Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1873-06-30
A CHAPTER OF R

A CHAPTER OF HORRORS.
Gold Hill and Virginia City have
been since yesterday morning the Vic
tins of a series Of unprecedented cas-
ualties, resulting In the loss of many
lives and the destruction Of a large
amount of valuable property. The
scene was opened early yesterday
morning, in the Crown Point mine, BY
a singular and probably fatal accident,
which happened to William Higgins,
a miner In that mine. Last night
Virginia City was startled, at about
lilo, by an explosion which shook
the town, and in an instant aiterward
a broad glare illumined the heavens.
Full particulars Of the scene and the
casualties following will be found In
our local columns. The details of this
horrible loss Of life and the tragic
scenes enacted will be read with a
shudder Of horror by every one. Suf-
flee 1t to say that nine human bti"g
were instantly hurled into eternity,
and In two hours after $4,000 Of the
best property in the city was a mass
of blazing ruins. This morning, after
such a night of horror for Virginia
City, the people of Gold Hill were
again shocked by two sad and proba-
bly, fatal accidents. John Griner,
while attempting to jump on a train
at the depot, was flung between the
cars and both legs horribly crushed
and mangled, and a miner at the Gale
donia was caved upon and seriously
injured. 1t is seldom that such a series
OF horrors visits n community In less
than thirty hours, and a gloom over
shadows all our citizens. Some of the
victims Of the explosion and confla-
grafton were pioneers Of Virginia, and
among our most highly influential and
respected citizens. Maj. Gen. Van
Bokkelen, one of the killed, was a
prominent officer of u State militia
and one Of the oldest residents Of this
portion Of Nevada. J. P. Smith, for
many years a prominent hardware
merchant Of Virginia, was also among
the killed. Mr.. Smith had but
partially recovered from a nearly
fatal accident when this new
disaster came and terminated his exist
ence. Charles Knox, Of San Francis
co. we'll known throughout Nevada, is
also numbered with the dead, and
many others still lie beneath the smoul-
dering ruins. Various theories are as
signed as the cause Of the explosion ;
one being that a quantity OF giant
powder had been stored in the cellar of
the building, and by some unknown
cause, became ignited. Another, that
the powder was in the room Of General
Van Bo&kelen. who was agent for Its
sale In Virginia and Gold HILL. Still
others supposed that 1t was the work
Of a human devil, who attempted to
blow up the building for purposes Of
robbery. This latter, however, Is fully
negatived by the surrounding circum-
stances. The general opinion is fast
being confirmed that the powder was
In General Van Bokkelen's room. and
all appearances of the ruins seem to
%corroborate the conclusion. With the
shadows of this terrible disaster still
e~nshrouding the city, and the bodies OF
the dead who have been recovered from
the ruins lying in their collins, while
numbers still are covered by the smoul-
dering remnants Of the costly build
ings while the whole community yet
stands aghast at the slaughter wrought
In a moment of time, and relatives and
friends are mourning their loved ones,
comes the terrible warning before us
4 lesson which should mark its i'm
press on the micds OF our people.
The storage of so powerful and
inflammable u preparation as giant
powder in a building in which
fully 4 score OF people nightly slept,
situated in the heart Of the city and
over a whole magazine OF coal oil,
liquors, and other combustible mate
rails, Is a crime not only against a
city ordinance, but a conspiracy against
human life, so ineXcusable and GRIM
inal as to defy justification. Far be It
from us to accuse the dead. We have no
feeling but Of heartfelt regret, Of sincere
commiseration. In the dread pres
ence of this terrible slaughter our
warning Is to the living. We call at
tention to the law, to the danger
which hourly impends over the dearest
OF our friends. and the safety Of our
city by the surreptitious storage in
cellars and rooms of highly imflamma-
BILE explosive agents, such as nitro
glycerine. giant powder and gasoline,
and bespeak for the common safety of
our citizens the most careful watch
and stringent regulations in this re-
gard hereafter.
The Check Bank, so called, with a
capital Of 81, 200, 900, lately began bust
ness in London. 1t pays no interest
on deposits, discounts no bills, enters
into no financial speculative transac-