White Pine news. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1920-1923, 1921-10-23
ELY LANDMARK
IS VICTIM OF FLAMES

The old and historic building in
East Ely known as the Nevada North
ern boarding house was Quilted by
fire last Sunday afternoon. The
flames broke out about 3 o'clock in
an unoccupied room on the ground
floor in the east end of the building
and spread rapidly. sFire-fighters
from East Ely and the Ely volunteer
fire department were quickly on the
scene but the fire had made such
Roadway that the ancient structure
was practically Quilted, although the
good work of the firemen kept the
flames from reaching the lower por-
ton of the building on the west end.
The roof was nearly all burned of
aud after the fire was out one Chin
ney and damaged portions of the
structure were pulled down by the
firemen as a measure of safety. There
was an insurance of $1,000. payable
to the Garaghan estate. to which the
property is mortgaged. The insur-
ance is in the Atlas Assurance Com
pany. through the agency of the Ely
Investment Company.
The building was vacant with the
exception of rooms on the ground
floor at the west end. These were
occupied by Mrs. Alice Jensen and
her three young children. The fire
did not reach these rooms but damage
was done by water. Mrs. Jensen had
no insurance and her principal loss
was 10 groceries and provisions
by water. Her sewing machine was
early moved to safety and a valuable
range which was not taken out was
not much damaged.
1t is thought the fire was started
by children playing with matches. as
there are a number in the neighbor-
hood who have been in the habit of
playing in and about the building.
Mrs. Jensen says that but a few days
previous she had extinguished a blaze
In one of the rooms, believed to have
been set by children.
Tho fire was a spectacular n and
for a time the flames and a great col
umn of smoke. famed by a brisk
breeze, shot high into the air. Burn
ing finders were carried a long dis
lance by the wind and for a time
there was danger OF other fires being
started from this cause Mrs. Fl. A
Sandterg and children occupy a house
in close proximity to the fire, and as
1t appeared at the early stages of the
blaze that the Sandberg dwelling
would be burned the fremen. assisted
by willing helpers, moved all the fur
niture TO a place of safety. This
proved a needless p%recaution, as the
firemen kept the flames from spread
ing and the Sandberg house was rot
damaged. Several times the flames
tried to get a start on this structure,
only 10 he Immediately wiped out by
a welll-directed stream of water.
The location OF the burned build
ing is north Of the Nevada Northern
railway yards and closely adioins the
railroad property. AS East Ely at the
present time has no fire alarm a num-
her of citizens knew nothing OF the
fire until some time afterward. When
the flames broke out one OF the chill
dren OF the neighborhood ran to the
Antler buffet with word OF the fire
and an alarm was Immediately tele-
phoned to Ely. At about the same
time Under Sheriff Charles Chester
Win Fulmer. L. b. Ollie and w. w.
Hogan had been informed of the fire
and made quick time getting to the
blaze, Mr.. Hogan being the present
head OF the railway company's fire.
fighting force. These early volunteers
ran out a company hose reel aad
quickly had a stream playing on the
blaze from a hydrant in the railroad
yards The hydrant, supplied from
the city mains. was some distance
from the fire and 1t was necessary to
lay the hose over several railroad
tracks. This stream was in effective
action when the truck and firemen
soon after arrived from Ely in re-
Spouse to the alarm sounded on the
city hall siren. Fire Chief Matthias
was In charge and two more streams
from the city apparatus we're quickly
playing on the blaze. The pressure
was good and the deluge of water
poured into the burning building soon
had a telling effect. 1t was evident
that the spread of the blaze was
checked by the efficient work of the
hremen. The soaring flames died out
but II was necessary to continue the
stream for some time before the last
embers were extinguished. It was
4:45 when finally the hose was taken
up and the Ely truck and firemen re-
turned to headquarters. About 700
feet NJ city hose was used in fighting
the blaze.
The burned building dates back TO
the early railroad Gays. 1t was for
meriy used rs a boarding and lodging
house and under the management Of
Mr. and Mrs. l.. T. Larsen for a num-
OF years did a thriving business.
After 1t was discontinued as a board.
Ing house the Larsens, who had ac-
quired n management of the prop
erty. occupied the building az a resi-
dence 1t was used by the family
until the death OF Mrs. Larsen about
Three VoorQ arm Altar The I~.4L =
his wife Mr.. Larsen continued to live
there until he removed to Idaho.
Since then the building has been yari-
ously occupied by transient tenants
but Tor the most part has been va
cant, II had beeome worn NTH At.