Pioche daily record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1872-1876, 1873-07-04
THE RECENT EXPLOSION AT VIR-
GINA CITY.

Our readers have already been advised
by telegraph of the shocking explosion at
Virginia City, but now we have the hor-
rifying details as recorded by the evening
papers of Virginia and Gold Hill
From the Gold Hill News, June 3d.
Shortly after IL o'clock last night the
most fearful and calamitous explosion
ever occurring i'll this section took place
at Virginia City, whereby many lives
were lost, and much valuable property
destroyed. 1t was an explosion of giant
powder, and occurred in the large brick
block at the corner of B and Taylor
streets, Immediately back of the Bank of
California, the upper part OF which was
occupied as lodging rooms. Fronting on
B street the block of buildings was two
stories in height, and so fierce was the eX-
plosion that it blew away both stories
completely, down to level with the side
walk, from the Taylor street corner to
Douglas building on the south. Even
the last mentioned building was badly
shattered and a large portion of the north
side was blown in, the greatest force of
the explosion being evidently to the south
and downward. The north wall, near
the place of explosion, was thrown into
and across Taylor street, breaking in the
side of the wooden building opposite to
considerable extent, and the fronts
of the houses on the opposite side of b
street were also badly battered. The
windows and doors of all the surround
ing houses were smashed in bodily, and
glass was broken in windows nearly down
to Union street on the north, and those
of the new Odd Fellows Hall building
on the south by the great conclusion,
which also threw several people down
who were on the street near by.
A raging fire Immediately kindled
from the explosion and well completed
the work of destruction, extending
through to c street. Armory Hall, and
kennedy 4 Malone's store We're COM
pletely destroyed together with stock of
goods, etc. The explosion made ter
rifle sound which was heard to the ut
most limits of the city and Gold Hill.
The alarm was quickly sounded by both
bells and steam whistles, and all the
machines of the Fire Department, both
steam and hand engines, We're got to
work as soon as possible. A perfect
deluge of water poured in from all Sides
and the raging flames were soon con-
quered and confined to their original
location.
Those who first arrived at the scene of
destruction heard groans, and voices
calling from the basement, at the TAYLOR
street corner, beneath the ruins. One
was that of Clarence Knox, well known
in this section and formerly a Story
County Commissioner. He said his
feet We're caught and he could not extri-
cate himself and that Vim. Lowe was
near by. The approaching fire and
sutfocating smoke soon silenced his
earnest appeals for assistance, although
water was got upon the flames as quickly
as possible.
The following comprises the list of
these who lost their lives as far as is
known: Major General Jacob l.. Van
Bokkelen; j. p Smith, the well known
hardware dealer on c street, William
Davis, young man, clerk and salesman
in Smiths store; W. Lowe, Superinten-
dent of the Silver Hill mine; Charles II.
Knox, Benjamin Mandel, clerk in Blocks
dry goods store; Mrs. L. P. O'Connor
Mrs. Susan Dean, wife of Edward Dean,
of Gold Hill, and their little daughter
Dolly, aged eight years. James Devine
was the name of the man in Derby &
Gearhart's stable, who was mortaly
wounded by the iron shutter hurled
across the street.
Simon Schleweck, who keeps the Con.
ger House, on the opposite side of b
street, was standing in his doorway and
received severe cuts and bruises. but
fortunately was not seriously injured.
George Hill, Mrs. Taylor, who kept the
lodging rooms destroyed, and several of
the roomers, received severe bruises and
Commissions in escaping. Frank F. Os-
biston and wife, and several others made
miraculous escapes.
Mr.. and Mrs. Stride, who kept the
Intelligence Office in the wooden build
ing on the opposite corner of Taylor
street from the explosion, and their two
children, were in bed; and the side of the
house being battered in by the fiying
bricks and mortar, their beds were com.
pletely covered by the missiles, vet,
strange to say, they all escaped without
| even scratch.
The bodies recovered up to the time of
our going to press "a p. M are those of
Gen. Van Bokkelen, j. P. Smith, VIM.
Davis, Charles H. Knox and VIM. L.
Lowe. The bodies of the three first
were considerably mutilated, but recog-
nizable. That of Lowe was burned to a
crisp, the lower portion being completely
destroyed, and the only means of identi-
fication was his watch and knowledge of
the locality where he was. The body of
Knox was very little disfgured.
Various causes are assigned for the
explosion, but the most reasonable one
is that Van Bokkelen, being agent for
the famous giant powder, had lot Of it
in his room. Eyewitnesses state that
the explosion evidently proceeded from
his room, which was adjoining that of
Smith and Davis in the Taylor-street
corner, on the first floor from the side.
walk. :
The rooms on the level Of the C-street
sidewalk. occupied by the California
Bank, were not much damaged, and the
damage to Daley l. Quinlan's saloon on
the south was principally confined to the
billiard department at the rear. All be.
tween, including Kennedy & Mallon's
grocery. and provision store and Bar.
merits clothing store, were essentially de.