Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1877-08-10
COAST.
San FRANCISCO.
A GREAT FIRE NEAR THE
POSTOFFICE.
Nearly Two Blocks Destroyed.
PARTIAL LIST OF THE SUFFERERS.
Another Suicide, and Verdict Of the
Jury in the Hanks Case.
SAN FRANCISCO, August 0.

Jury in the Hanks Case.
SAN FRANCISCO, August Q.
About 1850 O'Clock last night a fire
broke out in the block bounded by
Merchant, Washington, Drumm and
East streets. The statement of the
policeman who turned on the alarm
wa-, that il originated in a hay barn
and stable of Mnrsrhead & Mexican.
nearly in the IN .ddle of the block. TIE
whole block was built up solidly with
frame buildings, and the f'e spread
rapidly in every direction. The whole
block bounded by Drumn, East, Mer-
chant and Washington streets, half Of
the block betwee Merchant and Clay
streets, and half of ths block between
Washington and Jackson streets, we're
totally destroyed. Morsehesd & Nc
keaD are heavy losers, probably not
less than $50 900. The Capital box fac
tory lost about 81, 600; GsliuB& Heath,
John Malloy, John EveIding aud But
Ter It Co. must have sustained heavy
losses, as their stocks we're large aud
valuable. The loss OF live stock il
considerable. Most OF the buildings
consumed were of very little value.
and the business to which they wefe
devoted dad not call for much invest
inent of capital. Tn. to'al loss IL in
the neighborhood of $50. OOO. The
fire is believed to have been accidental,
is attributed by some to a drunken
workman.
Later About The Fire.
SAN FRANCISCO, August Q.
The burnt district on the city front
presents a very dilapidated appear
ance. On one entire block bet
Merchant and Washington streets not
n stick is standing, except a small
frame building at the northwest corner
of Merchant aud East streets, and that
is n b~iackened ruin. with the excep'iup
of u ooi in the corner occupied by
the Ocean market, which is intact.
The same is r OF the block between
Washington and Oregon streets, which,
along The north line of the latter street,
The half burnt remains of frame shan
ties show where the fire VAS checked
in that direction. Along the south
side of Merchants street the ruins OF
two large brick buildings aud several
frames running through To- Clay street
ill out the picture. The space over
which the fire swept is still occupied
by piles of burning Goa and smolder.
ing hay and feed, while broken
and twisted gas and water
pipes, ruined safes, demoralized
stoves %blackened aud battered, tin
ware, aud skeletons of horses and cat
tie are strewn in every direction. A
few chimnevs remain standing, but
everything in the shape of woodwork
is swept clean. Tho streets and alleys,
aud such portions OF the burnt tract
a. are yet accessible are crowded with
street Arabs. rumaging FIR plunder.
Engines are still playing on the >inok-
ing ruins. the streets are Uttered
with such household goods a were
saved from the fire aud not Yet re-
moved. Owing TO the has,e with
which the streets were cleared during
the progress of the confisgraiiOn To
make room for the fireinen, "A great
deal OF furniture, ETC., WAS lust which
had beer removed from the buildings,
though it was generally of trihing
value. But little progress has been
made in ascertainiDg the losses. but il
II evident that the original estimates,
AS usual, were far too high. IL is prob
able that the total destruction al prop
erly, at a reasonable valuation, Will
not exceed $3.50 900, and may tall con-
~iderably below that tisure ID. J..
staples, President OF the Under rilers
Association, states that 50 far a. he has
been ahle Il learn, the losses TO insur
ance companies viii be from $50 900 to
$50 900, mostly held among Eastern
companies. No company will lose
much, and local companies are fortu
nate in having very few and small
risks in That locality. Further inquiry
as to the eau>e of the lire favors the
suspicion that it was of All inc-ndiary
origin. Worknen are busy r. pairing
the track OF the Washington-stre-t
rail way, which was badly used up, the
rails being badly warped and sprung
and the sleepers burned. Others ar.
preparing to clear the ground, with
the view of commencing building Op
%-rations. The whole burnt district will
probably he soon rebuilt with y better
class of buildings.
About | o'clock this morning Thos.
Mckenney. a native OF Ireland, aged
40 years, committed suicide ut his
lodgings by stabbing himself il the
throat with a pocket knife. He had
been III tor some weeks and was par
tally deranved.
The COroner's jury in the case of
Hanks found a verdict to-day express
ing the opinion that the prison au
ihorities did not use proper %precauiion
10 prevent the suicide, but failing to
fix the responsibility for tho laxliy OF
discipline on any one party.
The chronicle Libel Suit at
PlaeerytlIe.
PLAcERvILLE, Cal, August 6.
In b De Young libel ease the jury
was completed this morning. judge
Lake opened for the prosecution.
Alex. Campbell was the first witness
sworn and Identified The defendant.
A. Is. Hall, agent nf the Chronicle i'm
Placerville. was next examined as to
the business connections and circula-
tion of the Chronicle. j. L. Gle 50 and
Frederick +. Barss were examined as
10 having read the alleged litel. f..