Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-10-09
PACIFIC SLOPE.
SEVERAL BUILDINGS DESTROYED
BY FIRE IN B0CA.
An Old Man Sturdered-Race Re
ports-suicide with Strychnine--
Miner Caved On.
lsrgclAL nlsFATcHEs TO THE REcoRD-uNIoN.I
PACIFIC sLopE.

lspRclAL nIsrATcHEs TO THE RpcoRD-uNIoN.I
CALIFORNIA.
Disastrous Fire in san Francisoo-Loss of
Life.
SAN FRANCISCO, October Sth.-Shortly
after o'clock this morning a fire was dis
covered in the efive-story brick building Nos.
215 to 2i9 Bush street, occupied by II. s.
Crocker IL Co, importing stationers. print
ers, photographers and book binders. The
fire was detected by smoke issuing from
the basement and an alarm was turned in
from Box 81. BY the time the tiremen ar
rived the ground floor was filled with
smoke, and blaze was creeping upward.
1t was. however, what is known as a a.blind
fire. In spite Of the efforts of the firenen
the fire gained headway until it reached the
elevator-shafJ, and strong draft carried
the flames to the highest story.
A GENERAL ALARN SOUNDED.
AT $40 general alarm was sounded.
which called out the entire department.
In a short while the upper floors were all
ablaZe, and the numerous streams of water
appeared to have little effect uuon the
burning mass. The flames. cinders and
smoke skot up in spiral form to a great
height. illuminating the sky for q great
distance. The attention of the firemen
was now directed to preventing a spread
of the flames to adjoining buildings An
unfinished five-story brick building adj
joined the burning one on the west side,
separating it from the Occidental Hotel.
On the east side is situated the old
Cosmopolitan Hotel, extending to Sansome
street, which is occupied as a wholesale dry
goods store. Hard work confined the fire
to the Crocker building. Crocker d Co had
an immense stock of goods and very val
liable machinery. George c. Shreve 81 Co,
jewelers.. Mary Ingalsbe and several other
designers occupied the building with
Crocker u Co. Nothing was saved 1t is
estimated that the total loss viii largely
exceed half million of dollars The exact
amount of insurance cannot be ascertained
at present Nothing is left of the Crocker
building but the four walls. During the
progress of the fire several firemen were
more or less injured, and two-Martin
Hannah and Peter Haley - were burned
to death. One of the men who were killed
Is reported to have been caught by a heavy
safe, which fell upon his legs, pinning
him to the floor. He cried for help, and
begged some of the firemen to cut his LEGS
Oil with an ak and drag him from the
flames. But when it was possible for as
slstance to reach him he was found burned
to death.
THE BUILDINGS HISTORY.
The building was a part of the old Cos
mopolitan Hotel property, and was origin
ally the GriSsam House, which was later
made part of the Cosmopolitan. When
the property was bought by Chas Crocker,
the Grissam House was separated from the
hotel building and was fitted up for H. S.
Crocker & Co. Mr.. Grissam, who made a
fortune during the Washoe excitement,
bought the property about 1860, and SUBJ
sequently sold ii to William Sharon, who
added it to the Cosmopolitan Hotel. In
1876 the property was sold by Mr. Sharon
to Charles Crocker, who remodeled it at
great expense
EXCITEMENT IN THE OCCIDENTAL HOTEL.
In the Occidental Hotel was naturally
great excitement and for a long time il
was believed that the hotel could not be
saved. Many people removed from the
building, and many more prepared to fol-
low them at a moments notice. The in
habitants of the hotel are of the opinion
that only the unfinished building between
them and the Crocker building saved the
Occidental from destruction.
TOTAL LOSS OF II. $. oRocKER & co.
The total loss of II. S. Crocker & Co. is
placed at 100000. The loss of the firm is
thus large because it had got in large por-
ton, If not all, ofitS Christmas goods, while
its presses, lithographic stones and other
material in the printing department were
very valuable. The presses and machinery
were considered among the best in the
country. There were 1S5 persons on
Crocker IL Co.'S payroll last night. Mem
hcrS Sfnft tlsta
sumed immediately-just as soon as suit
able quarters can be secured.
Mr.. Yost, of Crocl1er & Co.. SAYS the in
surance of about $200,000 as he figures it,
Will cover fully 40 per cent. of the total
loss, the risks being distributed among
twenty companies.
Disastrous Connagration at Boca.
TRUcKEE, October Sth.-A fire was dis
covered in the dining-room of the Boca
Hotel this morning about o'clock, and in
a few minutes the building was wrapped in
flames. The proprietor, F. Mas, his fam
lily and boarders, barely escaped, in many
cases leaving their clothing, money, Jew
elry and other valuables behind The fire
spread to the residences of u. ID. Whitbeck
and Charles Robertson, the butcher-shop
and stable of Frank Frey, the barn OF the
Boca Mill Company, and a building occu-
l.
burned. The store of the Boca Mill Com
pany was several times on fire, but the ar
rival of the Truckee fire train saved it. Had
1t burned, the depot, ice-houses, mill and
lumber yards must have been DESTROYED.
The Boca Mill Company owned all of the
following property: Hotel valued at
SS,000 insured for $, ,0G0 Whitbecl resi-
dence, $1,000; insured for 81 ,200. in the
Union Insurance Company, of San Fran
cisco. RobersoD, house, valued at 81 SEQ;
insured for $500, and the stable, valued at
5000. F. Mas lost $1,000 on furniture; :;
also all his books and accounts. u. D.
Whitbecf lost on furniture $1,000; insured
for $1,000 in the Home Mutual Charles
Robertson, furniture, $500. Frank Frey.
shop, 81 COO; insured for $500 in the Home
Mutual barn, $500. J. G. KeTth furniture,
$50. D. NJ. Dysart, furniture, $50. The
fire was checked at O'Clock. 1t was the
heaviest conflagration that ever occurred in
Boca. There is no clue as to how the fire
originated.
The Powers Murder Case.
HoLLIsTER, October Sth.- Nine more
witnesses, making twenty-five in all. have
been examined in the Powers murder case
to-day. Nothing new was developed.
Other witnesses have been been subpenaed.
and viii testify tomorrow. 1t is not
lituSul lE1t lIlS uelenuaillS Will introduce
witnesses. 1t seems probable that suffi-
tient has already been developed TO iustifs
Judge Hoffman in holding Prewett ana
Irwin to answer in the Superior Cou7t.
Such seems to be the general opinion.
More interest is being taken in this case
than in any previous affair of the KIND,
The citizens are determined that all con-
cerned shall be brought to Justice. and no
efforts are being spared. The Governors
failure to offer the usual reward, asked for
by the District Attorney and Sheriff, is
still the subject of sharp comment and
conjecture, and will be inquired into.
Races at Yreka-Gas Works Out of Gear.
YREKA, October Sth.-The races were
largely attended to-day, and there are lively
times in town. The running race. half
mile and repeat, was closely contested by
Quebec, Problem and Blue Mountain Belle,
the former winning both heats in :491 and
:504. The latter took secOr3 none, Tho