The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1880-08-21
THE EUREKA FIRE.
fEurek. Sentinel. August 10. ]

At about lU 0clOck q. III. TUESDAY aIl
alarm of fire was sounded, and the entire
populace of Eureka was seen in motion.
A dense cloud of smoke was seen to issue
from the rear of Mrs. Poplin's fruit and
vegetable store on Main street, just south
of Odd Fellows Hall. In two minutes
several wooden buildings in the imme
date vicinity were enveloped in flames.
The fire seemed to make unprecedented
Roadway from the very start. The fire
men were promptly on hand, and two
streams were applied, but without visible
effect. The wind was blowing gale
from the southwark and continued to
blow as only it can blow in these noun
tain canyons, until she flames had run
their course. 1t would have been an
awful sight at night I; it was terrible in
the broad glare of day.
The fire backed up against the wind to
the southwark to Gold street, crossing
Buel and in turn reaching to Paul and
Spring streets, its course and scope being
almost identical with the great confagra-
ton of April, 1879, differing only in these
particulars it went little further south
and stopped little short of the old mark
on the north. Possibly 300 houses, many
of them business establishments, were
destroyed yesterday, also, some of the
finest and most costly private residences
in town were consumed. A space equal
to 80 acres of tho very heart of the town
was swept. In this vast area emily half
dozen buildings remain to relieve the
widespread ruin and desolation. Jack
Pery's corner, Tommy Douglass build
ing, the Foley Richard block, Paxton &
Co.'s bank, Jake COINS store, DR..
Schneider's drugstore, Kayser's clothing
store and c. Lautenschlager's " Corner "
saloon are the only buildings left. All
else was literally licked up. The Leader
Office, Odd Fellows Hall, Eureka Theater,
Orion Hall, international Hotel, WANNA
& Co. s billiard saloon, A. M. Hillhouse's
elegant residence and the Methodist
Church were among the prominent build
ings destroyed. The Jackson was Quilted,
but still stands. The international is
melted almost level with the ground. 1t
was due to the most heroic efforts that
the fire was confined to the east side of
Main street. The entire line Of build
ings on the west side is charred, and
many of them badly damaged. The ex-
act origin of the fire is not known. The
first any one knew, the flames were far
advanced in the rear of the premises al
ready noted.
A rough estimate Of the losses by the
fire places them at about $3.50, 900, GOV.
cred by about $780, insurance. 1t is
not claimed that these figures are even
approximately correct, a, they amount
to nothing more than the merest guess
work.
When the fire had got beyond control
scene ensued which beggars all attempts
at description. Hundreds of men, women
and children, totally panic stricken
frenzied, in fact, with fear-were fleeing
in all directions for safety, some of the
cooler ones bearing with them cherished
articles of personal or household goods.
Those on the lines of Spring and Paul
streets scaled the rugged mountain to the
eastward, while persons farther down the
fiat sought refuge in the direction Of Mob
Hill. In the meantime, drays and
wagons were dashing hither and thither
in the utmost haste to bear away valu-
ables from the doomed district. Above
all, the shouts of the firemen mingled as
they heroicly battled unsuccessfully with
the devouring element. Finally, the sun
went down on q stricken and exhausted
people.