Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1872-08-29
GREAT FIRE IN KNOXVILLE.
From tae Silver sac Of August asd.l

/ lfAou s'O ouNOi okabS VI huSuet Sv8
Early yesterday morning, while
many Of the good people of Unionville
were yet slumbering, a fire broke out
IN the basement Of the Silver State
Boot and Shoe Store, which was u.ed
as a carpenter shop. Owing to the
combustible nature Of the material, the
building, a frame one. was enveloped
In flames, which had communicated
with DR.. Luther's Drug and Varity
Store before the Inmates were aroused
from their sluinbers or the alarm Of fire
was given. The frame buildings being
dry as finder, the flames spread with
such rapidly that DR.. Luther aud his
wife, who occupied the rear Of the
Drug Store, barely escape In their
night clothes.
The alarm. being given, the church
bell was rung and the cry of fire re-
sounded through the streets. The citl-
zens assembled and nobly but vainly
exerted themselves In endeavoring to
prevent the fire from communicating
with the express office, OH the east, aud
Thornton's law office. ON the west. The
flames reached both, and, notwith!tand-
Ing the united efforts of at least two
hundred able-bodied men, for a while
the whole business portion Of Unlon-
Vile seemed doomed to destruction by
the fire flend. The law office and
Rinkle's dwelling house were licked up
almost instantaneously, as were also
the County rreasurer's and express
offices. The flames reached the County
Recorders and Sheriffs offices, from
which the Records had been removed,
but as the building, q stone one, was
tire-proof, 1t escaped with the loss Of
the ROOT, rs the fire did not reach the
interior Of the building.
10 prevent the flames from spread.
Ing to the east, the law office OF w. 8.
BOnnlfleld. a frame building. situated
within a few feet Of tile Recorders Of
flee, was torn down, but escaped the
fire.
The origin Of the fire remains a mys-
terry, which, perhaps. will never be re-
vealed. The carpenters shop, In which
1t Is supposed to have originated, had
not heen occupied for some time, and
there had been no fire In the boot and
shoe store for several weeks.
The loss Is estimated at $50, 900, DR..
Luther, A. J. Davis and Chris. Lark.
being tho principal sufferers. There
was ITO insurance. except on the ex-
press office. which WIS insured for $500
about one-half Its value. DR.. Luther
aud 4. j. Davis lost everything. and
Crittenden Thorton's' valuable library
was saved only by the most strenuous
exertions. The books and papers OF
the County Treasurer escaped destruc-
ton In q safe. Tie County Recorders
and Sheriff's offices, owned by the
county, were damaged considerably,
the roof being completely burned oil,
and the interior Injured to some ex-
tent. DIR. Luther and a. j. Davis were
making arrangements to have their
stores Insured, but unfortunately for
them the insurance had not been per-
tected. Fortunately for Unlonyllle the
air was perfectly calm at the time OF
the fire, rs a stiff breeze would have
carried the flames to Cavin's saloon
and across the street to Oppenheim's
and swept Main street to Falls store,
leaving Unlonville a slnouldering pile.
Much complaint was made about the
scarcity of water. The creek was al.
most dry, the water having been used
above town for irrigating purposes.
The reservoir which supplies the water
works was drained empty. almost ey-
erybody having turned OIL the water
during the fire to such al extent that
but little reached the scene Of the con-
flagration.