Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1881-06-16
A FIRE ALARM.
The EFeet IL Had Upon the Masto-
don Matinee.


An alarm Of fire was sounded by the
Richmond whistle yesterday afternoon at 2
o'clock, and Immediately responded to by
the Rescue bell, which brought the De-
partment out and half the populace to the
streets. The alarm was occasioned by a
blaze In the rear Of H. R. Kemp's grocery
store, on the extreme southern end Of
the town, opposite the Richmond Stag pile.
In the rear Of the store, and adjoining it,
is a long frame building. This is separated
from Lamoreaux blacksmith shop by a
space of about six feet. Boxes, oil cans,
a pull mattress, etc., were piled up be-
tween the buildings, and it is supposed
that a spark from the forge lit upon the
mattress and set it on fire, which COM
municated to the building. The flames
licked the side Of the house and were
drawn under the sheet-iron roof before
they were discovered. The fire, however,
was seen it its incipient stage, and speedily
put out by the blacksmiths and neighbors
before any damage was done. The Rich
mond Hose Company were promptly on
hand, but their services were not required.
fortunately the wind was blowing from
the north, and even if the fire had got I'M
der Roadway it would only have had a
very little territory to feed upon. There
was no danger from it, and to magnify
a little blaze like that OF yesterday is like
terroriziDg the town, and keepingit in dire
dread of another calamity. 1t is meet that
every one should be alive to the dangers Of
a confiagration, but this constant chair
breadth escape . business sounds too much
like dime-novel clap-trap.
The matinee was in progress when the
alarm sounded, and the theater was pretty
well filled with women and children. A
small boy, who recognized the BELTS dreadful
warning, yelled "Firel" at the top of his
voice, and instantly the entire house was
in commotion. The door-keepers and
ushers, aided by several citizens, with that
good judgment which characterizes men OF
courage and GOODNESS, closed the doors and
refused to allow any one to depart. The
gallery, though crowded, emptied itself al
most in a t~winkling, but as none were per-
mitted to come down stairs they rushed
along the hall to the porch in front Of the
building, the children crying and yelling,
and clinging frantically to the skirts of
their mothers. One Mob Hill lady, at the
first alarm, jumped from her seat in the
parquette and rushed for the door in
a great state Of excitement. As she
started up she flung her purse, containing
$3.50, from her, and forgot all about it
until quiet had been restored. She then
informed the ushers of her loss, and they
soon restored the little bag. Another lady
was SO agitated that she flung her arms
about her head, and acted as il she was
fighting off a swarm of bees. A number
Of other incidents served to show that a
genuine panic would have ensued, and
probably many persons and children would
have been manned or crushed, had not the
management acted in the prompt manner
it did. The music, to allay all fear, con-
tinued to play on during the excitement,
the bow more Justify.
A citizen has sent q communication to
the SENTINEL with regard to the danger
that threatens the audiences in the Opera
House in case Of fire. While we appre-
ciate the sense Of danger from fire in all
public buildings, where the masses assem-
BILE, We must say there is a great deal OF
needless apprehension on account OF our
| Opera House. The building is thoroughly
proof against an ordinary fire from the
outside, and, though its gateways may not
be az large as some theaters in the coun-
try, the largest audience can find egress in
less than five minutes in case Of danger,
which need really only be looked for from
| the inside. We do not believe in frighten-
ing people 20 death, but think it is better
| for the public to school itself to meet
danger in a proper way when 1t comes,
and act with frmness and Judgment.