White Pine news weekly mining review. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1910-1920, 1912-05-26


street, resulted In the death of John
VanZweeden, and did damage esti-
mated to the extent of SIS, 900, par
TALLY covered by insurance. The fire,
In the heart of the business district,
threatened a general confiagration.
but absence of wind, plenty of water
at good pressure and splendid work
by the Ely volunteer fremen, combin-
ed in saving wide spread loss. The de-
plorable feature, the death of young
VanZweeden, occurred after the fire
was practically out. and some time
passed after the tragedy, before he
was missed and efforts made to find
him. VanZweeden, in passing
through the store, from Clark street
to the Aultman street entrance, was
caught beneath falling roof and floor
timbers. and nearly buried in the de-
bris.
The building where the fire start
ed was gutted. and the stock of
clothing damaged by fire. smoke and
water.
The fire resulted in incidental dam
age to the Empire theatre and Stock
Exchange saloon adjoining on
the east, and to the roof of the
Fowler saloon, west of the Wade
building.
The location of the fire was ideal
for the wiping out of the Ely busi-
ness district. and the quickness and
good judgment of the firemen that so
soon had a dangerous situation un-
der control, has been subject OF
general commendation.
The Wade building occupies site
on the south side of Aultman street.
near Fifth. and was two story frame
structure, the first floor utilized for
store purposes, while there was a
sleeping apartment on the second
floor, which was also used for storage
and place for trying on clothes. No
one was on the second floor at the
time of the fire, nor had any one
been there so far as Is known for
some time previous.
The fire was discovered at about
12:3h o'clock, and at the moment
the alarm was sounded on the bell at
the cornor of Aultman and Fifth
streets the entire upper portion of the
Wade building appeared to be a
roaring furnace.
The flames breaking through the
roof, streamed high into the air, and
to the first arrivals at the scene 1t APP
peared as II nothing could prevent
the total destruction of the Wade
building as well as the places of bust
ness adjoining
Among the very first to reach the
fire, and within few seconds follow
ing the alarm. were Edward Hull.
w. j. Stewart and A. II. Victor who
lost no time in getting the largest
hose cart into service, and tapping
fire plug in front of the Candy Kitch-
en- at the corner of Fifth and Ault-
man streets, but a few feet from the
blaze. The front entrance to the
store was forced. and the hose stream
turned into the building from this
way. But little fire was visible. al
though its location was apparent at
the head of the stairs leading from
near the office to the floor above.
BY this time the flames had made
rapid progress and had burned the
insulation from high-eurrent electric
wires in and about the building, so
that the men handling the hose
streams had to contend not only with
the high pressure of the water but
were threatened by electricity. Sever
al firemen received severe shocks as
the streams came i'm contact with the
charged wires But the fight against
the flames was continued. and with
in a few minutes three more hose
lines were in service. enabling the
fire to be attacked from all sides and
from above, with telling effect. Tons
of water under high pressure were
poured into the burning building, and
in half an hour following the alarm,
the fire was practically extinguished.
The fire got into the loft over the
Empire theater. but good stop was
made here. Percy Hull one of the
thater management and familiar with
the construction of the building.
led the fire fighters to position