Daily Los Angeles herald., 1882-05-27

n whole at 5OO.OOOO-AbOul
One-HaIf Covered by Insurance
PARTICULARS OF THE TOMBSTONE FIRE
TOMBSTONE, A. T., May 26.-The fol
lowing is an account of the fire which
occurred here, as published in the Ep
itaph, the only paper saved from the
confagration: The fire started in a
water-closet in the rear of the Tivol
saloon, on Allen street. 1t soon com
municated with the framework of the
garden in the rear of the saloon. The
wood being dry it ignited and burned
with the rapidity of cotton. Numerous
shanties surrounded the burning pile
Closets, kitchens, store-rooms in the
rear, and with the wood trimmings on the
adobe walls on the 'front.' the flame;
were easily fed. The sumptuous ap
artments of the Tombstone Club in the
Grand Hotel building, were among the
first to kiss the flames. The general
building of the Grand Hotel was next
embraced in the fiery arm. The
wooden staircase on the outside
of the building, in the rear, fell an easy
victim; next the window frames commu-
unicated the flames to the interior, and
carpets, floors, furniture, etc., fed the
fiery element.
AN EPITAPH REPORTER
Immediately after the alarm Of fire, and
before the department were yet on the
ground, climbed on top of the adobe
building in the rear of the Grand
Hotel. A glance was sufficient to con-
vince him that the fire would
be one of enormous extent. All the
surroundings were peculiarly adapted to
flame-food. The Tivoli garden was
rooted with canvas. Of course this was
swept off instantly. East of it was the
Chinese laundry fronting on Fifth street.
The clothes lines in the rear and adjoin-
ing the burning structures was laden
with clothes strung out to dry. These
fed the flames, and in less than fifteen
minutes the entire space between Fourth
and Fifth streets and Allen and Tough.
nut was one steaming, smoking, blazing
MASS OF DEs0LATIoN AND RUIN.
The fremen, than whom no braver
body of men, or more worthy of thanks,
exist, turned their attention to the her.
culean task of saving the north side of
the street, but it was impossible. The
firemen fronted the flames until most of
them were scorched, and finally logged
ly made up their minds to keep up their
contest in another quarter. The flames
rapidly spread. Soon the Occidental
saloon was enveloped. The Alhambra
saloon followed, and the mad sea of
vicious fire spread on each side to the
Cosmopolitan Hotel on the west, and
the Eagle brewery on the east. Safford's
saloon was soon a seething mass
of flames. Browns hotel fol-
lowed suit, and the fire-iend,
ere many minutes, had the Fourth street
gun store safely in his arms. Here u
scene was presented magnificent in its
lurid, fierce grandeur. A large quantity
of powder was stored in the cellar and u
number of cartridges and other explo-
sive materials were in the store. Here,
as soon as the flames were communicated
to the combustibles, a wild scene pre-
sented itself, the loud bursting of cart
ridges.
THE EXPLOSION OF POWDER
Added to the shouting of the men and
the timid screams of women, made the
air horrible with their resounding
echoes. But the heart of Tombstone
was doomed. None but visionary en-
thusiasts hoped that anything but the
struggling suburbs could be saved; but
hope beat high in the human breast,
and the gallant firemen, aided by the
police, under Chief Nagle, and number
of deputies under Sheriff Behan, strug-
gled manfully to stem the storm. The
wind was not blowing an extraordinary
gale and only the fiery flames had to be
fought. The flames reached Fremont
and rapidly spread the entire distance
between Fourth and Fifth streets. AT
the corner of Fifth and Allen noble
struggle took place. The fiery elements,
with gaunt, hungry arms, thirsted to
cross the street and capture the Oriental
Here the fremen got in their best work.
1t was u pitched battle. The weak
water and the impetuous onset of the
flames made it almost certain that the
latter would conquer; but Blackburn
rallied his gallant little fire company, a
steady stream was poured on, and
THE GREEDY DESTROYER WAS BEATEN.
Joyce, who suffered so heavily at the
former fire, came off in this instance with
moderate damage. His loss will be about
two thousand dollars. All the liquors
he had on hand he distributed to the
gallant defenders of the city, and his
house is much Quilted up with the water
stream. The porch is torn down and
mot of his glassware either broken, lost
or destroyed. But the flames swept on
ward. Fourth street was crossed the
CLOTHING HOUSE OF LAvENTHAL,
On the corner of Fourth and Allen, was
enveloped. The Nugget office was
reached and quickly swept from the
face Of the earth. The other buildings
ON the same block were quickly sweep
away. 1t reached Fremont street OF
that side, but, thanks to the combined
efforts of firemen, deputy sheritfs, po
lice and citizens, the fire was conquered
The backbone of the fell destroyer wa'
broken and the west end Of the blocl
bounded by Third street was saved. Th'
Post Office, Bent's, Schietfelin Hall, thu
Gird building and the Epitaph offic
were in momentary danger. The Epi
taph force rallied like gallant sailors Oh
well beloved ship, removed the mater
ial promptly and rallied valiantly witt
buckets to save the building. Their ef
forts were successful and the Epitap
still holds forth to discriminate the dali
needs of the world, defend the righ
and condemn the wrong.
THE FIRE REACHES IT'S LIMIT.
At this point the fire fiend was practi
cally whipped. The lodging hous
kept by Mrs. Fly, on Fremont stree,
seemed doomed, but the plucky ittl
lady was to certain extent prepared
All her furniture and the ''plunder" o
her dodgers was promptly removed to
safe retreat. But the flames were cor
quered before reaching her domicile AM
Il vet stands upon its native heatf