The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1919-12-02
MONEY Of PARADISE
POST0FF|CE IS LOST
Especial Correspondence

| is the story of $4,000 fire in Para
disc last Saturday evening. The large
"dobybrick" building, erected by
Charles Kemler in 1876 and mem
toned in the history of Nevada pub
lished in 1880 as one of the notable
buildings of the State, and which com
tanned the general merchandise store
of the Kemler Estate, as we'll as the
Paradise postoffice, was completely
destroyed.
The fire started shortly after seven
o'clock and in a short time, despite
every effort of volunteer firemen, the
doom of the old landmark was sealed.
Although unable to same the main
building, the fire fighters saved a con-
siderable amount of merchandise from
the store and prevented the flames
reaching adjoining buildings.
F. NJ. Buckingham, administrator Of
the Kemler estate, who is also the
postmaster. locked the postoffice at
six o'clock in the evening and went
to supper. At seven o'clock he re-
turned and opened the store, in an
adjoining room in the same building.
Shortly after his return his attention
was called to loud noise as of win
dow glass breaking. He went to the
front of the postoffice and found the
lobby, which is always open to the
public, filled with dense smoke. Fire
was crawling up the large mirror on
the west wall of the lobby, and the
ceiling had begun to crackle and
blister.
Mr.. Buckingham broke into the pri-
vate part of the postoffice, seized and
carried to safety the most important
records, stamps and supplies. He
gathered the postoffice money into
small bag and carried that out also,
but this has not been discovered since
the fire. Whether it was stolen after
recovery, or has been in the excite.
ment mislaid, is not known.
With the exception of this, all the
contents of the Office, with the mail,
were destroyed. A considerable
amount of parcel post supplies, in
cluding government foodstuffs and
other merchandise, was in the post
Office at the time.
The loss sustained through the fire
is keenly felt by all townspeople, as
well as by the direct losers. A mod
ern spring-roller dancing floor, said
to have been as good as any in the
State, and which cost several thou
sands of dollars to install, is gone.
A fine postofice-as good a fourth
class Office as could be found any
where, and which with its equipment
went far beyond what the revenue
of such an Office would warrants
no more.
The loss is total AS is sometimes
the case, such catastrophe culmi-
mates in a whole series of distressing
incidents. The insurance on the build
ing had but recently expired and had
not been renewed. In discussing this
matter Mr.. Buckingham said that the
insurance had been carried with the
Hartford Fire Insurance Company;
that when it expired they declined to
renew it because of many recent fires
which have occurred in this county,
and poor fire-fghting appartus.
1t had been the intention of the
Kemler estate to renew the insurance
in the spring with State fire insur-
ance company. A chemical engine.
owned by the estate, was rushed up to
the fire and turned over, but it failed
to work. If even small stream could
have been directed into the postoffice
lobby, the building could have been
saved.
The salvaged merchandise and post
Office supplies have been installed in
the Powell building across the street
from the burned structure. and busi-
ness will be conducted there.
Charles Recanzone and wife depart
ed Monday for Winnemucca. Mrs.
Recanzone finally got her passport
difficulties Strengthened out and will
leave at once for New York to take a
steamer for Italy.
W. c. Bradshaw and wife returned
today from Reno. where they attend
ed the birthday anniversary of Mr..
Bradshaw's father. T. j. Bradshaw.
DIR. L. R. Knorr departed Monday
for Winnemucca. accompanied by
Mrs. Knorr. They will proceed to
Sacramento. then to San Francisco,
where the doctor will attend series
of lectures at the Lane hospital. DIR.