Tonopah daily bonanza. [volume] (Tonopah, Nev.) 1906-1929, 1921-12-24
CHARRED REMAINS DISCOVERED
IN RUINS; BLAZE INJURIES MANY

left his residence, he labored hard
and fast in bringing order out 81
chaos. Some of those 50 scantily
clad, who were uninjured, were sent
to the Desert Queen shaft whore ac-
Icomodations were available, while
several we're taken to the court house
where they were given beds in the
jury room which is steam heated and
slept there during the night and
were given wearing apparel this
morning.
1t was first thought the fire orig
mated from what is termed an over
heated stove which was in the sitting
room to the east of the dining room
but developments have convinced
the officers that it was the work of
incendiaries This was a coal stove,
and not an oil burner. as previously
reported in the moonshfne sheet and
when the fire got started It gained
tremendous momentum and within
a few minutes the entire structure
resembled a roaring furnace. Fol-
lowing the turning in of the alarm
the fire department made a run con-
meeting with a hydrant at McCol-
lOugh and Florence, from which only
a three inch stream flows The pres
sure was bad as a result of making
this connection, when as a matter OF
fact, connection should have been
made with the main high pressure
water pipe line in front of LOthrop &
Davis store on Main street. 1t is
doubtful, however, if the structure
could have been saved in any event,
as the building was a mass OF flames
before the alarm was given. How
ever, had not the course of the wind
changed at a most opportune time,
it is more than likely that property
within a radius of several blocks
would have been destroyed
As the hundreds of people assem-
bled to watch the fire demon in its
mad course of destruction to life
and property, volunteers came rapid
ly forward and assisted the fire de-
department in an endeayor to prevent
spread or the flames. AS the ter
ror stricken men emerged from the
building they were devoid of cloth
ing. and only in two instances did
those making their escape bring any
wearing apparel
VIM. Kane succeeded in getting ont
his trunk, but he later discovered th2t
there was no clothes in the same,
save a sweater and a pair OF trous-
ers. The other apparel he had placed
in hangers in his room Johl Evans
succeeded in grabbing hold of his
coat and rainCoat.
That the fire was of incendiarv
origin is the belief of VIM. Kane. He
says that Just previous to the alarm
being given by L. Craine, ranter OF
the building, that a man told him
this morning he had heard two men
talking under his window. One made
the remark, "Oh, to hell with things
let her go"
L. Craine, who was in charge OF
the hotel stated that when ne dis
covered the flames he noticed that
hole had been burned in a sofl
in the sitting room, which indicated
that it had been set afire. Mr.. Cranf
directed all to come down the stairs
at the west end of the building ant
through following his instructions
many OF the dodgers escaped withou
injury.
Rov Rodenbaugh, who occupied
room at the east end OF the building
on the second floor, was in the sit
ting room, he says, just about thre'
minutes previous to the a,arm be'nI
given by Mr.. Craine He says tha
Ihe had removed his shoes and trous
ers after going upstairs, and whel
he heard the call Of fire he grah5e,
them up and made his way out OF tn
building. Later Mr.. Rodenbaugh re
lated Of conversation he overhear
this morning wherein Il cert&il part
who assisted in fighting the fir
stated that he hoped every 'scab' en-
ployed by the Tonopah Belmont an
other Tonopah Mining companies ha
met death in the conflagration. Thi
man. whose name is withheld,
now under surveillance by local OF
ficers.
Matt Obart had a miraculous es
cape from death. He was roomin
S with another man, whose name h