Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1876-02-29


ruii Ps~riienairs Of ths Fifs ~ shu
uuentin-Thc Loss Greatly ExaS.
Csrassd - Ths Prisoners ali De.
eure-Eto.
sIx Francisco. Feb. 2s.-Ths hrs Of
the State Prison. though entailing ssri.
Gus loss to the State and to contractors
carrying on tho business OF manufacture
ing in the building burned, seems to
have been greatly exaggerated In the first
accounts; both rs TO valuo Of the pro-
perry consumed and the imminence OF
danger Of an outbreak. To arrive at o
clear idea OF the state OF affairs II Is nee
essary to state that on entering the main
gate on the east side Of the quadrangle
formed by the outer walls Of the prison
the officers quarters and the building
for female prisoners is on the right,
while on the left are ranged three build
inps for the confinement OF convicts,
facing to the east. To tho west and In
the rear Of these aud thirty feet distant
Is the main workshop. a brick building
three stories high on the east side and
four stories high ON the west side-tho
ground in the yard sloping from east to
west. To the right OF the building near
the north wall Is the hospital and In the
northwest corner OF tho Enclosure Is the
laundry, while near tho main shop In
the southwest corner 10 the harness shop
and tannery. The main shop building
contains q furniture factory conducted
by the California Furniture Manufacture
ing Company. and q shoe shop con.
Quoted by Porter, Blum & Slessingor Of
this city. contractors. The prisoners
dining.room aud kitchen and the
quarters for Chinese conyicts- some l5O
in number -also contained tho prison
library, containing 5000 or 1000
volumes. The fire was first discovered
bursting from tho roof Of this building
at about 3:45 this afternoon. At this
time the convicts were gathered In tho
yard preparing for dinner. Tho alarm
was instantly given. At first all was
confusion and excitement. Warden
Towle was at tho time In this city, be-
ing In attendance ut court with some
prisoners on a habeas corpus case.
Deputy Fitzgerald ut once posted guards
and set the convicts at work with tho
facilities at hand 10 combat the flames
and sent n telegram 10 tho Chief OF Pc.
lico asking immediate assistance from
the police aud Fire Department. fear.
ing that the hro would communicate
to other buildings and clean out the
whole establishment, and that an
outbreak would occur. Meantime Com.
missary Tranor telegraphed for cooked
rations and left on the boat for this city
to mako arrangements. The convicts
showed themselves to be tractable md
worked with such good will that II was
loon evident that the fire would be con.
fined to the building In which II started.
The requests for assistance from here.
were therefore countermandsd, but be-
fore the dispatch arrived. Chief Sean
nell OF the Fire Department, with tho
best engine In the city. two hose carts,
force Of men and 1900 feet Of hose.
had already started on tho ferryboat for
the scene. and at last advices was pour
ing q stream on the smoking ruins OF
tho workshops. On receipt Of the rc-
quest for aid to hold the prisoners In
check. Chief OF Police Ellis Immediately
summoned about fifty regular officers,
and under charge Of Captain Douglas.
they embarked ON the tug Neptune In
company with eighteen men OF the Ma.
tional Guards. Captain Humphrey, and
fifteen OF the Union Guard. Captain
Fritzall, under command OF Lieuten-
ant Colonel Woodlands. The men took
supplies and blankets with them for their
own use. but as the last dispatches from
the prison report tho nre under control
and all quiet II il probable their services
will not DO required. Arrangements
have been mado for forwarding such an
amount Of cooked provisions NJ will DO
necessary for the use Of the prisoners
until such time rs means a DO obtain
cd for cooking ut the prison. The build
ing burned, which was erected by tho
State at q cost OF $500, 900. Is entirely
consumed. N. Z. Cole OF the Furniture
Manufacturing Company. estimates their
loss at $50. 1000; insured for 10000.
The losses in the shoe factory arc not
yet ascortained, but will DO heavy. The
loss by tho burning Of the library, din
ing.room. kitchen. Chinese dormitory.
etc.. will be considerable, but tho first
estimate OF 500. 900 in all is undoubt.
edly u gross eraggeration. Not n pris-
mi has escaped and no further trouble
is anticipated other than the incon.
venienco inseparablo from tho result Of
tho FIRE.