, 1875-10-29
TIE Virginia CITY CALAMITY.

TIE Virginia CITY CALAMITY.
Tho latest tletnils nf the great calamity
which has overwhelmed Virginia City, Morn.
da, md reduced tho business portion of that
cnterprising mining city to nsl,es. 10 not, rs
often happens in calamitics Of this nature,
diminish the first estimates and statements,
but, on the other hnnd, increase anti intensity
them. The cxtent Of area burned over aud
thu loss arc both greatly Increased, tim area
now being fixed at thrce-fourthA Of mile in
length by hak n milo in width,-a somewhnt
larger tract Of ground than was burned over
iu cur i1ro Of 1874, and tho loss at 81 800, 600,
which ia S;',5oo,ooo greater than was frat
reported. In almost every actail tho fire at
Virginia City is n repetition iu miniature Of
our grcat fire, and tho narrative as sont by
telegraph has very familiar tone. II hnp-
pened in the samo time of year. The wind
WIS blowing gallo at tho time. Everything
was dry and intlasnmablc. Cindera and
agneB were driven far in advance Of the
main body Of aanlo nnd kindlcd other fires.
There wcro the Bane confusion in the streets
heapcd up with goo1s and furniture; tho
same rom Of the damcs mixed with the c.1rs-
ing and fighting of toamsters, the weeping
md groaning Of women and children, the
falling Of walls, and the howis Of the gallo;
and tho came crowds Of homeless people
seeking shelter on the outskirts Of tho city.
As with us in onr time Of calamity, there
wern thieves and drunken br1,tcs in the
streets, mud military patrols guarding prop
erty. The 6ehool-houseB md churches were
hungry sslfercra The theatres Of other
cities nre now giving benefits fur tho
relief Of tho sufferers, and supplies are pour
ing in from nil parts Of Eeyada md Cali.
fornia. Moreover comos tho good nows Of
tho snmo Western grit that characterized tho
people Of Chicago. Tho correspondent says:
"Tho people arc in good spirits, and, while
terribly afflicted, arc the pluckiest, bravcst
lot over had to do with" In MI respects,
down to tho most trivial detail, the picture Of
the Virginia City fro is the picture Of tho
Chicago fire in miniature, aud Chicago well
knows how to sympathize with tho people of
that city. No can realizo their situation in
its fullest extent, and we can look forward
with the same hopefulness, as In our own
case, to the time when they will restore
thoir city stronger, moro beautiful, md
moro secure than over. Tho essential
difference between tho results Of tho two
fires is TINT whilo tho business interests Of
Chicago wero varied and distributed over va
riouB departments Of trade md commerce,
the interests Of Virginia City arc limited to
tho mining business. The dislstcr to tie
mines, however, Ii not as sesions o. wns first
supposed. Thoro will be much delay in tho
resumption Of business, and Dr.. LsNpEnuAa,
the Mint Director, has already estimated the
extent to which tho supply Of bullion will DO
cut of for tho next fow months. There may
also iso Losses to stockholders, but tho minos
are still thore. Tho supply is not affected.
Tho shafts and machinery will soon DO re-
pairca, and 1t is already thought TINT in G0
daya tho mines will be in operation again.
The lesson OF the Virginia City tire Is tho
sa,no as that OF tho Chicago fire and tho con.
nagrntions in Michigan and Wisconsin tile
same yenr. It emphasizes the insecurity OF
the great wooden towns and cities In tho
West and their liability to inevitable destrnc.
ton under given combination Of ciroum-
stances. Tho people Of Virginia City will do
well, therefore, to Initiate the example OF
Chicago in rebuilding. and to replace tlsoir
innammable wooden buildings with brick aud
stone. The warning they hayo now roceiyod
should bs needed. They should SEQ to 1t that
their city hereafter il safe against such omer-
gsucios iy rebuilding not ouly moro boauti-
fully aud conveniently, but in stronger,
more solid, aud moro fru-proof style.