Early in the morning on October 26, 1875, fire broke out in Kate Shea’s Boarding House, and a strong wind quickly spread it. Gallant attempts by volunteer firemen to extinguish the blaze were futile. By 11:00 A.M., most of the city had been reduced to ashes, and by 2 P.M. the flames of the greatest conflagration ever to sweep through the Comstock had ceased. About two thousand buildings were lost, and estimated losses reached $10,000,000.