Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1914-12-14

the contest case. which is set for to-
day.
nation that those sleeping at the
hotel knew of trouble, was when the
boy, whose custom 1t is to start the
fire in the kitchen range, at the hotel
restaurant rushed upstairs calling fire,
and going to the room of Charley
Young, the Chinese, who has been
connected with the hotel since its
very earliest days. The latter states
that he at once went to the kitchen
and found it full of smoke, and saw
fire, but was unable to get at it on
account of the density of the smoke.
He rushed back upstairs and for sew
eral minutes rang the fire gong at the
office. He then ran through the halls
to awake those asleep. The building
was by this time filed with choking
smoke and he rushed outside. SAVING
himself.
j. t. Smithers, of Silver City, who
was a guest at the hotel, had room
on the Union street side off from the
office, and was awakened by the com
motion and gong. He said his room
was filled with smoke then, and he
raised the window to get air. He
started for the door, but the smoke
drove him back. He went to the win
dow again, but hesitated before jump
ing as was his impulse. BY this time
people were arriving outside, and Mr.
Smithers states that John McGrath
Jr., threw him rope, but it was inn
possible to get back to the bed post
tomake 1T fast, In the meantime
Edw Klaus. had secured ladder at
his barn on B street, and Mr.. Smith
ers went down to safety
The origin and cause of the fire is
more or less shrouded in mystery,
some having the theory that it first
ignited in the roof from wires, and
others that it tsarted in the kitchen
of the restaurant At the hotel, IL
was at first thought that the smoke
came from SCOT in the chimney, but
the shooting of the fire up the ele-
vator shaft at once dispelled that
idea. 1t may have been shoulder
ing spark in the restaurant kitchen
but the starting point and cause, will
probably always remain mystery.
Some claim that the first sign of fire
was in the roof
Fire Great Spectacle.
The fire was most spectacular
one, and the flames mounted hundreds
of feet into the air above the tall
building. The entire country for miles
around was as bright as day, and the
sight was one that will never be for.
gotten by those who viewed it. The
fire department has kept several lines
of water playing OH the ruins all day,
and late this afternoon great clouds
of smoke rose from what was once
the giant structure. Soon after IL
o'clock the southwest corner of the
building up to about the third story,
was dynamited to prevent anyone
from getting hurt should 1t fall sud.
denly. The fire plug at the corner Of
Union and B streets was frozen this
morning, but connections, were quick
ly made with nearby plugs and only
few moments time was lost, making
little or no difference in getting water
onto the fire. The hose at the court.
house was used to excellent advantage
in saving that and other buildings.
Heavy Losses Sustained.
The losses sustained are heavy and
with very little insurance to cover
II is doubtful II the international
Hotel could be reproduced as origi
nally with furnishings for S250,000
The International hotel was owned
by Helena Rolfe, of San francisco
and the building burned today, and
It's predecessor DESTROYED in the bis
20 Are, have been a part OF the stir
ring events of the comstock since the
very earliest days The first Inter
national Hotel was built on the pres
ent site in the winter Of 80 and this
spring OF 80 by the proprletors, Jar
Cannell. and man named Paul Th,