The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1871-11-25

well calculated to catch the flying sparks and
Goals, and it was surmised that the fire had been
gaining ground slowly there for sometime. While
the international was burning, the clouds of
smoke from the ruins in the two squares burnt
over, were swept heavily over this part of the
city, and at times was SO dense in the Sailors
Home, as to lead to the belief that it, too. was
burning. A row of small buildings connecting
the Bethel with the buildings on Nuuanu street.
south of King, below the burnt district. were
attacked by hundreds, and in an incredibly short
space of time torn down and dragged off, so as to
prevent the flames from the Bethel from spreading
further west. 1t was quickly seen that the
Bethel could not be saved, and soon the Sailors
Home was evidently doomed. The dying away
of the wind about this time was encouraging
however, and by stationing an engine in Nuuanu
street near the Home, and keeping the buildings
in 'front.' of it flooded with water, the heat was
prevented from igniting them. A small f~re-proof
warehouse west of the Home interposed an
obstacle to the progress of the fire in that direc-
ton, while on the opposite, or east side the
Post-ofice building, being built of concrete es-
capped with the loss of all the glass in the
windows cracked by the heat.
From the carpenter and cooper shops on oppo-
site si0es of King street, the flames spread east
ward, consuming rapidly the wooden buildings
in its path The engines and hose were quickly
moved around into Fort street near King, and
checked the flames in a small store on the north
west corner, a large fre-proof building (Odd
Fellows HalD preventing its moving up Fort
street.
On the opposite side of King street, adjoining
the cooper shop, were q number of slight con-
structions that carried the flames east, but here,
the engines being assisted by a private hose
attached to q concrete hardware store, its further
progress in that direction was prevented.
Towards the wharves and not far from the
yard of the cooper shop, was a large building
occupied as the ADVERTISER Office, and it too,
was soon ip flames. When the fire spread from
the cooper shop to the ADVERTISER building it
looked as though nothing could save the rest of
the block and it was not until the adjoining
building on the east Ia large saloon) was con-
sumed, and two of the engines had been moved so
as to cross their streams on the east side, together
with the watchful care of persons stationed on all
the threatened and exposed points that the flames
were finally got under. The water supply too in
this part of the town, (the lowest below the res
ervoir) was much stronger than in the upper part
of the city and the Hose Company did splendid
service here as elsewhere. Indeed, from the
beginning TO the end of the fierce struggle, the
whole Department proved themselves to be we'll
organized and enthusiastic in their efforts.
All through that long, long day did we work,
as we never had worked before, and as the clouds
gathered in the afternoon, and a refreshing
shower aided us in extinguishing the last dying
embers, our thanks went up with one accord to
Him who had SO mercifully spared our lives.
We heard of many accidents, but with the excep-
ton of the pipe men, injured by the broken glass
during the night, (who are doing well) we hear
of no serious ones. As yet We cannot even guess
at our losses. A great gap has been made in the
centre of our town, in the charred remains of
which rise but three stores where formerly stood
hundreds. Owing to the admirable arrangement
of our Water Works, the supply was kept up.
Something more might have been done may be
had we had some provision for filling buckets,
but even then, if the wind had not subsidized, God
only knows what would have been spared. |
must close this, promising you the particulars OF
losses in my next. Yours. &C., =