Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1881-11-09
TcoMMuSIcArED.l
INCEN DIARIsM ON RUBY HILL.
A Fabrication, without Foundation
In Reason or Truth.

A Fabrication, without Foundation
In Reason DR. Truth.
EDITOR SENTINEL: / notice in your is.
sue of this morning that during the big
fire on Ruby Hill that occurred on Sunday
night. OF, rather on Monday morning about
8 o'clock, consuming Mrs. Kavanaugh's
house, that several fires we're discovered
that were started, as reported, simultane-
ously, and we're evidently the work of in
cendiaries. AT the same time three fires
were detected near Judge ~McLaughlan's
house, at the top of the gulch, another in
New Town, and q man was also detected
gathering sticks and papers by the side Of
one Of the largest houses on the Hill, for
the evident purpose OF setting it on fire,
and that, had it not been for a special
police force put on watch, the whole town
might have been given up to the flames.
Now, Messrs. Editors, / am a resident of
Ruby Hill and a property owner, and de-
string that justice should be done to all
parties, and no injustice to any one, /
have taken the trouble to carefully inves-
tigate the matter, thatit may be placed be-
fore the public in its true light, when the
public can give the unjustifiable and I'M
truthful report all the credit that it is en-
titled to.
Now, in the first place, he states that
three fires were detected, or discovered,
and gives an account, or locates two, over
near McLaughlaA'sy in the upper end of
the gulch, the other in New Town. Then
he says q man was discovered piling up
sticks and papers against the largest house
on the Hill. Now, the house referred to
being my house, and the whole affair
coming under my own personal notice. l
will explain the entire matter as it oc-
Cured A young man by the name Of
Roxburgh, who has been laid up with q
broken limb for the last five months, occu-
pies a corner room on the lower floor.
After dressing, he made his way out into
the reading-room, and in conversation re-
marked about the wind whistling round
the corner OF his room. He said it sound
ed like a man piling papers against the
door. A man hearing the remark went up
to one of the saloons and reported that a
man was discovered piling wood and paper
against the end of the house, and that on
being discovered ran away. Then the next
one said that Roxburgh went out and took
a shot at him. Now, on hearing this, l
went up into the street and informed the
crowd, and Mr.. Kyle and Mr.. Penrose par
ticularly, that all the reports about my
house were without foundation, and re-
quested them to check their circulation,
and not allow the Hill to go crazy over
them. l then returned home. After my
return the man that reported the affair in
the saloon also went up, and told them
that 1t was a false rumor, and without
foundation. hen another man vent up
with the same statement, but no heed was
given to it. Incendiarism was started and
must go. Now, this is one, as I presume,
of the three distressing fires that were kim.
died by incendiaries.
And here Is the second: About 10 o'clock,
Mr.. Marsden of the Ruby Hill Mining
News, on his return from Eureka, on enter
ing the extreme lower edge OF New Town,
below Mr.. jenkins house, which Is stu
ted opposite Mr., Hampton's store, on the
brow of the hill, discovered a small blaze
proceeding from q pile Of ashes, where
they had been thrown the evening pre-
vious, and with the wind that was blowing
had set fire to some chips or brush. Mr..
Marsden in passing the saloon OF Mr.. Will
liams, reported the matter, and one OF the
boys vent down and threw some
water on 1t. Now this accounts
for the second terrible fire,
caused by the work OF some terrible in
cendiary, and 1t will be remembered that
this terrible fire occurred about12 O'Clock,
and the fire following, which consumed
Mrs. K~avanaugh's house, occurred about
half-past 8, also the intended fire at
the Sweeney house, but yet he reports the
three fires as occurring simultaneously.
Now, the fire that was discovered near
Mr.. M~cLaughlin's I can find no trace of.
l called upon them and made inquiry, and
they knew nothing of it and heard moth
ing of it until the day following the fire.
There would have been nothing surprising
had a fire been discovered in that direc-
ton, as the wind was blowing a gale across
that portion OF the gulch from the burning
building, and you cannot to-day find a
single intelligent inhabitant that believes
for a moment that there is q single person
on Ruby Hill who has ever the slightest
inclination toward incendiarism, or that
has the slightest desire to injure Ruby
Hill or its inhabitants In any manner
whatever; and 1t is my opinion that the
report that found it's way into your paper
must have originated from the mind or
brain, il he had any, of some ignorant, as
we'll as e~vil-disposed person, seeking to
impose.personal injury on certain parties
rather than for uncalled-for protection to
the town, as there is not oven q shadow OF
trnthfulness in his whole report. other
thar the entire destruction of Mrs. Kava-
naugh's house and contents.
Yours respectfully, JAMES SWEENEY.
RUBY HILL, Nov. s, 1881.
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