Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-08-27
FIRE At PORT COSTA.
One Of tie MGNear Warehouses and
two Ships Burned.
LOSS ESTIMATED AT 100000.
Immense Quantity of Wheat De-
stroyed-Forty-two Car Loads
of Grain Consumed.
LOSS ESTIMATED AT 100000.
DISASTROUS FIRE.

warehouses ana Snps Destroyed at Port
Costa Yesterday.
SAN FRANCISCO August 26th.-Ware-
house 2 at Port Costa, the property of G.
w. MeNear IL Co., the commission and
shipping merchants of this city, was en-
tirely destroyed by fire early this morning.
In addition the American ship Armenia
and the British vessel Honauwar, which
were loading at the docks of the ware
house, were totally destroyed, and the Brit
lsh ship kenilworth, at last accounts, was
still burning. The amount of wheat in the
warehouse and in the vessels was from
1000 to 10000 tons, which is worth $26
per ton. The value of the grain destroyed
is at present estimated by McNear & Co. at
about $250,000,
In addition forty-two cars loaded with
grain were side-tracked near the ware
house, in process of being unloaded. These
were entirely burned with their contents
THE BURNED VESSELS
The Kenilworth, which has been load
ing for about two weeks, had nearly COM
pieted her cargo, and had on board 5000
tons of grain, which will probably all be
destroyed. The Honauwar, a British YES
sci, had taken on about 1000 tons, while
the Armenia had but 400 tons. The two
last-named vessels, with their contents,
"SAS NOtolly bColiOyCd. CSNSIdl JdpdUSSS
on board the Armenia were nearly suffo-
Gated, but were finally rescued. The ropes
fastening the Armenia to the wharf were
cut and she drifted down near Point Pinole,
where she finished burning. Word was at
once sent to this city and Mare Island.
The fire boat from the Navy Yard was i'm.
mediately dispatched to Port Costa. Sew
eral fire tugs also left this city and arrived
at the scene of the fire shortly after ten
o'clock.
THE INSURANCE.
The warehouse is insured by G. W. Nc
Near & Co. for 5000, which will fully
cover the loss. Melyard & Dixon's agen-
cies hold the risks. The wharves were in
sureG for $4,000, which will more than
cover all the loss, as they were not entirely
burned.
The wheat in the warehouse, which was
partly owned by a number of ranchers
throughout the State, who had consigned
it 10 McNear & Co, and partly to McNear
d Co. themselves, is said to be fully in
sured. The Firemen's Fund took most of
the policies, but distributed the risks among
number of other companies. Losses will
be sustained, beside the Firemen's Fund,
by the Union, Brown, Craig & Co.'s agen-
cies, Cutie & Franks agencies, California,
Sun, Williamsburg, MeIyard & Dixon's
agencies, Hutchinson & Mann, the Com
mercial and Fire Insurance Company, and
in fact nearly ali companies on the street.
The cargoes of the burned ships were also
fully insured in the Thames & Mersey and
the Marine. The British ships were in.
sured in English companies.
WHAT PHILIP E. BowLEs SAYS.
Messrs. McNear & Co. say that they can
not as yet tell TO whom the forty-two car
loads of wheat which were burned belong.
1t was consigned to them from various
points in the interior. There were about
800 tons in the cars, worth about SIS 600.
Philip Il Bowles. one of the firm OF Nc
Near Co, says that most of the wheat
was their own property, although he is not
yet accurately informed on that point. Mr..
McNedr himselfi is now at Port Costa, and
Mr. Bowles returned from there about /
o'clock this morning.
We considered" said Mr.. Bowles "that
the facilities for putting out fires were per
feet. There were water barrels on the roof.
a three inch pipe all around the docks and
hand grenades ell through the building.
Besides these precautions, all the va, d en-.
eines of the Southern Pacific Company had
hose attached. But the people up there
who saw the fire, say the flames were all
over the building like that" and Mr..
Bowles snapped his fingers to illustrate.
The warehouse and docks were COM
pletely destroyed, even the piles being
burned 20 the waters edge. Balfour, Guth.
rie & Co q warehouse came very near
going. and indeed portion of their wharf
was burned, but by hard work the ware.
house itself was saved. Although our
losses are entirely covered by insurance,
still the blow has been q hard one for us.
not so much in the actual losses them
selves, as because we are deprived of our
tools of trade. 1t will be some time before
WeWiil sgain get together our parsphernslia
and materials which were to-day de-
stroyed."
THE OWNERS OF THE BURNED SHIPS.
The Armenia was owned by Hcughton
Bros, OF Bath Maine, and is worth about
$4,000. She was a wooden vessel. The
Captain says that he doesn't know whether
she was insured or not and the consignees
are not informed. The KenilWorth is a
fine English ship, built OF iron. She will
not be total loss, although her cargo,
cabin, etc, have been entirely DESTROYED.
1t is supposed that she is insured for her
full value, which is estimated at from
$l25, COO to $l50,OO0.
The Honauwar was owned by Thompson
u Co, of ST. John, n. B. Her estimated
value is $40 COO to $4,000. She is believed
to be fully insured.
THE TOTAL LOSS.
The total loss by the fire will be not less
than 500, 900 as follows
Wheat in the warehouse and the ships
ana ware $50 900