The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1919-06-13
FIVEBUILDINGS DESTROYED
NSERIOUSCONFLA

4 D
broke out in or back of the Catholic
church. located on Cedar near Meadow
valley street and built more than for
ty-fiye years ago by the late Bishop
seaman, and spreading to the adjoining
residences the flames totally destroyed
the parsonage in the rear of the church
and the homes of Joe Powers. John +.
Roeder and Mrs. s. II. Babbitt, the lat
ter being occupied by II. NJ. Lansdowne.
as we'll as the church itself,
The total loss exceeds $4,000. with
practically no insurance.
The origin of the fire is not known
with certainty, but it Is believed by
many to have been the result of fire.
crackers which were being exploded
by boys and one of which may have
been famed to flame by the prevailing
high wind
SETTLING FURNACE SENDS
FIREBRANDS OVER ENTIRE CITY
Within few minutes after the
sounding of the alarm the church was
redly upward, and, carrying blazin
shingles and other trebrands high into
the air, scattered sparks over the en-
tire town, starting other fires, which,
however, were quickly extinguished by
the many volunteers who were sta
toned wherever danger threatened.
1t was these incipient fires which
gave rise to the rumor of possible in
cendiarism, but the Records investiga-
ton proved the tirecracker theory the
more probable. especially since boys
are known to have been using fire.
crackers in their participation in the
celebration for the returning soldiers
While the houses on each side of the
church were occupied at the time the
fire broke out, yet the flames We're first
noticed by Cecil Willoughby, who lives
Vest house. located on COTTONWOOD
street back of the church. Cecil gave
the alarm to those of the household VIII
were home and then rang the tre bel
for the first general alarm, while Mrs
Willoughby ran down TO the hoede
Mr.. and Mrs. Roeder were at the bal
game, but Mrs. John Elliot, Mrs. Roe
wa Was living down beside her sIeepin,
daughter Geraldine and md had }iliohe }nst a1ze g
reached the house with the news o
the danger. William Willoughby an
his brother Harry rushed down to en rem
der service and at that time the flame
were on the. roof of the church nea
the rear, and much like red ribbo
laid over the ridge and running DOW
roof. a narrow streak of fire.
Mrs. Alice Rutland, sister of Joe Pow
ers, was sitting in the front room
the Powers residence, west or Tn
church, all unconscious of the fire unit
wave of flame and heat swept I'M
the house, severely burning her arr
that direction there was no time
save anything from the house but
few pieces of unimportant furnitur
and the loss sustained by Mr.. Powel
was the most severe, as he lost pra
tically everything, including mar
keepsakes which can never be replace
Mrs. rutland heard the roaring or u
flames for some time. but, thinkiI Il
the noise to be merely the sound OF Il
wind, she paid no attention to It, -
Mr. Powers was talking with
Deylin, the cattleman, in front OF
place of business and saw the smol
before the bell was sounded; yet ev
then 1t was too late to reach his nor
in time to save anything. Hose ca
No. / was hauled to the Cedar sire
Are plug by an automobile driven
Victor Huston. AL limerick, ID.
Stockham Joe Hagel and William
pitts ran the first line of hose to t
rear of the fire. The Powers house W
then burning.