The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1885-01-21
THE FIRE FIEND
A Midnight Gonhagration
A Loss of $4,000

AT l2:25 last evening an alarm Of fire was rung
in from the bell of Engine Co. No 2, and slight as
the indication was of the presence of the dread de-
Stroyer, many persons left their beds to ascertain
the location. look at the sky, the centre Of
the city, showed bright light therehection from an
extensive confagration. No further direction was
needed to indicate the location, and the was
ascertaued to be an extensive conha9ration in the
store occupied by Chas. ]. Fishel situated at the
corner of Hotel and Fort streets.
When the firemen arrived on the spot the entire
two story building was in blaze, the lurid flames
twining and twisting themselves skyward in bright
Masses their serpentine tongues already licking
the buildings in front and rear The need of a
general alarm was seen, and by direction of Chief
Engineer Mott, one was ordered by GAZETTE rep
resentative. At this time, 12.45 Engine Co. No. 9
had light stream on and was doing good work to
leeward of the fire, their stream being directed to-
ward the saving of the buildings occupied by the
Forest Market" and Simpson and Wallace. The
line of Engine Co. No. 5,was run out but scar
city of water left them powerless; No. Engine
after getting in position disabled by the burst
ing of their suction hose, No. Engine lacked suf
fcient hose to reach vantage point.
In the meantime the area attacked by the fire
fiend was enlarged the stores Datr of Mr. Fishel's
on Fortst.occupied by T. .McInerny confectionerF E
Gertz, shoemaker and ]. Mcdonald horseshoe
were attacked by the devastating flames, as alsc
the Germania Market and the Elite Ice Cream
Parlors, on Hotel street. The heat was intens,
and fears were entertained that McCarthy's bill
liard saloon, and the Astor Restaurant on th
ndkui side of Hotel street would catch as also tn,
Pantheon saloon on the northwest corner of For
and Hotelstreet. The composition of the build
ings the other corners of Hotel and Fort streets
exposed most directly to the heat saved them they
being built of brick and cemented and no wood
work exposed Happily there was light win,
from the northeast, and the minutes of delay be
fore the ite department got properly to work, re
suited far less dislstrously in the extension of th
confagration than could have been, at the time
| hoped for
At 1:l0 the Fishel establishment was a seethins
mass of flames, as also the Germania Market
Hart's Elite Saloon, McInerney's Confectionery
Gertz's Shoe Store and the outlook for the sayin
OF the Pantheon Saloon and Higgins Carriag
Warehouse was most dubious But a momcn
later strong stream through No. As line wei
coined by hearty cheer, and, under the direction
of Chief Engineer Mott the fire was faced by tn
gallant hosemen in the shop of j. Mcdonald, AN,
after tough fight its course was stayed. No. q
hosemen were at the same time doing good wor
in the rear of the buildings, their stream unde
the direction of A. j. Cartwright, an ex-chef an,
Assistant Engineer Monsarrat staying the prog
ress of the fire fend from contact with the Homo
lulu Carriage Repository. At 1:15 the fire wa
under control and the fears existing of an extende
contagration, set at rest. After further fight o
over two hours the flames were entirely subdued
THE DISCOVERY AND THE LOSSES.
The fire was first discovered by ]. b. Warner, al
employee of the Pantheon stable; it was thel
situated in the upper story of @. j. FisheEs store
| the part used as the millinery department. Il
company with another employee James Byrne
the stable hose was unreeled, water turned on
ladder procured and an effort made to stay tn
cont1agration. At that time, the two state that
the fire might have been controlled but lack o
hose prevented their reaching vantage point
That the fire started in Fishers is doubted state
ments being made that the fire originated in
room occupied by employees of II. S. Tregloan, a
a tailor's shop.
The fire completely gutted the buildings occu
pied by the following parties, only the ruins bein
left to fan the occupants this morning Below
a list of the estimated losses and insurances
Chas j. Fishel.....loss 5000. Insurance - %
/ j fusu