Tonopah daily bonanza. [volume] (Tonopah, Nev.) 1906-1929, 1908-09-06
E. Marks of Tonopah and
RaWhide Tells Story of
Conflagration in Which He
Loses $70,O00L-W. S.-DaW-
son Becomes a Raving
Maniac---Lot Jumpers and
Looters Threatened With
Hanging

e. Mark returned from the Are
stricken city Of RaEhide yesterday.
Speaking pf the IRE Mr.. Marks said:
''It was q dreadful affair. When the
alarm was sounded the citizens rush
ed to the scene with number Of
chemical extinguishers which had
they been directed to the fire in the
interior Of the building, would, in
my Judgment, have put out the fire.
They were, however. carried to the
roofs Of the buildings and conse-
quently when the flames ate their
way through the drug store they had
gained too much headway for the
the fire fighters to combat successful
ly. The Ross hotel proved the un-
doing of the fire fighters. Built Of
the flimsiest OF material, it served as
a veritable tinder box for the flames
and disappeared like fash of pow
der in the pan.
In their desperate fight with the
consuming element, many of the
brave fighters sustained severe burns
while others fell in the street pros
trated with the intense heat.
Sad was the fate of the camp. No
water could be had and as last re-
sort buildings were dynamited to ar
rest the , fast approaching, hell
heated tongues of flame. Dogs, their
tonges parched with thirst raced up
and down the streets barking and
yelping with fear, perhaps to pass in
front of the exploding buildings only
to be hurled high in the air, their
mangled bodies strewing the streets
in every direction.
A man named w. s. Dawson added
to the spectacle by running amuck
on the streets screaming and gesticu.
1ating In maniacal fashion. The
strain had proved too great, and il
required the strength of six sturdy
men to keep him from rushing into
the flames and destroying himself
The man at the present time is raw
ing maniac and but little hope /!
held out for the restoration of hil
reason.
1.-TWO hundred deputies were
quickly sworn in and in shotr time
a score of looters, who had beer
caught at their abominable practices
were safely lodged behind the bar
of the city jail.
"In the incredible short time 0
fifty-f1ve minutes the entire business
portion of the town was in flames ant
as the last cracking timber fell int
the ashes it proved monument
marking the extreme end of wha
was few minutes before one of tn
most promising as well as spectacu
lar mining camps that has ever risel
on the desert of Nevada.
"The order was given to stop al
SdiG OL lIQuOT. L H6 lOCdi TSIlcL COAl
mittee ordered all grocery and point
of supply to not accept purchase
only by written order from the com
mittee. This rule was rigidly en-
forced. Those who were able to pa
cash were required to have the en-
dorsement of the committee as we
as those who had no money. Til
measure was adopted by those
control, for the reason it was feare
that many would suffer for food bt
fore relief could be obtained from tn
outside. Having the written order {
the relief committee, those who ha
money paid for their provision
while those who had nothing recei'
ed supplies necessary to sustain thel
for the time.
The dynamiting was started
what was formerly Ray Makers 81
loon and was continued down to I'll
Nevada club, which is directly acro'
Rawhide avenue from the Moss co
ner and fronted Tex Richards plac
The flames reached to a height