People's Pilot, Volume 3, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 April 1894 — SANTA CRUZ SCORCHED. [ARTICLE]

SANTA CRUZ SCORCHED.

Twenty-Four Buildings in the Heart of the City Burned—Loss, 8255,000. Santa Ckuz, Cal., April 17.—A fire Saturday night and Sunday morning reduced to ashes twenty-four buildings in the heart of this city and caused a loss of over $255,000, with little less than SIOO,OOO insurance. One block reduced to ashes is bounded by Pacific avenue, Cooper and Grant streets and contained some of the finest buildings in the city, occupied by lawyers, bankers and merchants. The fire was of incendiary origin, and was first discovered at 10:40 o’clock Saturday evening. but the firemen could not obtain a supply of water from the hydrants. The city’s mains had broken Saturday afternoon and the water had been shut off at the reservoir, 3 miles from town. It was not until 12 o’clock that the mains were once more opened. The water supply was then sufficient, but as Santa Cruz had not a fire engine to force the water through the hose the streams were weak and ineffectual. The mayor, fearing that the whole business part of the town would be dostroyed, telegraphed to San Jose for assistance. Although San Jose is 75 miles away a steamer arrived in one hour and lent valuable assistance. Watsonville also sent a steamer.