The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1890-09-20
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.
One Large Building Totally Destroy.
ed and Two Others Sadly Danaxsd.

ed and Two Others BADLY Damaged.
The most destructive fire which has
occurred here in many years took place
last Sunday morning, in which the lode-
ing house of Mrs. A. Deck with its con.
TENTS was totally destroyed, the large
building adjoining on the south, also a
lodging house, and kept by Mrs. o. P.
Sherwood, half burned, the balance badly
damaged, and the old San Jose House
now the Phoebe Hotel, across the street
WAS burnt and scorched in the front
The alarm first sounded at 8 o'clock
at which time the flames were already
issuing from the rear end of the Deck
building. This was large two story
structure, built entirely Of lumber, and
before the hose was fairly unreeled from
the cart of company No. l,-whose
quarters are only across the street from
where the fire originated, the flames
were bursting from the windows Of sew.
eral of the upper rooms, and in four min.
utes thereafter had reached the front.
and the whole was roaring mass Of fire.
The inmates all escaped uninjured how.
ever. though some, including the children
of Mrs. Deck were ropsed from their
slumbers aud fed with but little cloth.
ing.
Fortunately there was little, if any
breeze, but in a comparatively short time
the flames spread to the adjoining build.
ing on the south, 25 feet distant and the
efforts of both fire companies were di.
rected to saving it if possible. This also
is large two story building, owned by
Mrs. o. P. Sherwood, used ~ q lodging
house, and was furnished completely
throughout. The furniture was all re.
moved, but was considerably damaged
and broken. The flames secured a firm
hold on the rear part of this building, de-
stroying them completely and it required
the most persistent and heroic efforts on
the part of the iremen to save the body
of the building.
When the fire reached thesfront Of the
Deck building, the heat became SO in
tense as to drive away the workers and
spectators in the street and soon the
front Of the Phoebe Hotel, formerly the
San Jose house, was smoking and shortly
burst into blaze. Company No. 2
brought their stream to this building and
subdued the outburst in front but it con.
tinued to burn among the ornamental
work aud Immediately back of the front,
and No. 2 was obliged to come again and
mount the roof of the adjoining building
to fight it. 1t was extinguished but the
main fire meanwhile had fastened firmly
to the rear of the Sherwood building,
which, despite the efforts of both com.
panies, was practically destroyed, and
the north side Of the main part badly
damaged.
Aside from few articles of furniture,
hastily thrown out, Mrs. Deck lost all
her belongings even to clothing for
herself and children, the whole being
estimated at $4,000 Mrs. Sherwoods
loss will foot up $1,000 for destruction of
the house and injury to it's contents.
while the Phoebe Water Company will
need to expend$l5O to repair the front Of
that building and for broken glass.
Mrs. P. Fl. Taylor the proprietress Of the
house, also suffered severely from water
which deluged the front rooms on both
the upper and lower floors.
Had the flames extended beyond the
Sherwood house, fully fifteen other build.
ings, south of it and nearly all occupied
by families, would have been destroyed.
As it was their occupants prepared hasti.
ly for exit removing furniture, etc, to
places Of safety.
The fire is believed to have been
caused by defective stove pipe.
While working at the Sherwood build.
lug Jack McDonough kicked open
window to admit the hose, add severely
cut an artery for which the services of a
physician were hastily secured aud from
which he has since been using a cane.
Another accident, which might have
proved fatal, happened to w. j. Dooley.
Enveloped in smoke at the back of the
Sherwood building, and unacquainted
with the premises he fell through sky
light which was nearly on level with
the ground, covering a passage way.
The fire was raging in room adjoining
aud the place was full Of smoke. Fortu.
nately about this time door to the pass.
ageway. some IS feet distant, was forced
open and he CROPPED his way toward it re.
gaining the open mir. i,-..... .,.a
Before the fire wys fairly out a petition
for the relief Of I've main sufferers by the
fire was set in circulation and soon $500
was secured by one individual.
The disaster brought out the members
Of the Cork screw Club who turned their
ball Of last evening into benefit to re
lieve the distress Of the main suffer.
ers. The club furnished the supper. the
musicians volunteered their services, aud
s,it expense was csrtsilsd, The attend,
sn u was good and the affair wac highly
enjoyed by ali, but the receipts are not
yet known. Other measures for the re.
lief Of the sufferers will be followed out