Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1880-11-22
The Imperial is on frs."

"Ths Imperial is on hrs."
Such was the startling announeemsnt
which, with the rising sun. caused men
in Virginia to stop and sbuddsr as they
saw clouds OF smoke and steam billow.
ing up svsr the Divide.
Perhaps there 10 nothing which 20
teIria.s the brave and sturdy miners OF
the Comstock a. an alarm Of ars In the
depths below. The flames themselves
are not 10 much. but the stiaipg smoke
and deadly dsmps are enemies against
which courage and strength and deter
mination are Of no avail. And 30 II 10
that when there Is FIRE in . mins all stop
for an instant ct the cry and shuddsr to
think what terrible consequences may
attend IL. Besides, too many Of them
know from fearful past experiences what
il Is to fight this new foo under ground.
Fortunately the alarm Of this morning
gave foreboaings which were worse than
the reality. For pinot flames and smoke
and gas were merciiul aud made their
attack on the Imperial mine when there
was no one near to do for their extin-
guishmsnt or die In their embrace.
It seems that during the changing OF
shifts at the Con. Imperial this morn
ing, q fire started on the 2050 level and
near the top OF the perpendicular winze
which leads down to the 2l35 level.
This winzs Is the thorouRhfars connect
ing shaft aud incline with the levels be-
low. or was such till connection was
made with the Jacket shaft below and
aud work was commenced through that
shaft.
The wiuze ia situated near the south
line OF the mine. and there 10 . long
drift connecting II with the bottom OF
the Imperial incline. There 10 connec-
ton With the Yellow Jacket also on this
level, and through this conaection VENT.
lation Is secured, the draft being strong
from the Jacket through this DRIFT and
up through the Imperial incline and
shaft.
When the men therefore went down
this morning to 60 to work they found
FIRE near the engine. which 10 at the top
OF this wiuze. The alarm was iwns.
diately given, and all who were In dan.
g-rous positions escaped. There was .
gang OF men on the 28l0 level OF the
mine. and these were also at once noti-
fed through the Jacket shaft and all set
about measures to e%Itinguish the flames.
B%ulkheadinR was OF once commenced.
This was necessary TO exclude air and
smother the flames. The closing Of
doors and dropping Of blankets along
connectisns checked the fro for a time;
then 1t rot breath through the winze
from connections with lower levels and
went on again.
The pumps Of the Con. Imperial were
then stopped. This was to allow the
sump to fill with water and to protect
the station aud incline. To render
this result q certainty the pipe by which
compressed air was taken from the sur.
face to the workings below was discon.
nscted aud O stream Of water from the
surface was sent down. This. q ac-
count OF the great pressure-over 1000
feet-would fll the whole station With
spray, which would ~effectually prevent
the spread OF the flames beyond Il and
up the incline, should they indeed get
that far.
The advance OF the enemy being thus
prevented. bulkheadinR was continued.
and It became only q question Of time
as to how long the Are could continue.
Its breath from below was cut Oh BY a
bulkhead OF the bottom Of the winzs.
But il sometimes takes flames, like
snakes. a long time to die; and this Is
one OF the cases in which avenues must
be closed and remain closed till death Ia
assured before o Napoleonio survey Of
the battle field can DO made. This can
only be done, moreover, after thorough
ventilation has followed the eItinguish.
ing Of the flames. Then and not till
then can the damage done be estimated.
II will not be very great.
As to the origin Of the FIRE, but little
is known, and that lacks defniteness.
The News investigated the subject -
thoroughly as possible |; for those who
alone could throw light on the matter
were in the depths blow. That 1t took
at the station at the head OF the wipze
is certain; beyond that all Is conjecture.
Ii has been asserted that Peter Kelly,
engineer at that point. left with the shit
which which went up. and then went back
with the change. and that when be got
back there was FIRE in the station. This
looks as II some one carelessly left .
candle there when geing up. but whether
in a sconcs with NO water. or In . can
dlestick from which 1t melted and fell,
or In which its fame reached the tim
bers. no one can tell. 1t 10 rs likely to
bs the latter way as any other.
LATEsr.-At noon the IRE was under
~control and diving out, The damage