Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 July 1895 — MILLIONS GO UP IN SMOKE. [ARTICLE]

MILLIONS GO UP IN SMOKE.

Fire in Son Francisco Destroys Prop- ■ erty Worth at Least $3,000,000 The manufacturing district of San Francisco was swept by a fire Thursday night that caused a total loss of at least $2,000,000. Shortly before Q. o’clock a fire broke out in the roar of the San Francisco box factory, located on the corner of Fifth and Bryant streets. The factory was a two-story frame building filled with inflammable material. The flames spread rapidly and it soon became evideiiWhat a serious conflagration was threatened. Within a jew minutes the entire east end of the block, bounded by Brannan and Bryant streets, was a mass of flames. A jrtrong southerly wind was blowing and it wns deemed necessary to turn in another alarm. The flames soon spread all over the block, destroying in a few minutes the yards of the Spring Valley water works and the furniture factory of H. Eueler, the box factory of Korbell Bros, at 723 Bryant street, also the stable of H. Washburn at .657 Bryant street. The carriage factory of G. W. Hclan and the soda factory of J. Horstmann were all destroyed in short order. The high wind which fanned the flames and swept them on drove the firemen back by degrees,* and the situation became critical. By 6:45 the whole of the block bounded by Fourth, Fifth, Brannan and Bryant streets was destroyed with the exception of the machine shops on the corner of Fourth and Bryant. At that hour the fire waj spreading toward Bluxom street, sweeping on its way the lumber yard of Van Wart on the corner of Fourth and Brannan, the Meehan Lumber Company’s yard on Brannan street and various small machine shops and tenements. The intense heat made it difficult to utilize to its full capacity the water supply, which was anything but sufficient, owing to the unusual number of hydrants called into play all over the district. Tb# water tower rendered most efficient service, furnishing a jet of water which could be rendered serviceable tyjiere the other streams thrown upon the flames were turned into steam when they had barely left the nozzle. At 8:30 p. m. the entire block bounded by Fourth, Fifth, Bluxom and Brannan streets was a mass of ruins. The firo had reached the Ovwlnnd Transfer Company’s brick freight warehouse and the hardware store of Baker & Hamilton. These brick'buildings temporarily checked the flames. The wind was blowing a gale and the sparks were carried for blocks, greatly increasing the spread of the fire. One death is reportod. A Miss Gilroy, while attempting to save some of her belongings, was covered with burning oil and burned,to death. A number of people received injuries from the falling walls and the flying timbers. The people in the fire district were terror stricken. Most of them are of the poorer classes and were making.great efforts to save their small belongings. « Express wagons and drays were at a premium and people were moving a few blocks auray from the fire. Probably 100,000 people were gathered at the fire, and the poilco were powerless to keep them away. The fire was so hot, however, that the unmanageable crowd did not get near enough to be iu serious danger. At a late hbur the lire department got the fire under control. The wind shifted to the southwest, driving’the flames back over the burned area. Over 100 families have lost their heeeea and all they possess.

A large number of horses were burned la their stables. The change in the wind and the big brick wineries and the railroad offices are what saved the day for the firemen. Probably $2,000,000 will cover the loss. It is nearly total, however, as owing to the dangerous character of the district, insurance rates have been so high as to be almost prohibitory.