The Portland daily press., 1875-10-29
The Virginia City Fire.
Further Particulars Of the Calamity.
The Work of Rebuilding 10 COnmence
Immediately.

SAN Francisco, Oct 2S.-The Pacific stock
exchange have started q subscription for the
Virginia City sufferers aud expect to raise four
or five thousand dollars. At meeting last
night Senators Sharon and Jones, Mayor GUS
and 9TH rs were appointed a committee to meet
to-day and concert measures of relief.
1t is stated that the insurance on the Virginia
City property is greatly under-estimated, and
that the total losses cannot fall much short of
So, 000,0 900. 1t is feared that one or two local
companies may go under. A special despatch
last night from Virginia City, says that the
best business men estimate the loss at 81 500,-
600, one-.hird of which is in foreign and the
rest in local companies
The people are in good spirits. Hundreds are
too proud to say they need help, and ladies go
out and find women and children needing food
but ashamed to beg it. This feeling is relaxing,
however, under the kind offers of the relief COM
mittee, which is already partly organized. The
injured mines cannot get buildings and machin-
ali over the city, and this will give employment
to hundreds in clearing the ruins, &c Proof
of the feroci.y of the fire is seen in the twisted,
warped iron work, and heavy walls drawn out
Of shape. Dangerous walls are being blown up
or blown over. Some shanties have been put
up, and workmen are busy shutting the broken
water and gas pipes, and removing the worst
debris from the street
The machinery of the hosting works, which
were burned is believed to be badly damaged,
but not utterly ruined. The water in the Con
solidated Virginia mine has been pumped off
through the Gould and Curry and other mines,
but the pumping facilities thus far are made
quate. Last night the shaft of the Andes mine
was on fire, and sent up column of flames
$50 feet high. 1t is believed it will burn odt
the shaft and go no further, communication
being pretty well cut off below. This mine is
in the region south of the fire, and was ignited
by flying cnders Its buildings were not burp-
ed. The miners escaped in safety.
A special from Virginia City says that the
Gould and Garry mine is full Of gas from the
and wors has stopped in the NINE. Forty feet
of the consolidated Virginia shaft timbers are
burned.
No ore will be hoisted from the damaged
mines before next spring. This throws $500
miners out of employment. Five thousand
people will in consequence leave Virginia City,
and what is now needed is money for theiI
transportation
Private dispatches convey the gratifying in.
formation that the Virginia City mines are all
right. Men have been brought from the Gould
aud Curry mine to the Ophir. There is 10 fire
in the workings and no damage has been done
Water is decreasing. The damage to the Ophir
shaft is limited to a few feet at the top. Tue
Consolidated Virginia evidently feels the effec1
Of the news, having gone up to 2 A a 80 II
the board against 2 32a IN the opening session.
T6ings look more cheerful to-day than yes
| terday, and by spring everything will be Iun
ming we'll if rot better than it did before the
| fire.
The work of obtaining and forwarding relie
| to Virginia City has beer going on vigorously
| to-day. Several thousand dollars have beer
| collected from citizens and corporations, es
| pecialy mining companies who have respond
| ed literally. Donations of clothing, blanket;
| and other1 necessaries have also been forward
| ed. The favorable reports received to-day o.
the condition of the mines has hae the effect t,
/ To a mr. hnpofl,l foaipp in 1c i
| circles.
A despatch from Virginia says large mum
| Der of men ara already at work clearing tht
| gr"und and rebuilding. Work has been com
menced on the Ophir shaft. Men are clearing
away the ruin of the consolidated Virgins
works. A number ,t firms have resumed bus
| mess. The insurance adjusters are hard a
| work The liabilities as far as can at presen
ascertained are about $l,S00000. The prison
ers held for petty Offences were set free and TIT
| others removed to Carson aud Gold Hill.
A large number of women and children have
| been sent to Carson, Gold Hill, Reno and Cali
| fornia. To-day hundreds are in the ruin,
| searching for articles of value. Safes are being
| taken out. The vaults of the Bank of Califor
MIA are all right only a few papers being lost
| Carson sent o car load of provisions, and they
| are now being dealt out at the first ward schoo
| house. Reno, Gold Hill and other towns are
| sending food and clothing. There are fully
| 5000 people without food, beds, roofs or money
ana OF these fully 5UUU are without necessary
clothes. Should severe weather soon set in
| much suffering must ensue.
VIRGINIA City, Oct. 2S-Joha Mackey ha!
been through all the mines this morning anG
says they are all right. There is no gas on firt
| in any way connected with the Gould & Curry
mine. When the old side shaft was burned
now used as an air shaft for the Andes, the ga.
| went through the Latrobe tunnel and worked
its way into the mine. That gas is now al
| gone. Work will be commenced on the Goult
| & Curry mine tomorrow or the day after.