Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1880-11-11
pAsrARplY IHcEHDlARlsM.
Another Attempts 90 Burs Eureka
saved BY an Old Gold Hill Fire.

The News copies with pleasure the
following tribute to the personal prowess
OF q 81 l.known former Gold Hitler. as
given in the Eureka Leader OF the 9Th
instant:
Last night. or rather this morning at
hali-past 2 O'Clock. an attempt was made
to FIRE Eureka that was only frustrated
by the presence OF mind and prompt ac-
ton Of Sandy McMartin. e1.Chisf En-.
eiuser Of the Gold Hill Fire Department.
The scene OF the attempt was on Mob
Hill, ut the corner Of Clark and Ed
wards streets. At that point stands a
house owned by Thomas Deter, which
is now ~uuoocupisd. The house next to
il on the south and fronting on Edwards
street 10 occupied by Sandy McMartin
and family. Between the two houses Is
q narrow alley.way not more than hvs
feet in width. Mrs. King Hsdlsy, Mr..
McMartin's daughter. occupies . room
fronting on Edwards streets, and which
has q window overlooking this alley.
way. Mr.. McMsrtin and wife 90
cupy q room more to the rear OF
the building. With O window also
opening on the s~lley-wsy. About half
past 2 o'clock this morning Mrs. Hedl-y
was aroused by . bright light shining
through the window OF her room from
this ailey-way. and instantly gave the
alarm by calling up George Almond.
who lodges in the house. George rushed
out and raised the CRY OF FIRE. By this
time Sandy became aware OF the threat
sued danger. and rushed to the window
Of his room. Right opposite. and no.
Ave feet away. in the ~uuoccupied Deter
house, he saw that Q fire had been kim
died and Was under good Roadway. Tue
flames were already crawling up the side
Of the building. and In Q moment more
would wrap not only the Deter house.
but his own, In flames. In Mr.. McMar.
tins house there were seventeen souls,
including several children. Most men.
in the presence OF such imminent and
appalling danger. would have lost their
heads aud thought Of nothing but try
ing 10 get cut Of danger those under
their roofs. The instincts OF the old
fireman told Sandy that with prompt nc.
ton there was yet time to conquer the
flames. 10 his oom there were foriu-
nateiy q couple OF pals Of water. He
tore open the window OF his room, burst
OF the wire screen on the outside, aud
In his night.shirt leaped out. HIS wife
passed him the buckets Of water. and
with them be managed to extinguish the
flames. To the presence Of mind and
prompt action on the part OF Sandy
McMartin last night. men, women and
children undoubtedly " their lives.
To the south Of the Deter House the
houses, all family residences, stand very
close together. The wind was blowing
q gale to the south. and in Ave minutes
more Il would have been impossible to
have checked the flames. At that hour.
with households wrapped in profound
slumber. unconscious Of danger. 1t would
have been simply impossible to have
gotten out all the inmates. and but for
the prompt action Of q brave man We
would have been called on this morning
to chronicle one OF the most horrible aud
hsartrsnding calamities that ever bsiell
Eureka.
The Deter house stands on the side
hill. fronting on Edwards street. The
rear Of the house stands three or fouI
feet from the ground. and this vacancy
between the floor OF the house aud the
ground 10 partially boarded up. Our re-
porter inspected the premises this morn
ipg. and found that the numbering 10
cendisry had gone under the house IRON
the allsy-wsy and piled shavings. sstu'
rated with turpentine, on the inside
against the boards. Coal oil was also
thrown on the side Of both the Deter
building and that occupied by McMar'
tin. Where the house was nrsd the
charred and blackensd boards attest the
hssdway that the flames had made be
fore arrested by McMartin's prompt &C
ton.