The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-10-28
BY TELEGRAPH
The Great Fire.


the engineer of the fire department. The
beginning of the contlagration started in
the undertaking establishment on B street,
spreading to an adjoining livery stable.
Streams were turned upon the stable, al
lowing flames to communicate to the coun
ty buildings adjoining. The fire depart
ment lost its head, the wind blowing brisk
ly from the west, carried the flames through
the town. The supply Of water gave out
and the engines and hose were burned.
The streets were filled with panic seized
people. The fire swept unimpeded to the
mills and hosting works of the Consolidat-
ed Virginia, California and Ophir, de-
stroying everything in its course. BY good
fortune the wind shifted, and the south end
of the town was saved, but the fire still
swept on northwardly. The town pre-
scented the widest confusion and panic,
and the streets were blocked with goods
and household furniture. The recent
sccurgc of typhoid fever caused the pres
ence of many helpless invalids who were
being carried to places of safety by friends.
The extortionate demands of the owners
of vehicles, in one case at least, caused a
murder. A man on B street, cndesvoring
to engage teamster, and unable to com
ply with the demands, in desperation drew
pistol and shot the driver dead. The ap-
proximate figures from the insurance COM
panies place the losses sustained by them
in the neighborhood of 81 100000. Among
the heaviest are the Etna, Imperial and
Queen and Commercial Union, about $780,
900 each North British and Mercantile,
800, 900; London Assurance and Under
writers agency, $4,000 each Hartford
and Phoenix, some $4,000 each other
eastern and foreign companies for smaller
amounts. Among the local companies, the
Commercial loses 100000, the Home
Mutual $50, 900 or more, and the Firemen's
Fund $4,000. None of the companies
admit that they are at all embarrassed by
their losses. A dispatch from Los Angeles
promises liberal subscription of money
and supplies. 30
SUFFERING IN VIRGINIA CITY.
Gan addition to the special dispatch to
the Call from Virginia City says at is
impossible at present to state the loss of
life occasloned by the fire. Two men were
killed on G street by the falling of wall.
There are numerous other casualties. Hun
dreds of families are homeless and hungry.
The school houses are the only public
buildings left unframed, and they are open
to the people, but if immediate relief is not
extended much suffering will ensue. Utter
decentralization reigns in the city. Men,
women and children are wandering about
the streets seeking shelter, and the sur
rounding hills are dotted with camp fires.
But few saloons remain, but supplies of
liquor have not been lacking and the streets
are alive with a drunken mob. The mill
tary are patrolng the streets for the pro-
lection of property.
The feeling on the street in this city this
morning was better than yesterday and
there is less disposition to magnify the
| disaster.
Contradictory reports are still floating
about concerning the fire in the Ophir
shaft, some protesting to believe that the
damage is known by insiders to be much
greater than admitted The most authen-
tic information, however, is that the shaft
has suffered no material injury. 1t is re-
ported on apparently good authority that
the new hosting works of the Lady Wash.
ington mine, which are similar in power and
| pattern to those of the Consolidated Vir-
gina, will be set up ON the latter mine
without delay. The works are now on the
grounds of the Lady Washington mine,
but are not yet in position and can be made
available on the Consolidated Virginia in a
very short time. Well Informed parties
state confidenlially that the Consolidated
Virginia will pay dividend of five dollars
for two or three months when full head
way is again obtained. No definite advices
have yet been received as to the extent Of
the damage to the several mining properties
involved. The total loss by the fire is now
placed at from three to four million dol
lars.
THE SCENE DESCRIBED.
Dispatches received to-day giving further
details of the Virginia conflagration, con-
firm the previous reports as to the extent
of the calamity. The scene during the
progress of the fire was beyond description.
The wind blew gale, driving cinders and
flames tar in advance of the burning build
ings, rendering all attempts to check the
progress of the fire futile. Giant powder
was freely used to blow up buildings and
frequently heavy explosions shook the
earth. The roof of the Catholic church
was blown hundred feet into the air,
leaving the bare walls standingr BY
o'clock the excitement was at its height;
the streets were filed with people; team
sters struggling through the FIRE, fighting al
presentable points; women shrieking, theil
cries of despair, the curses of enraged men
the roar of the flames, the dull reports o.
explosions as building after building tool
fire, the heavy thud and crack of falling
walls, the snap of bursting iron bars an(
doors, the howl of the gale, all went t
make up a scene of indescribabe horror.
BY 10 a. III. the Virginia hosting work.
and mill were wrapped in flames and sool
fell. The new California stamp mill thel
fell prey to the fire, which swept to with
In few rods of the G. & G. hosting
works, when the veerng of the wind turned
the flames and carried them TO the Ophi
works, which soon fell in. The shaft tim
bers caught fire but were soon extinguishe,
without doing much damage. By II AIN