The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1912-07-13
T0N0PAH SWEPT
BY COSTLY FIRE
Business Blocks and Homes
Burned at Loss of Nearly
Half a Million

Tonopah, Nevada, July S.-The most
costly fire that has ever visited Tonopah
occurred this morning at l o'clock, and
as q result three handsome business
blocks are now Q mass Of ashes, and tot
tering walls stand where magnificent
edifces stood bat Q few hours before.
The loss is estimated BY competent
judges to be between $4,000 0 and $780,
900. One Of the heaviest losses Is that
sustained by W. w. Booth. editor Of the
Bonanza, whose loss is ts3. 200. with no
insurance.
The fire, according to the best infor-
nation obtainable, started IN the
Knights of Pythias building and swept
that structure in Q few minutes. The
building was the meeting place fer the
Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, Moose.
Eagles, Women of Woo1craft and the
Woodmen. The Piercy drug store in
the building is total loss. The fire then
crossed the street aud devoured Tom
Kendall's old home. jumping from there
to the old Tonopah Sun plant, com.
pletely cutting it aud from there it ex-
tended mp Central street, taking many
homes in its wake. II then doubled
back and licked up the Tonopah block.
worth $50, 900; the buildings of Harry
E~pstine, broker; Schmidt, a~tailor; Wells
Fargo, Mrs. Dunn. Judge Sanders. South
Nevada Abstract Company. DIR. Mcleod.
DR.. Musante, DR.. Cunningham, DIR.
Richards, DR.. Davis and Mrs. Bell. all
losing everything.
The wind veered, and the some
Brokers' Exchange building was fame
swept and only a shell Of il now stands.
Dresser, q tailor; B~lumenthal. q broker;
DR.. Robinson and others who had offices
suffered o complete loss.
The fire jumped to side streets, de-
stroying many dwellings. and turned &c
the State Bank and Trust Company
building. The heat cracked the wind
ows, and only heroic work prevented
this building from being destroyed.
Additional Tonopah Fire Particulars
The Goldfeid Tribune in its account
Of the Tonopah fire says the fremen
were Handicapped by lack of water pres
sure, although they had three lines of
hose. An emergency call to the Gold
field fire department. brought Chief
Murphy and q detail over In 45 minutes
with 1000 additional feet of hose. The
water company is being severely criti
| cized for the lack Of water pressure. The
damage is estimated at e250,0 600, with
10000 insurance.
Although the printing plant Of the
Tonopah Bonanza was completely de-
stroyed. through the courtesy Of the
Tonopah Miner, Editor W. W. Booth
was enabled to get out she Bonanzs
| without missing IN issue.
Two causes are given for the fire. The
one generally believed 10 that it wa
caused by q cigarette dropped by
painter sleeping in Conley's Paper and
Paint store on the main floor. Another
theory is that it originated in the z P
banquet room, matches ignited by mics
setting fire to paper napkins.
All communication with the town
was cut off on account Of the telegraph
and telephone offices being destroyed
but autos brought fire fighters and ma
terial from Goldfeld and communica
ton was restored.
At Goldfeld, 25 miles away the re
Fiction was seen and volunteers cam
over in automobiles.
Those who lost by the fire are no
down hearted. but talk of immediatel,
rebuilding, although it will take con
siderable time to erect buildings q
large az some of those destroyed.