Jasper Republican, Volume 2, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 November 1875 — The Great Fire at Virginia City, Nev. [ARTICLE]

The Great Fire at Virginia City, Nev.

Sak Fbakcisco, Oct. 26. The fire broke out about daylight in A dwelling on A street, near Taylor, a point at about the Southwestern limit of the business and thickly-settled portion of the city. It spread rapidly, extending eastward toward the ravine in which are situated the works and mills of several prominent mines. Reaching as far as F street northward, the flames crossed Union and SuttoaAtreets, covering a space of about ten blocks, comprising, in the word* of one dispatch, almost every decentbußding in town. Aa the fire worked up 0 street the offices of the Territorial Enterprise and Chronicle were destroyed. Piper’s Opera-! house was next in flames, and it became evident that the railroad depot and hoist-ing-works of the Consolidated Virginia were in, danger. The water-supply was inadequate and the engines of little use. Recourse was had to blowing up buildings. It was too late, however, and in a few minutes the depot and hoisting-works were on fire. The latter were recently completed at an expense of several hundred thousand dollars, and were the finest on the Comstock lode.

Continuing to the ninth and east, the partially-completed mill of the California mine and the Consolidated Virginia mill were soon in flames, which spread still forther north to the Ophir hoisting-works, destroying them also, which is about the limit of destruction in that direction, the fire dying out from want of fuel. From Taylor street, near which the fire originated,it spread southward against the wind, destroying the branch Bank of California and Wells-Fargo’s express office, and everything else in its line. At this point the Gould & Curry works were in imminent danger, but were fortunately saved. In short, nearly the entire business portion of the town is in ashes. Hotels, churches, county buildings, newspaper, telegraph and express offices are all swept away. Over 10,000 persons are homeless. The wind is piercing, and much suffering is anticipated before temporary shelter can be prepared. It is impossible at present to conjecture the amount ot the loss. The destruction ot the mills and hoistingworks above referred to will probably entail a loss of $1,000,000 within a radius of a few hundred feet Fortunateiythe shafts of both the Ophir and Consolidated Virginia were bulk-headed, and the fire was kept out of the mines. The Ophir men say that possibly their loss may be less than at first supposed, as the building was of light frame, and might burn without destroying the machinery. The loss of buildings and merchandise in the city must be very great, although covered to a great extent by insurance. It is not known to what extent the mills and hoisting-works weie insured, except in the case of the Ophir, where the loss is placed at $150,000 to $200,000; insured for $60,000 in this city.

San Francisco, Oct. 87. Dispatches received this evening give further details of the Virginia City conflagration, and confirm previous reports as to the extent of the calamity. The scene during the progress of the fire is beyond description The wind blew a gale, driving the cinders and flames far iu advance of the burning buildings, rendering all attempts to check the progress of the fire futile. Giant powder was freely used to blow up the buildings, and frequent heavy explosions shook the earth. The roof of the Catholic church was blown 100 feet in the air, leaving the bare walls standing. By eight o’clock all excitement was at its height. The streets were filled with people, teamsters straggling through the fire, fighting at presentable points; women shrieking their cries of despair; corses of enraged men; the roar of flames, dull reports of explosions, as building after building took fire; the. heavy thud and crash of falling walls; the snap of bursting iron bars and doors; the howl of the gale—all went to make up a scene of indescribable horror. By. ten a. m. the Consolidated Virginia hoisting-works building and mill were wrapped in flames and soon fell. The new California stamp-mill then fell prey to the fire, which swept to within a few rods of C. & C. hoisting-works, when the veering of the wind turned the flames and carried them to the Ophir works, which soon fell in. The shaft timbers caught Are, but were extinguished without doing much damage. By eleven a. m. the flames had spent their fury; the wind died away, leaving a bed of smoldering rains three-quarters of a mile long and half a mile wide.

No definite advices received yet as to the extent of damage to the several mining properties involved. The total loss by fire is now placed at from $3,000,000 to $5,000,000. (> '■ The average flight of stairs makes the most noise when you try to go easy on them.