Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-06-07
FIRE AT NEVADA CITY.
Chinatown Destroyed, Together
with Other Property.
SCENE OF INTENSE EXCITEMENT.
Narrow Escape of Woman Partial List
Of Losses.
ESPECIAL By TELEGRAPH TO THE RECORD
UNION.

NEVADA CRY, June 5th.-The following,
regarding the big blaze here to-day, appeared
in to-night's Herald: AT about quarter
after 4 o'clock this afternoon the fire alarm
was sounded from Engine Company No. 2.
The call was Immediately responded to by
both companies. The cause of the alarm
was found to be from flames issuing from the
upholstery establishment of John White, sit
uated on Broad street. Before the fire de-
partment could reach the scene the entire
building was in flames, and it soon became
evident that there was
HARD WORK
Before them. The houses adjoining were in
a blaze almost instantly. The New York
Hotel and Harrison's butcher shop and Irish's
place soon commenced to burn, with all the
fury possible The Chinese shanties in the
rear of these buildings soon caught, and it
was then that the fire department COM
menced to realize the task they had before
them. Crowds of people from all portions of
the city and the suburbs commenced to flock
to the scene of the confagration. 1t was
feared that the town would surely be burned
to the ground before darkness closed in. The
flames continued spreading rapidly towards
the corner of Broad and Pine streets, carry
ing everything before them. Building after
building caught on the other side of the New
York Hotel. The entire portion of
CHINATOWN
And the portion Of Pine street occupied by
the demi-monde was being rapidly devoured
by the hungry flames. The fire department
came to the conclusion that it was useless to
try and save any portion of the Celestial vii
lage, and streams of water were directed
principally on the brick building occupied by
Alexander Gaults as "a baker, the houses on
the other side of the New York Hotel and on
the Chinese shanties in the rear. The heat
on the opposite side of Broad street was in
tense, and it was greatly feared that the
stores, Hunts Hall and the theatre would
catch fire. The roof of the latter commenced
to smolder, but the prompt action of the fire.
men saved it. It was thought that the
Courthouse would suffer, and every precau-
ton was taken to save it. The prisoners in
Jail were removed to the City Hall and kept
under guard.
SCENE OF EXCITEMENT.
The excitement about this time was in
tense. The streets were filed with furni-
ture. Hunts Hall was turned into storing
house. Transfers with their horses and
wagons, were running to and fro, conveying
goods of the sufferers to places of safety.
During the progress of the fire one explosion
after another could be heard in the vicinity
of Chinatown. 1t came from the fre-crack-
ers and powder slowed away in the Chinese
stores, and by the rapidity and loudness of
the reports one would have thought that the
town contained a number of arsenals.
THE DANGER OVER.
At half-rast o'clock, when Chinatown laid
in complete ruins, when portion of Pine
street was devoured and nearly all the build
ings from o. J. Brandt's jeweler store to En-
CINE House No. were completely destroyed
not till then did the populace consider the
worst of the danger over and the city saved.
The members of the fire department worked
bravely. They displayed great courage, and
used every effort to save property. Several
attempts were made to steal property, but
owing to the vigilant watch kept by num-
Der of citizens this was prevented.
NARROW EscAPE-LIsT OF LOSSES.
Mrs. Gault narrowly escaped from being
burned to death. She was found in her room
when the building and those adjoining were
eDveloped in flames, and but for the braveness
of some men she would have been burned to
death.
The following is partial list of the losses,
as far IS could be obtained; the amounts
are roughly estimated by the owners of the
property Alex. Gault, house and furniture,
So 600; insurance, $1,000. j. III. Harrison,
butcher shop, 5000; insurance, $500. D.
Auerbach, furniture, silverware, ETC., 5000
insurance doubtful. Pennsylvania Engine
Company, engine-house, etc., $1,000; insur-
ance 800 Maggie Edwards. house and
furniture, $1,000; insurance, 5000. A. Ii.
Irish, dwelling and carpenter shop, $500 no
insurance. W. G. Groves, house, 500; no
insurance. II. A. Lones, two dwellings on
Broad street and several on Commercial
street. s., 600 no insurance. The total loss,
including upwards OF fifty Chinese buildings,
will be from so, 600 to $4,000.