Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1881-06-04

The Highest wind Storm i'm the
History of Eureka.


A terrific wind storm set in about 8
O'Clock yesterday morning, and continued
to blow with hurricane-like force until 4
o'clock in the afternoon, when it died
away and the atmosphere assumed a de-
lightful calm, making the evening as pleas
ant as one could wish for. The storm was
a remarkable phenomenon. and came from
the south. 1t rose suddenly and without
apparent cause. The day before and up to
4 o'clock yesterday morning hardly a
breath OF air was stirring, but by day
break it was blowing big guns" For IL
hours the wind blew increasingly and swept
binding clouds Of dust and gravel down
the canyon. Pebbles at times flew about
like hail in q tornado, and endangered
glass in every direction. Grave apprehen-
sions prevailed from the fear of fire, and
every precaution was taken by both the
citizens and the authorities to prevent q
repetition Of the calamities that have visit
ed Eureka in the past. Early in
the day by common understanding and
request the fires in the FORCES, in the
Chinese washhouses and in the private
dwellings were put out in the upper end Of
town. Everybody appeared to realize the
existing danger, and acted with that
unanimity Characteristic with good people
in trying times. The Sheriff, at the instance
OF the County Commissioners, appointed
four special patrolmen, who were distribu-
ted in the most in1ammable portions OF
the town, with instructions to report in
stantly the slightest cause for alarm. All
the hose companies were ready for prompt
action, and delegations of firemen from
each company were on duty prepared to
move at a moments notice. The Rescue
hose cart was taken from its quarters and
stationed at the northwest corner OF Bate
man and Main streets, and the Knicker-
booker at the northwest corner of Clark
and Main streets. The Richmond and Mob
Hill carts we're also moved out and kept
ready for instant action. On Bateman
street and Poverty avenue the private hose
OF the property owners in that neighbor-
hood was unreeled and kept ready for use
should occasion require. Business was
almost entirely suspended, and few per-
sons were seen upon the streets. Dan.
Patterson, the Fire Warden, moved from
house to house from which smoke issued
and requested that the fires be put out.
In no instance, that we could learn, was
the request refused. 1t was a day OF
hiAictg lCdt anu dpplCucnoiOhp anu oA6h
Of relief went up when the Storm King
showed signs of weakening.
The incidents during the day were
numerous. Fences were blown down in
every direction, and canvas roofs and
awnings were torn to shreds. The big
windmill at the Star Brewery Beer Garden,
on upper Spring street, was demolished
early in the day, and came down with a
terrific crash, but fell short Of the build
ings. Stovepipes were swept away like
chat, and shingles lifted from the roofs
and blown in every direction for blocks.
The heavy roof ON the Richmond Re-
finery was badly damaged, and a big por-
ton OF it was almost blown Off. The
school house, from its elevated and ex-
posed position on Mob Hill, suffered the
greatest damage, and was nearly decap-
itated. Its sheet-iron roof was seriously
damaged, raised and twisted out of posi-
ton. Complaints have frequently been
made against the imperfect construction
Of this roof by the contractors, but no
heed has been paid to them. The work
was badly done and a high price paid for
it. The heavy roof should have been able
to withstand the severest gale. 1t was a
fat job, and the taxpayers have now an
opportunity to build it as it should have
been built in the first place.
A number Of other roofs felt the effects
OF the storm, but none were seriously
damaged.
Three fire alarms were given during the
day-two still " and one from the fire
bell on the Rescue hose house, the latter
bringing the entire populace to the streets.
One "still" was occasioned by a fire in q
stable above the lumber-yard on Main
street. 1t was extinguished with a few
buckets of water, though g big blaze was
already in progress. The origin Of the fire
could not be learned. The other was at
the foot Of Buel street, where an old dung
hill with q lot Of rubbish caught fire in
some way. A delegation Of fremen
squelched that. The general alarm was
caused by q slight blaze near the Ruby
Dunderberg furnace dump, where some
chips near a fence caught fire, evidently
from the cinders that rolled down from
the lava OF the Stag pots. This Stag dump
is a menace. Its proximity to the adjacent
buildings should serve to make the en-
ployes Of the furnace extremely watchful
and cautious. A Are from that quarter
yesterday would have laid the best portion
of the town in ashes.
The day fortunately passed off without
a calamity, and 1t is to be hoped Eureka
will not be visited with another like 1t.
The oldest inhabitant cannot recall a SINH
lar storm, and it will form a prominentin-
cident in his memory.
By the arrivals Of last nights train we
learn that the storm reached as far as Pal
isade. Along the line OF the E. d P. r. r.
it was felt with all the force manifested in
Eureka. Near Palisade a car loaded with
coke was blown from the track.
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