Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1875-11-05
The Fire at Virginia City, New.


SAN Francisco, Oct. 20.
THE fire broke out about daylight in a
dwelling on A street, near Taylor, APPOINT
at about the southwestern limit of the
business and thickly-settled portion of the
city. 1t spread rapidly, extending east
ward toward the ravine in which are sit
uated the works and mills of several
prominent mines. Reaching as far as F
street northward, the flames crossed Union
and Sutton streets, covering a space OF
about ten blocks, comprising, in the
words of one dispatch, almost every
decent building in town. As the fire
worked up G street the offices of the Ter
rStorial Enterprise and Chronicle were de-
stroyed. Piper's Opera-House was next
in flames and it became evident that the
railroad depot and hoisting-works of the
Consolidated Virginia were in danger.
The water-supply was inadequate and the
engines of little use. Recourse was had
to blowing up buildings. 1t was too late,
however, and In a few minutes the depot
and hosting works were on fire. The
latter were recently completed at an ex-
pense of several hundred thousand dol
lars, and were the finest on the Comstock
lode.
Continuing to the north and east, the
partially-completed mill of the California
mine and the Consolidated Virginia mill
were soon in flames, which spread still
further north to the Ophir hosting works,
destroying them also, which is about the
limit of destruction in that direction, the
iredying out from want of fuel. From
Taylor street, near which the fire Origi-
mated, it spread southwark against the
wind, destroying the branch Bank of Cali
fornia and Wells argo's express office,
and everything else in its line. At this point
the Gould & Curry works were in immi-
Tent danger, but were fortunately saved.
In short, nearly the entire business portion
of the town is in ashes. Hotels, churches,
county buildings, newspaper, telegraph
and express offices are all swept away.
Over 10, 900 persons are homeless. The
wind is piercing, and much suffering is
anticipated before temporary shelter can
be prepared. 1t is impossible at present
to conjecture the amount of the loss. The
destruction Of the mills and hosting
works above referred to will probably en-
tail a loss of 81 ZOO, 900 within radius of
few hundred feet. Fortunately the shafts
of both the Ophir and Consolidated Vir-
ginia were bulk-headed, and the fire was
kept out of the mines. The Ophir men
say that possibly their loss may be less
than at first supposed, as the building was
of light frame, and might burn without
destroying the machinery. The loss OF
buildings and merchandise in the city
must be very great, although covered to a
great extent by insurance. 1t is not known
to what extent the mills and hosting works
were insured, except in the case of the
Ophir, where the loss is placed at $780,
600 to $200,000; insured for 100000 in
this city.
SAN FRANCISCO. Oct. n.
An additional special to the Call from
Virginia says: All present it is impossible
to state the less of life. Two men were
killed on street by falling wall There
are numberless rumors Of other casualties.
Hundreds of families are homeless and
hungry. The school-houses, the only
public buildings left, are open to them,
but if immediate relief is not extended
great suffering will ensue. Utter demon
alization relgns in the city. Men, women
and children wander about the deserted
streets seeking shelter. The surrounding
hills are dotted with camp-fires. A few
saloons remain, and supplies of liquor
have not been lacking, and the streets are
alive with a drunken mob. The military
are patrolling the city for the protection
of property
Dispatches received this evening give
further details of the Virginia City con-
fagration, and confirm previous reports
as to the extent of the calamity. The
scene during the progress of the fire is be-
yond description. The wind blew gale,
driving the cinders and flames far in adj
vance of the burning buildings, render
ing all attempts to check the progress of
the fire futile. Giant powder was freely
used to blow up the buildings, and fire.
quent heavy explosions shook the earth.
The roof of the Catholic church was
blown 100 feet in the air, leaving the bare
walls standing. BY eight o'clock all ex-
element was at its height. The streets
were filled with people, transfers strug-
sentable points; women shrieking their
cries Of despair; curses of enraged men;
the roar of flames, dull reports of explo-
sions, as building after building took
fire; the heavy thud and crash of
falling walls; the snap of bursting iron
bars and doors; the howl of the gale-all
went to make up scene of indescribable
horror. By ten a. m. the consolidated
Virginia hosting works building and
mill were wrapped in flames and soon fell.
Tie new California stamp-mill then fell
prey to the fire, which swept to within
few rods of @. 81 G. hosting works, when
the veering, of the wind turned the flames
and carried them to the Ophir works,
which soon fell in. The shaft timbers
caught fire, but were extinguished with
out doing much damage. BY eleven a.
m. the flames had spent their fury; the
wind died away, leaving bed of smolder
ing ruins quarters of mile long
and half mile wide.
No definite advices received yet as to
the extent of damage to the several min
ing properties involved. The total loss
by fire is now placed at from 100000
to $5,0O0,000.