Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1867-10-26
Disastrous ConAagration in Mok. Hill
$4,000 Worth of Property Destroyed.

Again cur town has been visited by that
terrible scourse, FIRE. Scarcely had our cit
liens recovered from the staggering blow
which the confagration in February, 1865,
dealt them, and the portion then burned but
recently rebuilt, when our town is again
Frustrated by the flames. About two
O'Clock on Thursday morning last. the hay in
the loft of Peek & Co.'S large livery stable
was discovered to be on fire. Efforts were
made by Mr.. Reynolds, the hostler, to ex-
tInsuish the flames with water which he
carried in buckets but the fire gained
rapidly and the entire upper portion of the
stable was soon in flames. The alarm was
Immediately given and Engine Co. No. l,
and the Hook & Ladder Co. were promptly
on the spot. The spreading of the flames
could not be prevented, however, and in less
than an hour, Main Street, from Burce'
Shoe Shop down to the Union corner was
in ashes. The firemen and everybody else
worked gallantly, and had it not have been
for the superhuman efforts made BY our cit
liens the flames would have crossed the
street and the whole town been DESTROYED
Some idea can be formed of how the BOYS
worked when we state that the flames were
extinguished and the progress of the fire
checked after it had obtained good Roadway
III wooden building. The engine belong
ing to No. was brought out, but proved to
be in an unserviceable condition. 1t made
but little difference, however, as all the en-
gines in the world. could not have saved the
buildings which burned. Fortunately for
the town, there was not a breath of air STIR
ring at the time the fire broke out. Tie
angry flames shot their forlcd tongues di-
rectly upward, while the smoke settled
down like a canopy over the lurid scene.
The most reasonable conjecture in relation to
the origin of the fire, is this: \ family
resided in the rear portion of the building
next to the stable, and it is said that an ex-
tremely hot fire was kept up in their stove
until late hour. The SCOT in the stove-pipe
probably caught fire, dropped upon the roof
OF the stable and burned through on to the
hay. At any rate the fire caught on the
side next to and Immediately opposite the
pipe. Much praise is due Chief Engineer
Disbrow and his Assistants, as well as to
the Foremen of the different Companies for
the effective manner in which they conducted
the operations for the suppression of the
flames. The following is an approximate
list of losses:
E. P. Burce, (sEoe shop) damage. 500;
insured in the"Union." c. Schlund, (watch-
maker and jeweler) loss $500; insured in
the Hamburg s Bremen" and Mutual
for $4,000. ]. Danielwitz, (dry goods, ready
made clothing, household furniture, etc.
loss, $500; insured for $4,000 in the
"Union," Pacific" and North British and
Mercantile" w. P. Peek, & Co., Qivery
stable, justices office, hay, grain. etc., loss,
$4,000; insured for $4,000 in the "Union."
Hexter s Co., (butcher shop) loss $4,000;
insured for $500 in the Home Mutual"
Michael Abers estate, (saloon) loss 81 600;
no insurance. In addition to these losses,
considerable damage was necessarily sustain
ed by water. Notwithstanding it appears
that our town is especially marked out as a
victim of the devouring element, our citizens
are perseverins and energetic. and the burnt
district will be speedily rebuilt.