Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1872-10-17
RAILROAD TUNNEL ON FIRE.

OF the virginia n rrucEee
Railroad, below American Flat, took
IRE, doubtless by a spark from a pass
locomotive, and at al early hour
his morning the timberiug near the
north end was discovered to be burn
Ing fiercely. The locomotive Reno,
With the morning passenger train from
arrived at the tunnel shortly
after five o'clock, at which time the
fire was blazing fiercely. Harry
Shrieves, the conductor, aud Johnny
Bartholomew, the engineer, both
Of whom know their business thor
oughly, took q view Of the situation
and at once decided upon
ADash Thrssgh tho Fire.
This was accomplished successfully
and in gallant style, and so quickly
that the passenger cars were not wen
scorched, although red hot Goals and
blazing brands rained down upon them
and had to be swept off Immediately
on emerging from the fiery furnace.
fastening with all speed for assist
ance, there being no water or means
of putting out such a fire, the passen-
ger cars were left at the Baltic switch,
near American Flat, aud a fiat car
standing there was hitched to the loco
motive and taken to Gold Hill In =
hurry for the fire engine.
A Wild Alarm.
Pretty much everybody In Gold Hill
must have been we'll aroused. even
those who were yet soundly asleep, BY
the peculiar, wild, %mournfully Shrek
ing alarm so loudly sounded by the
locomotive rs 1t came rushing around
the hillside. across Crown Point bridge
and up to Main street crossing. The
tall column OF smoke issuing from the
burning tunnel was plainly visible,
and little time was lost In explanation.
Liberty Engine, No. l, was hurried
out Of her house, near By, and plenty
of willing hands assisted to lift the
machine by main strength upon the
flat car, in which operation We noticed
Cummings, messenger on the cars BE-
tween here aud Reno, rendering active
and efficient service. Plenty Of hose
was piled on, and in a few minutes the
train started back to the rescue with a
large number Of tiremen aud others.
The passenger ears were subsequently
brought through to their destination.
On arriving
At tho Tunnol
The fire engine was dismounted from
the car and put to work as speedily as
possible, supplied with water from the
tank Of the locomotive, there being
none other within considerable dis
lance. This supply was necessarily
limited and very iuconstant, as this
aud another locomotive were kept run
ming to the tanks or cisterns above OH
the road. 4 fire engine from Carson
was also brought up, but the limited
supply Of water would not permit Of
the desired efficiency of the machines,
and the fire crawled southwark through
the tunnel In spite OF them. The ex-
pedient was at length resorted to OF re-
moving several sets OF the timbering
of the tunnel, which was done about
$50 feet from the south end, thus saw
Ing that portion.
The Damage.
The fire was still burning when VIC
went to press at 4 o'clock T. NJ, but Its
limits were prescribed. About 400
feet Of timberlng from the north, and
to the place where timbers were re-
moved will be destroyed, or nearly so,
and In consequence the caving earth
from the roof Of the tunnel has already
heavily INSTRUCTED the tunnel so that
trains cannot pass.
Already Repairisg Damage.
As soon as the situation was under
stood, the Railroad Company imnedl-
stely took measures to repair damages,
and plenty Of carpenters are busily
employed about the mining works OF
Gold Hill and Virginia, and also At
Carson aud vicinity, preparing new
timbers for the tunnel. They will be
forwarded as fast as possible, and ONT
will be put In position before the ire
has quit smouldering or the ground
cools OH.
Meanwhile
There will b. no Interruption to the
trains. The passengers Will
have to walk or ride a short dis.
lance across the hill to the other end
Of the tunnel while 1t Is being repaired,
and conveyances Will be provided
for baggage and freight. Wood
Tor the mining works aud mills Will
be brought over the railroad to
Silver City, or the most convenient
point, and thence hauled OIL wagons.
The tunnel. however. will be all right
again In about a week at the farthest.