Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1875-10-07
THE FIRE LAST EVENING.
Five Buildings Totally Destroyed
Loss, $50, 900.

From the Virgins Enterprise. October eth
At $3.50 last evening the quiet OF
the city was again disturbed by the
cry and alarm of fire. The Gould
and Curry was the first to sound the
signal, and before the alarm was
general the flames were seen burst
ing out of the roof in the rear of the
Occidental lodging house, at SO
South C street, and directly west of
the Gould and Curry works. The
building was a two-and-a-half-story
and basement tenement, built en-
tirely of wood. A more perfect tin
der box could not be constructed to
order. 1t was in prime condition
for fire, as no rain has fallen yet
this season, and everything was as
dry as our thirsty mountain air, and
the tapping Washoe zephyrs could
make it. Fortunately, what little
wind at first came from the north
very soon died down and q perfect
calm prevailed.
The Fire Department were punctu-
ally on hand, as usual. 1t required,
however, but passing glance to see
that the Occidental could not be
saved. The attention of the Depart
ment was therefore directed to con-
filming the fire in as narrow limits
as possible. The slight wind which
prevailed at the time Immediately
carried the flames to the building adj
joining the Occidental on the south,
also two-and halt story wooden
tenement occupied on the ground
floor by Robert Corcoran as tim.
hardware and gas-fitting establish
ment, and by Mrs. Summers above
as lodging house. The fire spread
with wonderful rapidly, add in less
than five minutes from the time the
first alarm was sounded this build
ing also was so wrapped in flames
thai no human power could have
saved it from destruction.
Next adjoining this building on
the south was the two-stOry brick
occupied by +. Kirschbraun, as a
grocery and liquor store. 1t needed
but little effort to save this building,
and the most of the efforts of the
tiremen were at once directed to-
wards the north, where the fire was
also making rapid progress. The
flames were so fierce that it also be-
came necessary to pay some atten-
ton to the opposite side of the street,
which was also dotted with wooden
tenements. An occasional stream
on the fronts, however, were only
needed to second the efforts OF those
engaged in wetting down the build
ings and prevent the fire from cross
ing the street. In all the efforts of
the Fire Department, they received
and Curry, whose strong and we'll
directed stream on ID street dill much
toward combining the fire in the mar
rowest possible limits.
Next adjoining the Occidental on
the north was small, one-story
wooden building, where formerly
was kept an intelligence Office, but
which was occupied as a fruit store.
The building was also almost imme-
diately wrapped in flames and des-
troyed with all its contents. This
was succeeded on the north by still
another One-story wooden tenement,
i'm which Frenchman kept small
dry goods store, including under
wear and furnishing goods for ladies'.
The flames were soon seen rolling
through the roof of this building
also, and it was apparent that it, too,
must be consumed, notwithstanding
all the determined and well directed
efforts of the tiremen. AS soon as
this became apparent the main eff
forts were directed to No. 81 South G.
street, a two-and a. half.story iodg
ing house.
1t was over this bulding-No. 81
that the war of elements was waged
with alternate success for one hour.
The result would not have been
doubtful had 1t not been that the
water gave out, and necessitated a
change of hydrants by the engines.
1t was twice saved, and as many
times given over to the fire, for The
reason above stated. Although the
final result was against our firemen,
it was not their fault. The writer
has seen the operations OF the paid
fire departments IN many of the
Eastern cities, but has never seen
more able, fearless and persistent ef-
forts put forth by any men than
were used last evening by our vol
unteers. 1t was only when water
failed them, and they had nothing
to work with, that they saw the re-
suits of all their labOrs lost, and the
building burned to the ground.
Next adjoining this building was
the one-story brick building occu-
pied by Martin Ford as grocery
and liquor store. Here the flames
were stayed. The victory was not
gained even here by our firemen
out through tno utoSt uHtiTinB ei-
forts. 1t was necessary to defend
the building from the roof and front,
and once it came near catching
through the show windows next the
street. The hight Of the building
burned to the south was also in favor
of the fire, but when it was found
that the latter could not be saved,
efforts were put forth to tear it down
and topple it over in the flames be-
low. AS it became more and more
consumed this was finally done, and
the victory gained.
Tn Tho com n, soI afatn IF a ffa irc Ia Of