USA > California > Placer County > History of Placer county, California > Part 80
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DESTROYED BY FIRE.
fortune were still smouldering, the work of rebuild- ing would commence, and business would soon be resumed as if nothing had happened. The indom- itable courage of Californians was seldom overcome by the destructive element. In later years greater care has been taken in the construction of chimneys, and fewer conflagrations have been the result.
OPHIR BURNED.
On the 12th of July, 1853, the town of Ophir was almost totally destroyed. The flames were first seen bursting out of the kitchen of the Union Ilotel, and spread with great rapidity. In the whole length of Main Street there were but two buildings left stand- ing, the brewery at the upper, and the bowling saloon at the lower end of the street. The number of buildings destroyed was between fifty and sixty, and the total loss as estimated at the time was between $80,000 and $90,000.
SUNDRY FIRES.
October 14, 1853-A saw-mill belonging to Messrs. May & Miller, on the Illinoistown road, about six miles from Auburn, was totally destroyed by fire. The loss was estimated at several thousand dollars.
March 28, 1854-A fire at Newcastle destroyed Pellet's Hotel and the Young America Saloon. Loss about $6,000. The fire was supposed to have been the work of an incendiary.
April 12, 1854-The dwelling of Mr. S. W. Lovell, five miles above Auburn, was consumed by fire. The family barely escaped from the burning building. The loss was estimated at $10,000.
GREAT FIRE IN AUBURN.
At two o'clock on the afternoon of June 4, 1855, a fire broke out in Auburn, in one of the China-houses on the hill-side below the Methodist Church, which spread with fearful rapidity. The flames soon crossed the street to Dr. Rinzie's drug store, thence to the Diana Bowling Saloon, Keehner's Bakery, George H. Stephens' livery stable; the Empire and Orleans Hotels soon followed in quick succession. Before the flames had spread this far, every citizen and visitor in town who could be spared from the fire, was at work carrying to the adjacent hills and ravines, such valuables as could be seized hold of. The time occupied in the burning was one hour and twenty minutes, and eighty buildings were consumed. The total loss way estimated at 8215,100. The list of losers comprised 100 names, besides the county, Odd Fellows, and incorporated companies.
January 12, 1857-A fire broke out in Auburn in the Pioncer Livery Stable, owned and occupied by Matthew Crow. Alongside of it was the stable of Mr. Clark. Both buildings were consumed. Crow's losses were about $3,000, and Clark's about $2,000.
IOWA HILL BURNED.
February 12, 1857-The business portion of the town of Iowa Hill was almost entirely consumed.
The fire originated in the City Bakery and was sup- posed to be the work of an incendiary. Upwards of sixty buildings were burned, with a loss of about $160,000.
MICHIGAN BLUFF DESTROYED.
The flourishing village of Michigan Bluff was almost wholly destroyed on the 22d of July, 1857. The fire originated in the United States Bakery, on the west side of Main Street, immediately connected with the adjoining buildings, and sweeping on with an irresistible force, laid the principal part of the town in ashes. There were 150 buildings burned, and the loss was about $150,000. This was a heavy blow to the Bluffs. The accumulation of years of industry and toil had been swept away in an hour.
FIRES AGAIN IN AUBURN.
September 18, 1858-The residence of Mr. C. J. Hillyer, in Auburn, was totally destroyed. The fire was caused by a defective chimney. This was one of the finest places in the vicinity of Auburn.
One year passed without a visitation of the dreaded scourge, but on the morning of October 9, 1859, the citizens of Auburn were startled by the dreadful cry of fire, which, unfortunately, was the warning note of sad disaster Many had not risen from their beds at the time, but the alarm soon brought out the whole population, who went to work with almost superhuman energy to combat the fierce element, and to remove valuables to places of security. The fire originated in a small frame building (two doors south of the American Hotel) occupied by some colored men as a restaurant. The time of the fire occupied about three-quarters of an hour; the num- ber of houses destroyed were fifty-eight, exclusive of stables and out-buildings. The loss, as carefully taken, amounted to over $119,000. This was a sad disaster to a prosperous town, and a loss that fell heavily upon many of the citizens; but with an energy only known to Californians, they at once commenced to re-build, and in less than a week thirty new structures were seen to rise from the blackened foundations of the old.
June 16, 1860-The store of Davidson & Jones, of Auburn, was burned, together with their entire stock of goods. There was an insurance on the goods and building of 87,500.
June 8, 1861-A destructive fire occurred at Wisconsin Hill, in which a dozen buildings were destroyed. Loss about $30,000.
IOWA HILL AGAIN BURNED.
The town of Iowa Hill was again devastated by fire on the 27th of March, 1862, it having originated in the Star Bakery, situated on the north side of Main Street, and before any assistance of an effectnal nature could be rendered, the flames had attained such headway as to utterly defy every exertion to save the town. Every business house, together with the theater, which had been purchased for
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HISTORY OF PLACER COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
public school purposes, was destroyed. The total loss was about 865,000. Most of the business houses were insured.
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DWELLING BURNED.
October 1, 1863-The dwelling-house of Mr. F. A. Redwine, situated near Dry Creek, four miles north of Auburn, was entirely destroyed by fire, together with the furniture. The loss was $1,500. It was believed that some vagrant Indians robbed the house and then set fire to it.
FIRE AT RATTLESNAKE.
October 7, 1863-A fire broke out in Rattlesnake, and before its progress could be stayed, seven build: ings were destroyed. The town was not compactly built, else the whole village would have been destroyed.
DESTRUCTIVE CONFLAGRATIONS IN AUBURN.
October 14, 1864-Auburn was again visited by a destructive conflagration, which laid in ashes a considerable portion of the town, and inflicted serious loss upon its inhabitants. The fire broke out in a house ocenpied by Chinese, and thirty-five houses were destroyed, with a loss of over $33,000.
October 11, 1863-The town of Auburn was again visited with a conflagration, destroying thirteen houses; the loss was abont 88,000. A Chinese ehild, seven years of age, perished in the flames.
On the 16th of July, 1866, Auburn had its annual visit-a fire. The dwelling of Mr. L. Hauser was burned with most of its contents, inflicting a loss of $400. By great efforts the fire was confined to the place where it originated, and there being no wind. the town was saved. After this fire the people went to work to build tanks for water in different parts of the town, to be better prepared to combat the " devouring element."
FLOURING-MILL BURNED.
October 18, 1867-The flouring-mill of Messrs. Zeigenbein, Heffner & Co., at Lincoln, was consumed by fire. The mill was built but a year previous, at a cost of 829,000; the building was insured for $15,000.
BUILDINGS BURNED.
July 23, 1868-The residence of Mr. Jacob Steiner, abouttwelve miles from Auburn, was burned, together with all the contents.
September 1, 1868-A fire originated in the unoccu- pied store of A. Lipsett, in Anburu, which spread to the building formerly used by J. Nolan, then to the Roussin House, and then to the residence of P. W. Thomas. Lipsett was insured for $1,500; George Wilment, 8400 on the Roussin -property, and J. N. Dickerson, $1,000 on the Thomas House.
October 2, 1868-The residence of Mr. John Fogarty, in Auburn, was entirely consumed by fire, with all the furniture and household effects. This was one of the finest dwellings in the town, built on a large lot. and hard-finished throughout. The
family consisted of parents and five children, who lost their property and their home.
August 11, 1869-The residence of Dennis O'Sulli- van, about three miles from Auburn, was completely destroyed by fire. No insurance.
October 6, 1869-The large barn at the Mountain- eer House, about nine miles from Auburn, was burned with all its contents, consisting of sixty tons of hay, four fine mileh eows, two fine, young horses, and a large collection of improved farming machinery.
HOTELS BURNED AT ROCKLIN.
November 5, 1869-The large hotel, owned and kept by Sam. Trott, at Rocklin, was totally destroyed by fire. The light of the burning building shone so bright and ascended so high, it being a ealm night, that an alarm of fire was sounded, and the engine brought out in Sacramento, twenty-two miles dis- tant. A man by the name of Schmidt became suffo- cated with smoke, and was burned to death. The house was filled with boarders, who barely escaped with their lives, losing all their elothing, jewelry, etc. The loss was about $5,000, and the building was insured for $3,000.
June 27, 1870-A fire was discovered in the Van Trees Hotel, at Rocklin, and in defiance of all efforts to stay the progress of the flames, the entire property, including barns, stabling, and out-buildings, were consumed. A strong gale was blowing at the time, and it was with the greatest exertion of the whole population that the main portion of the town was saved. The property was insured for $2,000.
FIRE AT AUBURN DEPOT.
August 29, 1870-A fire was discovered in the wood-shed of the C. P. R. R. Co., and in the passen- ger depot and saloon of Curley & Mahon, at Auburn depot. The flames had enveloped such an extensive portion of the wood-shedding, omnibus line shedding, and passenger depot buildings, at the time of dis- covery, that it was impossible to stay the devouring element. All these, together with the freight depot on the opposite side of the track, as well as the fine, large, new hotel of John J. Smith, his barn, stabling, hay and feed; Crosby's blacksmith shop, two lime- houses, and the stabling, shedding, ete., attached to Wilson's Hotel, were swept, with their contents, clear from the face of the earth. Total known losses, $19,555; insurance, 88,200; leaving a net known loss, over insurance, of $11,355.
MORE FIRES.
October 3, 1870-The school house at Rattlesnake District was totally destroyed by fire. Supposed to be the work of an incendiary.
November 10, 1870-The two-story boarding- house of J. Lindsay, at Rocklin, was burned down with most of its contents. The morning was clear and calm, aud though there were some other build- ings near it, all were saved. The property was insured for $2,000.
MR. T. E. STEPHENS
MRS. T. E. STEPHENS
8
PHEN
RESIDENCE, OF T. E. STEPHENS, AUBURN, PLACER CO. CAL.
353
DESTROYED BY FIRE.
November 20, 1870 -The slaughter-house of Dodsworth & Co., near Auburn, was totally destroyed by fire. All the tools, fixtures, dressed carcasses, hides and tallow, etc., were consumed. Loss, about $700.
Mareb 27, 1871-The large two-story dwelling- house of Fred. Burkhalter, at Dutch Flat, was burned to the ground. The fire originated from the stove-pipe.
EMPIRE MILL BURNED.
About 1 o'clock on the morning of September 29, 1871, when all nature was at rest, there was sud- denly heard at Empire City, near Opbir, an agoniz- ing cry of "Fire !" when all, who were within hearing distance, were disturbed from their slumbers only to behold the destruction of the Empire Mill, a most magnificent structure, complete in workman- ship, and made ready for the start. When the fire was first discovered it was no bigger than a man's hand, but for the want of water it soon spread itself into a mighty blaze. In a few minutes the whole building was enveloped in flames, the light from which illuminated the most distant skies, and the effect, as seen from the surrounding hills, was grand. All that possibly could be done by man was done in this case, in order to save the machinery, but to no avail. The fire continued for about half an hour, when the work of destruction was complete, and all that was left was a heap of ruins. Loss, $20,000.
INCENDIARY FIRE IN AUBURN.
On the evening of August 21, 1872, the people of Auburn were startled by the cry of fire, and it was soon discovered that the hay loft of Predonis' liv. ery stable was in flames. The rapidity with which the fire spread was frightful. The stable, carriage- house, blacksmith and wagon-shop, together with the tools, were entirely consumed. Loss, about $7,000; insured for $1,500. The flames leaped across the road to the residence of Mr. John Worsley, con- suming the entire building and contents. Mr. Worsley's loss was about $2,500, insured for $600. The Herald office was insured to the extent of about $1,000. How the fire originated was not fully known, but it is supposed to have been the work of an incendiary.
DWELLINGS BURNED.
November 17, 1872-The residence of M. MeNeal, about a mile from Auburn. was totally destroyed by fire, with all its contents. The building and con- tents were insured for $1,000.
April 13, 1873-The residence of J. W. Blanchard, at Dutch Flat, was discovered to be on fire, and, though a hard finished house and burned slowly, all efforts to save it were in vain. The house was a new one, and cost between three and five thousand dollars.
May 1, 1873-The residence of Mr. Shannon, near the Auburn depot, was wholly destroyed by fire with most of its contents.
HOISTING WORKS BURNED.
July 30, 1873-A fire originated in the Anburn mine, in the roof of the blacksmith shop, which was connected with the store-house and building which covered the hoisting works. In a short time these buildings were all ablaze. There were two men at work in the shaft, and before they could be signaled to come up, the fire was burning immediately over the mouth of the shaft. The blaze ascended high over what seemed their deep grave, and from the cracking ruins came in rapid succession the explosion of nineteen kegs of blasting powder and six car- tridges of giant powder, which, added to the thought of the two men below, made the seene awful in the extreme. The first the men knew of their danger- ous condition was when the rope fell, it having been burned off at the top. They were beginning to feel sen- sations of suffocation, when a large stream of water came thundering down the shaft, turned in by those above in hopes of affording relief to the sufferers should they still be alive. To escape the force of the falling stream they stepped into the mouth of a drift, and, from the reviving effects of the cool water, were, by the time the fire had burned out above, able to climb bravely to the surface. The damage by the fire, including buildings, tools, and supplies, was about $1,000.
SAW-MILL AND LUMBER DESTROYED.
July 30, 1873-Bragg & Fulsoms' saw-mill, in the eastern part of the county, at what is known as Camp 18, was entirely destroyed by fire, besides about 1,500,000 feet of lumber. The total loss was about $50,000. The fire originated by a spark from the smoke-stack, and, though discovered before doing much damage, could not be suppressed with the means at hand, as a high wind prevailed at the time, which carried the fire fiend on in its work of destruction in spite of all opposition.
THE VILLAGE OF CLIPPER GAP BURNED.
Angust 7, 1873 -- Nearly the entire town of Clip- per Gap was destroyed by fire, entailing heavy losses upon the citizens.
FIRE AT FOREST HILL.
September 10, 1873-A fire broke out in Forest Hill, in a small unoccupied building adjoining Schwalenburg's store, and, though the alarm was instantly given, the flames spread so fast that all efforts to check them were in vain, until nearly one- half of the town was in ashes. Besides the serions loss of individuals, it was a heavy blow on the whole town. Among those who lost heavily were Schwal- enburg, Ranlet, Eddy, Morehead, Dilts, Smith and Remler. The Union Hotel, and other valuable buildings were burned. The fire was the work of an incendiary.
Another fire occurred on the 20th of the same month, in the fire-proof briek store of Charles Fett,
45
354
HISTORY OF PLACER COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
but was extinguished before any serious damage had been done.
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN DUTCHI FLAT.
November 5, 1873-The town of Dutch Flat was visited by the firey demon, and most of the town was reduced to ashes. Nearly the whole of China- town, where the fire originated, consisting of forty or fifty buildings, was destroyed. The residences of Messrs. Farr and Nichols were also burned.
ROUND-HOUSE AND LOCOMOTIVES BURNED.
November 26, 1873-The round house at Rocklin was destroyed by fire, with the entire property, con- sisting of ten locomotives and tenders, which were built at a cost of abont $30,000.
COLFAX IN ASIIES.
April 22. 1874-A fire broke out in Colfax, in a barber-shop north of the railroad, and in twenty- five minutes the main business part of the town and several family residences were in ashes. The wind was blowing quite strong at the time from the north- east, which carried the flames rapidly from one house to another. All the buildings on the north side of the railroad were burned up to Grass Valley Street. Very little of the property destroyed was insured. Many families were left homeless by the fire, and very few residing in the burnt district had time to save even their clothing.
RESIDENCE OF JOHN C. BOGGS BURNED.
May 30, 1874 -- The residence of J. C. Boggs, situated on his ranch two and a half miles below Newcastle, was completely destroyed by fire, together with all its contents.
HOTEL BURNED.
September 23. 1874-The hotel near Ophir, the property of Madame Kittler, was, with nearly all its contents, completely destroyed by fire. The total value of property destroyed was about 85,000.
INCENDIARISM.
September 26, 1871-The school house at Ophir was completely destroyed by fire, and the old Poland Building and shed, formerly a hotel, on the turnpike between Auburn and Ophir, was, on the same night, burned to the ground. Both were set on fire. The loss on the school house was $1,500; insured for $800.
September 28, 1875-Jonathan Norris, whose place is situated on Dry Creek, about seven miles northeast of Anburn, lost his barns, horses, harness, and between twenty and thirty tons of hay by fire. The amount of property destroyed was between $1,500 and $1 800, on which there was no insurance. All the circumstances indicate that the fire was the work of an incendiary.
BURNING OF LINCOLN.
October 11, 1875 -A fire broke out in Lincoln on the south side of Main Street. Everything being dry, and the facilities for fighting fire limited, it
spread rapidly, and for awhile it was greatly feared that the principal part of the town would be destroyed. Wastier's butcher shop was first destroyed; from this the flames connected with Haenny's blacksmith shop and with Wastier's stable, Wastier lost, besides his buildings and horses, considerable hay and grain, three wagons, harness, all his tools and stock, bis account books, and a portion of 8500 in coin, which was in the shop at the time of the fire. IIis entire loss was about 83,000. Haenny's loss, which included a fine, large blacksmith and wagon shop, and all tools therein, was about $2,500. None of the property was insured.
BARN AND HORSES BURNED.
November 1, 1875 -A fire occured at P. Maher's place, about two and a half miles from Auburn, on the Rattlesnake Road, resulting in the destruction of bis barn, two horses, several sets of harness, all his farming utensils, and other things of value, including his winter supply of hay.
SERIOUS LOSS AT LINCOLN.
March 30, 1876-The Logan Livery Stable at Lincoln, the property of T. J. Waldron, was, with all its contents, consisting of eleven horses, all the buggies and carriages used in the business, the har- ness and saddles, the stock of feed on hand, the books and other things appertaining to the busi- ness, completely destroyed by fire. The fire was first discovered about two o'clock in the morning, but the building was so completely wrapped in flames that all attempts to save any of its contents proved futile. The loss was estimated at $4,000; insured for $1,000.
RESIDENCE DESTROYED.
April 5, 1876-The residence of Mr. Brod at Auburn, including everything it contained, even to the little mementoes No dear to memory, and which money cannot replace, was totally destroyed by fire. Insured for $900.
LATER FIRES IN AUBURN.
December 5, 1877-Another large fire occurred in Auburn, which destroyed property to the value of about 818,000.
On the 9th of January, 1881, the fine hotel of Mr. Samuel Putnam, at Auburn depot, was burned to the ground, involving a loss of about 813,000, of which 85,000 was recovered by insurance. Mr. Putnam was a pioneer of '49, and of the blood of Gen. Israel Putnam, and in less than six months had reconstructed his hotel on a larger scale than before.
THIE AGGREGATE LOSSES.
No serious fire has occurred for several years. From the list given, with known and estimated losses, the aggregate may be stated to exceed $1,350,000, being almost a total loss to the people of Placer, as bnt a very small portion was covered by insurance.
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355
REMINISCENCES OF ILLINOISTOWN.
CHAPTER XLIV.
REMINISCENCES OF ILLINOISTOWN.
Site of Illinoistown-Alder Grove-Mining on the River-The Pioneer Settlers-Landing at Sacramento-First Prospect- ing Experience-The Mining Lesson Learned-tienerosity and Gratitude-Seeking Shelter-Indians-Dastardly Rob- bery and Bloodless Battle-Pursuit of the Indians-First Military Company Organized-Campaign against the Say- ages-A Frontier Picture-The Camp Receives its Name- The Pioneer Family-First Fruit Culture-Chivalrous Pio- neers-llonses of Entertainment-Resened from the Snow -An Exhansted Traveler-In the Spring of 1850-Wing Dams in the River -Result of Mining-Early Physical Fea- tures-Pike County Represented.
LET vagrant memory plume her pinions and take flight backward over time's unending course, to linger for a while where lie the embers of a neglected past, buried by the rubbish of more than three decades; let truant thought unloose to wander as it lists, and call np the scenes and transactions of a third part of a century gone; let the grave be invaded and those who have long lain dead be awakened, brought forth and rehabilitated with life once more; let the thin, gray locks of wrinkled old men with piping voice assume the gloss, and color, and luxu- riance of that which is wont to adorn the form of fresh, hopeful, and noisy adolescence; let grown men and matrons, as in that long ago, be turned over again, "infants mewling and puking in the nurse's arms;" clothe the landscape again in primal garb of park-like forest glade instead of maturer fields of orchard, vine, and grain; and let narrow bridle-paths, trodden by men with blankets on their backs, be reinstated for the usurping steel-lain grade, over which flies the shrieking locomotive and the rumbling palace ear. Slowly memory brushes off the accretions of years gone by, and at first naught but a gloomy- looking pile is seen. But rummaging thought invades, digs up the heap, and now and then drops a scintillat- ing spark which at length kindles into a flame of recollecting light; and lo! the charred and blackened mass is all aglow and beams with ruddy warmth, obliterating all the ravages made by time's progress- ing strides !
SITE OF ILLINOISTOWN.
The site of Illinoistown is a little valley which lies just below Colfax, on the southern side of the Central Pacific Railroad. People began to rendezvous there early in 1849, and as it was the uppermost point upon the dividing ridge between Bear River and the North Fork of the American that wagons reached, it became the distributing point of supplies for all of the mining camps at the north, south, and east of it. Many of the first inhabitants who went to the Deer Creek (now Nevada City) mines, either bought their provisions for the trip there or bad then brought to the place from Sacramento by wagon. As a business locality it ranked the Dry Diggings (Auburn) until late in the fall of 1849, when the emigration, and people who supposed they could not exist in the river cañons during the winter, congregated in great
numbers at the latter place, attracted by its more genial, winter elimate, as well as the shallow surface placers where an occasional large lump of gold could be found, making it at once the business center of the predestined County of Placer, as well as its future shire town.
ALDER GROVE.
At a bend in the valley about half a mile below Colfax, in a narrow place, a fine large spring flowed to the surface; and about a quarter of a mile below that was another, whieb had caused the formation of quite a plat of boggy meadow land, on the lower side of which grew many thrifty alder trees, which beeame a favorite camping place. At that time- the early part of '49-the North Fork of the Amer- ican was thronged with men from Kelley's Bar to the Giant's Gap, mainly from Oregon. They at first called the place Alder Grove. Subsequently, wben wagons reached there, a corral was built in the upper portion of the valley, and some of the Oregon- ians designated it as the Upper Corral. Early that summer three log buildings were erected for trading- posts, one by Sears & Miller at the extreme lower end of the valley; one by John W. Piersons at the spring at the narrows, and another about a quarter of a mile above, upon the eastern side of the valley, by a Mr. Neall.
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