Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1872-07-15

stand In the only spot about the whole
mill which was not totally destroyed
or covered BY the wreck. He was In
the engine room. neal the crank Of the
engine and partially behind the sec
oud set OF boilers; that protected him
from immediate humiliation. Be-
sides this. the explosion was, as we
have already stated, toward the south
and west so that the cottage of the SIT
perlntendent within a few yards dis
lance. escaped injury.
The Force OF tho E~Iplesisa.
The boilers being connected, both
exploded simultaneously. The steam
drum divided In the middle, and must
have gone high up in the air, for one
half flew over the Sapphire mill and
came straight down with great force
through the roof the Sapphire Saloon,
opposite, fully 80 yards distant, while
the other half went In the opposite d.
rection, smashing In the side ola build
Ing being fitted up for q restaurant OPP
posite the Nevada Hotel, about 2OO
yards distant, and planted itself end
wise into the ground beside 1t. A
large portion Of one boiler was thrown
entirely over the roof Of the Sapphire
mill into the street. The windows
and doors on the north side Of the pat
tern shop Of the Gold Hill Foundry,
some 2OO yards distant, were blown In,
and the Nevada Hotel near ~
looks as though suffering from
the effects of a bombardment, the
whole north side being completely
riddled and smashed by the shower OF
brick and other missiles which flew so
thirkly. A piece of furnace front,
Weighing half a ton, flew some sixty
wards or more across the street Into
DAVIS saloon, through the open door,
aud smashed down through tho floor.
The front of the Nevada Market, ad-
Joining, was considerably demoralized,
and a Chinese wash-house II short dis
lance further up street was badly stove
In BY a piece Of boiler. Que piece OF
red hot furnace front flew high up OIL
the hillside to the west, and came
smashing down through the roof OF
MeDadeHs cottage. 4 young lady,
Miss McDade, was the only one OF the
family present ut the time. and was
considerably startled. as might well he
supposed. Seeing that the hot Iron
was setting the house Oh fire, she judi.
ciously applied water and prevented
Il. A miners cabin In range also got
smashed 4 little BY 4 flying stick of
timber. One of the boiler tubes, l6
feet long, flew over the Verandah
House and down into the store-room at
the rear. Two other boiler tubes also
can't down through the roof Of the
Sapphire mill. Those tubes were fly
Ing in all directions, and were among
the most formidable missiles. Several
persons who happened to be passing
along tho road 1T the time narrowly
escaped with their lives, and two or
three were knocked down.
The Cause Of tho R~xplesIon.
The mill had been shut down for the
last three days for lack Of ore, and was
just started into operation again this
morning. Mr.. Edmouds, the engineer,
declares that the boilers were properly
supplied with plenty Of water before
firing up, and the boiler exploded only
half IN hour after getting to work
therefore there could be no possibility
Of 4 mistake In that respect, or that
the water could have had time to boil
away. He also tried the cocks a min:
ute before tho explosion. and found
the water all right; and the steam
gauge showed only 50 pounds of steam
being carried. The truth Of the mat
ter seems to be that the boilers have
been In use so long that it was time for
them to explode. Parties also shy that
they have not been considered safe for
the last year or so. Be this as it may,
a Coroncr's Inquest will be held to-
morrow afternoon, ut 3 O'Clock. when
all the points in the matter will be
ELECTED. The mill was owed by Fair
& Mnckay and ,Joues 6 HAYWARD,