The Kenilworth Advertiser. — 1875-11-20 (Kenilworth, Warwickshire, England)

TRE GREAT FIRE IN VIRGINIA CITY. Full details of the conflagration,* which half • mile square of Virginia City, Nevada, has been destroyed, are contained in the New York papers received at Plymouth on Sunday by the Hamburg American steamer Friers. The disaster is compared to the burning of Boston and of ()Meng°. The New York Herald says Virginia city was one of the most prosperous communities of our Pacific empire. It has grown up in a few years, mainly on amount of int proximity to the great silver mines of Nevada, to be a town of unusual brilliancy, enterprise, and prosperity. There has 'scarcely been a mail from California during the last year that has not told us of the incredible wealth that has been gathered in the big Bonenise mines, upon which it stands. The city was built over those mines, and was really nothing more than a great workshop for the use of those who lived by mining development. The destruction of the town Ii only a part of the evil of the fire. It intercepts a groat Industry, met puts * sudden atop upon the large and day increasing supply of bullion, it throws thousands of people out of 'shelter and employment at a time when shelter and employment are peculiarly needful. The fire began in an undertaker's establishment, spreading to adjoining livery stables. The wind, blowing briskly from the wort, carried the flames through the town. The water supply gave out, and the engines and hose were burned in the streets. A panio seised the citizens, and the fire swept on unimpeded to the mills and hoisting works of the Consolidated Virginia, OelifoPnia, and Chihir mines, destroying everything in its course. By good fortune the wind shifted, and the south end of the town was saved, but the fire still swept on northwardly, and the town presented a scene of the wild. I eat confusion and panic, the seats being blocked with goods and household furniture. The recent scourge of , typhoid fever calmed the presence of many helpless in. I velids, who were being carried to places of safety by their friends. The extortionate demands of owners of vehicles, In one ease at least, caused a murder. A Mail on B street was endeavouring to engage a teamster, end unable to comply with his demands, in desperation drew a pistol and shot him dead. Approximate figures from Insurance companies place the lapses sustained by them in the neighbourhood of .e 1,200,000. Among the heaviest losers are the Ate', IMperial, Queen, and Commercial Union, about .£llO,OOO cash; North British and Mercantile, .P 60,000 London Assurance and Underwriters' Agency, .£50,000 each; Hartford and Phcenix, about .E. 35,000 each; and other eastern and foreign companies for smeller amounts. It is imposrible at present tostate the Lose of life occasioned by the fire. Two men were killed in O street by the felling of a well. There are numerous rumours of other casualties. Hundreds of fernlike are homeless and hungry. The school houses are the only public buildings left un!Armed and they are open to the people, but if Immediate relief is not extended much suffering will ensue. Utter ruin reigns in the City. Men, women, and children are wandering about the streets, seeking for shelter. The surrounding hills are dotted with camp fires. But few saloons remain, but the supplies of liquor have not been lacking, end the streets are noisy with the drunken tePb. The military are patrolling the streets for the protection of property.