Pioche daily record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1872-1876, 1875-10-27
THE FIRE IN VIRGINIA CITY.


most stupendous loss. Our dispatches
are very meagre but We learn that the
business portion OF the town
itself is destroyed and also the mills and
hosting works Of the Ophir, California
aud Consolidated Virginia mines. The
destruction Of the hosting works of the
Ophir is one of the most disastrous fea-
lures Of the calamity. Had that been
spared the Consolidated Virginia and the
Ophir could have been kept completely
dry. and the Consolidated Virginia could |
probably have been worked on the
hundred-foot level. As il is |
those mines will be flooded and q vast
amount of expense entailed to put them
in the condition they were at the time
OF the disaster. The loss of the Cali
fornia mill will also be severely felt.
This mill. situated at Six-mile Canyon,
was commenced last April and would
have been ready for work on tho 10Th
prox. 1t was the largest Of the kind in
the world. being $50 feet long by 90
broad. and had crushing capacity Of
275 tons per day. The joint hosting
works OF the Consolidated Virginia and
California are the finest on the Com
stock. The main buildings, hosting
engines, pumps, gallows frame, etc..
were constructed solely with an eye to
utility and convenience and were as COM
plete as anything of the kind can be. All
that money and skill combined could do
was put in and on those two buildings
and It's fortunate even they were saved.
The cause Of the Are is not stated in the
brief telegraphic sentences apprising u, OF
the disaster. At 3 o. clock yesterday after
noon we telegraphed TO Virginia and
Gold Hill for detailed account Of the
confagration, but one line was burned
and the other was overtaxed with mes
ssges for below. At tho present writing
we stand poor show of hearing
anything further in time for this
issue. It would seem, however.
as though the fire was the work
of inoendiaries. The sim ultaneous burn.
ing of the new California mill. the Ophir
and the rest of the burned district woult
certainly point that way. 1t is certain
that several attempts have been made to
burn the city. the last serious effort being
few weeks ago, when the Masonic
Temple was burned. This fire will me-
cessarily have de leterious effect on the
entire coast. A vast amount OF money
and considerable time will be required to
rebuild, pump out and get everything in
as good shape as it was last Monda,
night. When the Bank Of California
failed every one felt gloomy; when it re.
opened We all reioiced, and now comes
this last sad calamity. ns if to verify tn,
proverb, misfortunes never come
singly." 1t is severe blow to the min.
ing interests of the coast, but not an ir-
retrievable one by any means. The
silver stream that poured over million
month into the lap Of San Francisco
will be only temporarily diverted. 1t viii
flow back again to its original source fol
short time only, and though tbs dis
heartening to view the ruins, yet the in
exhaustible treasure lays deep beyon'
the fiery element. The news in the Sal
Francisco Stock Exchange had mos
depressing influence on the morning
sales, Consolidated Virginia and Cali
fornia alone shrinking fifteen milliol
dollars in value; the evening report
however, gives promise of rally, which
may be but temporary. yet we hope TO
the best. In relation to the local effec
it has on Phoebe. we are Of the opinion
that it cannot be an adverse one in tn,
general sense of the word. Many of ou
citizens holding those three stocks will
OF course. lose, probably heavily .,but tn,
effect on the town will be but the nat
ural feeling Of regret and sympathy FOL
the sad fate Of the Bonanza City. ON
mines are self-sustaining; there is silver
enough daily being taken out of the hill,
to pay our way and keep going till thu
good time in store for Phoebe arrives; sc
that on that score We are not likely &c
lose pecuniarily by the disaster. The
untoward influence will, of course, be
universal. and. with our present scanty
news, we cannot even write with knowl-
eage OF the extent of the catastrophe,
It's hardly necessary to say thar the
sympathy OF Piochs's citizens is ex.
tended to the disabled city. Regrets are
useless; we are confident that the same
spirit that that city has ALWAYS ev;nced
will be but called into extra effort by the
exigencies of the occasion, and that i,
will speedily resume its proud position
as the leading town Of Nevada and tn,
yielder of untold millions.
1880 p. M-We had hoped tina
the account was exaggerated bu
our late dispatches confirm the sa'
story in every particular. The concis
statement ten thousand people ar
homeless and the wind is keen" viii
appeal to tie sympathies of all Ter
Thousand men, women and children
homeless on sterile mountain side apG
what OF the future. 1t is the saddest o,
dot'es to chronicle such fact. We Of
fiochs can form some idea from pas,
experience Of what it means TO be beret,
Of sustsnsnee and shelter, but the sac
reality Is appalling to contemplate. T,
our unfortunate contemporaries we ex
tend out sincerest sympathy. Well ant
faithfully they wrought for the good o
the community and we hope their dis
astsr is but temporary check to tutur
journalistic success. 1t il sad dsy ia
Nevada when her metropolis lies il
aahoa and IL il with a fael;no ~ ,,orson