...Great Destruction of Property.

bv destructive conhagra,ion. At o'clock
on Wednesday evening quick cry Of fire
hurried our citizens into the streets; where
they we're sstounded with the sight Of the
upper story Of the Empire Hotel completely
in flames. One glance was sufficient to con
vince every one, that a large part, if not all
Of our town was doomed In less time than
We have written the above. the fire commu
nicated to the Orleans Hotel, adjoining. and
so rapidly was the building envsloped in
fanes a number OF the inmates had only
time to escape. without saving any thing 1t
did not seem more than three minutes before
these two large Hotels were sheeted with fire.
From the Empire" the fire communicated
quickly to Stantons livery stable and Keeh
ner's bakery where its further progress south
ward was arrested BY the strong brick walls
OF the "American" that stood buwatk of
safety to the whole southern portion Of the
town. Some frame buildings attached to
the "American" we're destroyed, and the
iron shutters Of the building were made red
with heat but with active work and careful
watching, the enemy was checked. To the
uorthward. after reaching the Orleans" the
fire took Heuston's building. Harrison's
Wagon and Blacksmith shop, and Nolan's
building, occupied by Mr. Koch for black
smithing, and Jas. Munsell jr, as a Carpenter
Shop. At this period the brick walls Of
Odd Fellows Hall made another barrier of
safety for the northern portion Of the town
the dwelling houses on the hill west of the
rison, VIM. E. Miller, and B. D. Anderson,
we're also destroyed, with all their contents.
ings, it had darted across 10 the frame
houses in the northern center block" where
it destroyed Dodsworth & Co.'S meat mar
ket; Wech's shoe shop; HazelI's drug stors;
and building occupied by T. E. Holm, as
cigar and confectionery store. From thence
it spread across Main street. to Norcross'
store room and dwelling, and Noans tailor
shop. These structures were between Cor,
don's and Gibson's two story fire proof build.
ings-the latter coming out comparatively
safe from the fiery storm, except that the
front wall Of Gordon's house was slightly
sprung and cracked. From Norcross' the
fire got around to the rear of Gordon's, on
TO Commercial street, and consumed Wors,
ley q frame house. occupied by Dr. Whtcomb
as an Office, and one belonging to Robt Cor
don. At this point the fire reached It's east
wardly limit; although for time there was
great danger that it would extend across
Court street to the Temple saloon, and the
adjoining Offices and dwellings. number
Of our citizans were busily at work in that
quarter, however, and taking the pre-.
caution to tear away fences. and out bnild-
ings, they stopped further destruction in that
direction.
The brick "center block" facing the EN-
pire" and Stan,on's livery stable, had to stand
an intense heat, but it was equal to the emer-
gency. and was the means of preventing the
spread of the fire to the upper side of Main
street opposite the block To the fre-proofs
we owe the salvation Of our town; although
the loss is large, without these walls Of brick
and iron. the entire town would have been
consumed The verandahs. awnings, and
sidewalks around the fre'proofs, on the sides
facing the fire were destroyed; and the walls
are Scared and blackened, but otherwise not
seriously injured. The iron doors on the
brick building occupied by Mack Webber
as a drug store. were much heated as tc
burn through the frame doors on the inside
but fortuna ately the house was opened soor
enough to discover the danger and apply thu
remedy.
The fire lasted less than one hour and il
that time destroyed about 500 900 worth o
property. We give below the principal loss
es. There are numerous individual losses o
clothing, jewelry, etc, Of which we have ob
tanned no account, that in the aggregate
would reach a considerable amount.
But little Of the property destroyed wal
insured. Peter Harrison had $1,000 insu
rance on his dwelling; VIM. E. Miller, $500
Robert Gordon was fully insured; George H
Stephens is insured against damage to The
American Hotel, but not to the frame build
ings attached.
As to the origin Of the conhagraton, Their
can be no doubt that it was the work Of ar
incendiary. The house was merel ly used fol
lodging purposes, and keeping saloon ii
the bar room: the latter room being tn
only one in which fire was permitted, anC