Gilpin observer., 1905-08-31
FIRE AT NEDERLAND
Building Owned by Ballard
and Warwick Burned.

FREQ 0dIIdro, formerly OF central, DuC
who has been a resident OF Nederland
since the tungsten excitement Of th at
place attracted many to the camp within
the past few months. was in the city
Sunday and brought the news Of dis
astrous fire which had occurred in Ned
erland Saturday night. destroying the
new building which was being erected
by himself and Fred Warwick, also Of
Central. The building, which was a one
story structure Of considerable frontage
containing two store rooms, had been in
the course Of construction Tor the past
month or more and was completed with
the exception OF putting the doors and
windows in place. BY Tuesday or We'd
nesday Of this week it would have been
ready for occupancy and Messrs. Ballard
and Warwick were to have occupied one
part with a saloon, while the other was
to have been used by Mrs. McBurnie Of
this city for a restaurant.
On the evening the fire occurred it was
the first time the building was left with
out someone sleeping in it since it had
been enclosed. How the fire originated
Mr.. Ballard is at loss to know. Some
Of the residents OF Nederland are OF the
belief that it was Of incendiary origin,
while otbsEs advsncs the theory that
someone in passing thoughtlessly threw
a lighted stump Of cigar in the build.
ing which ignited the shavings strewn
about the floor.
The damage done by the fire of Satur-
day night will amount to about 5000,
but the loss to this extent does not fall
entirely on Ballard and Warwick. Be.
sides their building, the residence OF e.
Dunn. adjoining, was completely de-
stroyed, including the contents. Flying
sparks ignited the front OF the store &C.
ross the street from where the fire or.
iginated, occupied by William Scott,
and the entire front OF the building was
consumed before the flames could be ex-
tinguished. The post office is in one
part Of the building but the fixtures es-
capped damage.
Nederland only has volunteer fire
department and their facilities for fight.
ing fire are very limited. Saturday
evening bucket brigade was formed
and the flames fought in this mapnsr.
The tiremen did heroic work considering
the appliances at hand and it vas due sole.
ly to their untiring efforts that Nederland
did not experience a repetition Of the
destructive fire Of five years ago when
nearly every business house and resi-
dence in the town was destroyed.
All the property burned was wholly
uninsured, but this will not prevent the
owners from rebuilding. In fact Ballard
and Warwick have decided ON this
course and within a month another
building will replace the one destroyed
Saturday night. The loss sustained by
these gentlememen will amount to
about $1,000. Mrs. McBurnie was in.
deed fortunate. She had intended to
take possession OF her part OF the build.
ing Monday OF this week and had made
arrangements to have the furnishings OF
her restaurant in this city moved to
Nederland and installed in her new
place. She will be compelled to wait
until Warwick and Ballard rebuild be.
fore she can embark in business in the
tungsten camp as at present there are
no available buildings in tn prosperous
little town.