Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-02-06
CALIFORNIA.

EhFc anu LOSS Oh hbft-AsStsSun
SAN FRANCISCO, February 5th.-A China
wash-house on Pine street, near Taylor, was
burned this morning. 1t is not known how
many occupied the building, but at ! P. NJ.
eleven bodies were recovered.
Assessments were levied to-day: By Savage
80 cents per share, Dudley % cents, and Hill
side 80 cents.
SECOND DIsPATCH.I
SAN Francisco, February 5th.-The first
that seems to have been known of the fire by
any of the neighbors was, as nearly as can
be ascertained, at about o'clock, when
domestic in the house of Mrs. M. Byrne, 932
Pine street, adjoining the wash-house on the
west, informed one of Mrs. Byrne's sons that
she thought the wash-house was on fire.
Arising and looking out of the window, Mr..
Byrne saw glimmering light, which he
thought must be the reflection from some
large fire near by While hastily dressing in
order to go out he was surprised to see the
house, as if an explosion of some kind had
taken place. No noise Of any kind, how
ever, was heard. The faint light which he
first saw was produced by the fire within the
wash house, and was visible through the
cracks between the boards of the building.
None of the inmates Of the house could be
raised, however, and MIR. Byrne was forced
to go back to his house and give an alarm
through the American District Telegraph,
one of whose boxes was in the house. Sub
sequently, the key to the fire alarm box, at
the corner of Mason and Pine streets, was
obtained from the house of Mr.. McCrellish,
and an alarm was turned in from the street
box at $50 o'clock. Meantime the flames
had made rapid Roadway, and soon after
bursting through the roof of the wash-house-
The persons outside of the inmates of the
wash-house who had the narrowest escape
were those composing the family of Thomas
Nealing, who were living in small, one
story house situated in the rear of the laun-
dry, which he owned When he learned that
fire had broken out the flames were already
breaking through the roof of the wash-house.
He partially dressed and endavored to gain
the street through passage-way between the
wash-house and the dwelling of Mrs. Byrne
He found, however, that the flames prevented
exit in this direction, and the question was
suddenly presented to him as to how he and
his family should escape. Mr.. Nealing's
house was situated some fifteen feet below
the top of bulkhead. built in the rear, and
beyond which there was small court over
looking the wash-house and Mr.. Nealings
dwelling. 1t was found impossible to scram-
Bile up the perpendicular side Of this bulk
head, and for time it was doubtful if the
1NchlluR ldu1lly. COnsibSluS VI nIr anu 4flio.
Nealing and several sons and daughters, one
of the former of whom was a cripple, could
escape. At length Mr.. Nealing seized an AK
and cut hole through the fence into the
yard of Mrs. Byrne. and by means of some
low structures abutting upon the bulkhead,
managed to pass his family to the court
above. The flames soon attacked his house
and consumed everything.
As soon as the intensity of the fire had
been reduced sufficiently to overhaul the
ruins, the firemen discovered, to their horror
the charred and crumbling remains of human
beings in the smouldering ashes. One 9y one
burned bodies were drawn from the ruins.
This sickening work continued until ten
blackened and crisped bodies had been taken
out of the ruins. The sight of the charred
remains of the unfortunate Cinnamon was
shocking in the utmost degree. They were
burned beyond all chance of recognition.
The flesh was entirely burned from the bones,
and even the latter in many instances crum-
bled to powder when touched. As soon as
possible they were taken to the Morgue,
where they now lie.
There were runners this morning that a
white boy, who had gone into the place to
smoke opium, was burned with the Cinnamon,
but the report could not be confirmed.
THIRD DIsPATCH.l
SAN Francisco, February 5th.-Another
body was found this evening, making eleven
Cinnamon burned 10 death. 1t is supposed
that they were Supplied with opium, and
that the fire caught from pipe.
The Last sad Eites-FOund Dead in Bed.
CHICO, February 5th.-The funeral of E.
j. Riley, merchant of Chico, took place to-
day. under the auspices of the Fire Depart
ment and Masons. The funeral was one of
the largest that ever took place in this sec
ton.
w. G. Babcock was found dead in his bed
at the Chico Hotel this forenoon. There was
nothing found in his room to indicate suicide,
but the circumstance of his saying last Sat
urday that he would never work again, and
on Monday giving away his working clothes
to some of his old associates, looks somewhat
mysterious. An inquest is being held.
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