Nevada Appeal at 150: Aug. 24, 1922 — Tonopah suffers big loss from fire

This continues the Appeal’s review of news stories and headlines during its Sesquicentennial year.

Tonopah suffers big loss from fire yesterday

Fanned by a fifty-mile gale, fire wiped out three blocks of the Tonopah down town district in less than an hour, causing a loss of $100,000. The fire started at 9:45 a.m. in the Owl cabaret in the restricted district and favored by the high wind soon spread to adjoining buildings. Volunteers joined the small force of paid fire fighters in an effort to stay the flames, but the buildings burned like tinder and only the dynamiting of several of them checked the fire.

It is reported that a girl named “Billie,” a famous character in the camp, lost her life in the Casino, one of the buildings that was destroyed and which was partly used for sleeping rooms.

The Casino was one of the largest gambling houses in Nevada during the boom, and has been the sene of numerous minor fires. The building, which fronts Main streets, is one block from the depot and extends to St. Patrick’s street.

The rear of the building was occupied by the Owl saloon, of which Charles Somers was proprietor.

Shortly after flames broke out in the cabaret building, they jumped across the street to the Hall Liquor Company building, a stone structure, burning the entire frame part and destroying the stock, causing a loss of $7,000.

Fire fighters were successful in keeping the flames within the district between Central and Main streets and Oddie avenue to the depot, although that entire section was wiped out. Shortly before noon dynamite was used and a number of buildings across from the station were blown up. This checked the flames but being fanned by a northwest wind, they broke out again in the debris without causing serious damage.

W.D. Foster, manager of the Tonopah & Goldfield railroad, took quick action from the Goldfield headquarters by rustling up two reels of hose which he placed in an empty box car that was sent back to Tonopah with passenger engine No. 24.

The hose proved invaluable, as Tonopah was using every foot of its own reserve.

The freight cars standing near the Tonopah station were sent down grade out of danger before the relief car from Goldfield arrived.

The power lines to all lines on the West Side tank were cut off. Miners were ordered to man all the hose available.

The Wittenberg warehouse and the depot were saved after they had started burning.

The following suffered losses from the fire yesterday morning:

Globe Garage, $8,000; Southern Nevada Products Company, $4,000; Mexican Restaurant, $2,000; U. and I. Bording House, $2,000; J. Gusti Grocery, $3,000; Hall Liquor Company, $7,000; Casino, owned by Nick Ableman and Mickey Clicord, $10,000; Andy Rouss Wood Yard, $100; Jake Cloke, $2,000; Andrew Veith, $1,000; Montana Saloon, $3,000; D.J. Robbs, blacksmith, $1,000; Louis King, two rows of cabins, $4,000; Dr. McGregor, $6,000; Brady Canavan, Lobby Cabaret, $2,000; “Dutch” Parker, $500; Bromo Justi boarding house, $200.