Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-06-22
FLAMES AMONG THE FIREWORKS.
A Boston Confiagration Destroys Prop
ertr and Human Life.

A Boston Confia gration Destroys Prop
erty and Human Life.
Boston, June 21st-A disastrous fire, &C.
compenied by serious loss of life, occurred
here this evening in the fireworks establish
ment of Hever Brothers. Three dead
bodies have been taken from the ruins, and
three others received injuries which will
probably result fatally.
1t is feared that there may be more VIC
TINS among the debris.
Shortly after 5 o'clock, while q salesman
was waiting on a customer upon the second
floor, he saw fash among some fireworks
behind enc of the counters. He ran for
water, and at the same time gave the
alarm. The flames spread with almost in
credible rapidity, cutting off the escape of
several of the men in the upper stories, and
in five minutes dense smoke and the
almost incessant discharge of fireworks of
different kinds made in the building pei
feet pandemonium for those confined
within its walls.
Albert Gage, aged %, who was employed
in the third story, hung from window
until he was obliged to let go his hold and
then fell to the ground, breaking his back.
He will probably die.
Charles T. Callahsn and Thomas Paine,
who were working on the fourth floor,
jumped from a window in their fright.
Paine was killed, while Callahan's injuries
are fatal.
William Prenstuhl, on the second floor,
lost his way and rolled down stairs and
was picked up fatally injured.
Samuel Corn was taken out dead. An
other body, that of a boy, has not yet been
identified.
This completes the casualties SO far as
known at present. A large proportion of
the 100000 stock is ruined, but is well in
sured.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
SAN FRAHCIsco, June 2lst.-The Calls
Boston special says: Spontaneous combus-
ton among lot of bunting and flags set
FIRE to q stand of fireworks in the salesroom
of Hyer Bros, dealers in fancy goods and
fireworks, at the corner of Hawley and
Summer streets, this afternoon. The resdlt
is five lives. lost and the manning Of several
others.
1t was shortly before 8 O'Clock when
William Brementhal, a salesman, noticed
the flames beneath the counter, half way
down the room. He yelled fire, and seized
bucket of water and ST rang toward the
flames, but before he reached the spot they
ignited mass of Roman candles, rockets
etc. Then there was an explosion in the
room and the adjacent fireworks were ig-
nie1. All hanQS ana the customers and
employees made rush for the street, sew
eral rolling completely down the stairs,
briising themselves.
Cremen has his hands badly burned
Those up stairs packing had no warning
and most Of them got down the stairs more
or less singed, but four Of them became
victims. The iremen called out three
alarms, bringing seventeen engines quickly
| on the scene, but not in time to prev ent
| two of the packers, Chas. Callahan and
| Thos. Gage, from Ieaping from the third
story window, through which mass Of
| rockets and candle balls were whizzing
| Callahan broke his back and died shortly
| afterwards il the hospital, and Gage is
| lying unconscious from fractured skull.
In less than an hour the fire was all out
| but on entering the building four dead
| bodies were found-three burned and one
suffocated-only one of whom, Thomas
! Raine, was identified. One man, named
Smithers. escaped by going along the cop
| ing of the roof hand over hand, with his
body dangling in the air, to an adjoining
| roof.
The main damage was done to tht
wholesale millinery firm of C. T. Brown
ing, on the ground floor, by smoke anG
water, and to the famous Plymouth Rocl
Paint Company next door. Loss abou
S., 900, covered by insurance.