Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1884-08-02
4 Fire ia Bedis-Ths Fault sf
Drunken MAJ,

.
Stewart & Bros drug store lost his bal
ance and fell into show window,
overturning lamp. The oil immedi.
ately caught fre and the burning
fluid spread rapidly over the floor.
Blankets were Immediately brought
into requisition and the flames, as was
at once smothered. But an
unforeseen disaster awaited. Holes
had been bored through the floor for
carrying off water when washing out;
through these holes the burning oil
had found its way. and, although
smothered on the top of the floor the
fire was gradually eating its way into
the dry timber underneath; and while
every body were congratulating them.
selves that all danger was passed the
fire underneath was doing its work.
An alarm had been sounded and the
firemeu we're already on the ground
Between the drug store and Harvey
Boone's buildings was space of very
few inches. Suddenly the flames shot
high up through this aperture, whsn
the confagratfon commenced. Water
had been At once turned into the pipes
from the reservoir. but, as is usual,
was slow to reach the hydrants. By
this time the fire had nearly envel-
oped the building and taken q good
hold on NJ. Schafer's Champion Hotel,
on the north, and it looked for
few moments as il the entire west side
Of Main street, north Of Green, IL not
the whole town, was doomed. In the
meantime about the only fight that
could he made against the. fire was by
the hook and ladder company, who
had just begun to get their work in As
the water came. The boys were ready
at their posts, and when the hose
swelled out with the necessary, three
well directed streams were turned
upon the burning buildings. BY this
time the entire block between Harvey
Boone's and Joe Kingsley's stables WAS
enveloped in flames, and it looked like
an utter impossibility to stay the
progress Of the fire.
While all this work was going on
q pump in the rear yard Of the Bodie
House was doing active work. and
length Of hose reaching the roof of
that building was sufficient to keep
things properly wet down to prevent
the spread Of the flames to the south.
Charley White was down the canon
on moonlight horseback ride with
ono Of his daughters, as has been
their custom Of these late pleasant
evenings. As soon ~ Charley heard
the alarm he wheeled his horse around
and, leaving the young lady to look
out for herself went on the keen run
until he reached and had the pump in
the Lent shaft in motion with vol
ume Of $50 inches Of water pouring
into the reservoir. This action assured
the fremen all the water they could
use. The firemen and citizens gcner-
orally we're now unitedly fighting the
fiend, and their labors began to per.
ceptibly tell on the flames; and unless
some unforeseen danger should inter.
vene, the odds were in favor of subdu-
ing the fire.
About this time the fire had reached
several boxes of cartridges and they
began to explode. The firing of these
was incessant and partook of the
nature of volleys of musketry. 1t was
sufficient to strike terror to the hearts
OF ladies and children and timid men,
who lined the sidewalks opposite, but
it had no effect on the gallant firemen.
who stood nobly at their posts, deter.
mined to conquer the fire fiend if it
was within the province of human
possibility.
The flames began to gradually sub.
side, and it was plain that the fire
would be squelched, which caused the
men to work with greater vim, until
the fire was finally extinguised. We
say, without hesitation, that the con-
tining of this large fire, which as
sumcd such formidable proportions
from the start, TO the block of build.
ings between Harvey Boonc's and Joe
Kingsley's stables, was a feat of fire
fighting, for its size, never surpassed
anywhere. st
This result was due not only TO the
directions OF Chief Engineer McKowa,
but very largely TO the well directed
efforts of Ed Loose, foreman of Ncp.
tune Hose, who made every gallon OF