Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1870-07-05
THE EVENING NEWS.
,S~a
Tuesday Rveuin9--....-..JlIl y .ISsS
CONFEDERATION
PORTION OF TslK
TOWN OF GOLD HILL
IN ASHES.
Over Forty Houses Destroyed /!
LOSS,

Shortly before two o'clock this morn
ing a fire broke out in the store Of 10
seph Couture, Main street. opposite the
NEWS office, which In a very short
space Of time, owing to the very dry
nature of the buildings at this season,
spread over a considerable portion OF
the town. Such would not have been
the case had there been the proper sup
ply of water, for II Fire Department
is well organized, the. apparatus in
good order, and the hremen were
promptly Oh hand. As soon as the
alarm was sounded, the hose compa-
MES fastened to attach their hose to the
various hydrants along Main street,
hut there was no water in the main
pipe. Anxiously they waited, but no
water came. The reason given for this
was that the man stationed at the great
reservoir. up near the Bullion dump,
was asleep, and did not waken to his
duty of turning on the water ut this
very critical moment. The eonse-
auence Wa that the flames had it all
their way, and got the advantage
at the very start, and quickly leaped
across the street to the buildings oppo-
site.
Briii,aat Dash Through the Fire.
Liberty Engine. ut the upper end OF
the street. was out and ready, and
Chief McMartin gave orders for her to
be run down to the cistern back of the
Gold Hill Brewery, below the fire. 1t
was a long and difficult job to get her
around by the outside streets, and
Foreman Putnam called for volunteers
to 90 with him and take the machine
down the Main street directly through
the arching flames. Sheriff Cummings
Patrick Kelly and two Others spranS
forward, and those five brave fellows
went with a gallant rush down through
the fiery street. They made the trip
in safety. but every hero of them got
terrible scorched about their hands and
face. Putnam and Kelly especially
their faces and necks burned TO a Bills
Ter. In n very few minutes they got
first water" on the fire, checking its
spread i'm that direction.
The VVnser Tursrd On.
Meanwhile, Chief McMartin had
sent a man up to the reservoir. He
tried to turn on the water, but not be-
ing experienced, he broke his wrench,
and it was only by outside assistance
and considerable trouble that the object
was at last effected and the water let
into the main supply pipe. There was
ak feet Of water In the reservoir. and
now the hose companies at the hy-
drants being supplied with the needtul
element, they thenceforward poured
full streams upon the fire.
The Virginia Fire Department Gene
to the Rescue.
The alarm communicating to Vir-
ginia, Monumental No. g., Knicker-
booker No. 5, and Young America No.
2 came hurrying down to the assist
ance Of their brethren Of the Gold Hill
Department. Eagle No. } also sent
their hose carriage along. Nos. . and
8 took water nj the Railroad Compa-
ny's tank, back of the Yellow Jacket
South Works, and No. 2 took water at
the Imperial tank. The hose of the
Eagles was needed and used. Not
only the Fire Department, but all the
citizens of Gold Hill are deeply CRATE
full to the Virginia Department for this
timely assistance, for they most uil-
doubtedly saved n vast amount OF val
liable property, and aided most mate
rally in checking the spread OF the
flames.
The Bsrst District.
The fire spread on each side the en-
fire width of the town between the
railroad on the west side, and High
street, Fort Homestead hill, on the
east. At the lower or south end 1t eX-
tended to the house Of John Lambert,
which it scorche1 considerably. and at
the upper end through to the alley be-
tween the Postoffice and Bank Of Cal
ifornia. 1t also swept around the
NEWS office, burning the buildings
ut each side and in the rear,
also the awning and sidewalk IN
front. The building proved Itself
to be fire-proof, for the only damage
10 the interior consisted in merely the
blackening effects OF smoke and some
little scorching of the wood work.
about the real doors and roof. Those
iron doors were of q white heat Tor
some time. "Alr's we'll that ends
we'll" We are thankful rs we sit in
our shirt sleeves writing, amid the
heal, smoke and eMberS Of the sur
rounding ruins. The senior editors
residence is demolished, but the NEWS
office still existeth.
OrIsis Of ihe Rire
The fire originated. as we before
stated, in the store of Joseph Couture,
dealer In family groceries, produce,
varieties, etc. He had also 4 lot OF
fireworks for sale, and although no II
seems able or willing to account for
how the fire actually started, one thing
is certain, in a very few minutes there
was q terrific cannonade OF crackers,
bombs and other internal petards, and
rockets went sailing out through the
roof. sides and windows at a lively
rate. Nobody yer saw the like in the
way OF an involuntary display OF fire
works.
The Lessee.
There were over 10 houses destroyed,
and the entire loss, as nearly as any
one can estimate 1t, will foot up to at
least $3.50. 900. This loss is covered by
something near $4,000 insurance, Of