The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-06-14


structure, where the fire originated. Here vast
quantities of cocoanut and linseed were stored,
which had caught Iire.
1t burned slowly and sent off great clouds Of
smoke, which penetrated the entire building,
and battle all attempts of the firemen to dis
cover the principal location OF the flames. The
firemen were driven off time and again. II was
one of the strangest blind fires that the depart
ment has had to contend with. "Teis IS tough
old tre,' Is The way Chief Scannell put IL, after
the first half hour on the field
LINSEED OIL BURNING.
The linseed oil kept burning, as 1t will, not
wlthstanding that streams OF water were piled
GU the central building through the open W in
dows.: Extension Hayes ladders were placed
against the front of the building. but the fremen
had hard work TO direct The hose on account OF
the heavy clouds of smoke whirling upward
into The air like black water-spouts.
A new Bangor ladder was also placed against
the front OF the building and Firemen Frank Ma
guire and James Frank, of Truck l. mounted the
ladder for the top of the building. Mcguire
reached the top and struck against an electric
wire, receiving shock which caused him TO lose
In falling he knocked over Frank. Both fell
against the telegia ph wires, which abound in the
vicinity. aud which greatly interfered with the
fremen's work. These ligutened their fall and
saved them from a fall to the GROUND, and per-
haps from serious Injury. AS 1t was they es
capped without hurts.
The fremen fought the blind fire for almost
two hours. Then the smoke seemed TO grow
less in volume. and this was taken as a sign
that whatever flames existed had smoldered
and were going out. But til oSe who thought so
were deceived.
BRIGHT FLAME is SEEN.
After the decrease In the volume OF the smoke
a bright flame was seen in the central building.
The llnseed cakes now had become thoroughly
ignited and were beginning to show how steadily
they could burn. The fire boat Governor Twin
did good work at this time. but With the assist
lance OF all the other companies the combination
of streams was Intellectual, and the fire boats
hose burst to maze matters worse.
Very few people had been attracted to the rre,
as there had been but one alarm, and there was
no "lurid elare' In the sky. The fire could not
be discovered block away, but after the smoke
had partially subsidized the small crowd tmmedi-
ately dispersed. 1t had not gone two blocks
when a second alarm, at 10:45 O'clock, was
turned inI
Within five minutes the linseed-on cakes had
worked transformation. The whole building
was now ablaZe. Cocoanut oil and lnseed are
very infiammable materials, and the flames
thrown out we're far-reachlng and destructive in
their work.
The department, after two hours work Instead
OF having the fire under control, as for time
mastery as far as the fate OF the building was
concerned.
"a BURNING FURNACE"
as the fire out?" police officer asked Assist
ant Chief Sullivan just before the first blaze
started.
81 have three streams here, and the inside is
burning furnace" was the answer from second
story window.
This will give some idea of how sudden was
the change from few clouds of smoke issuing
from the structure Into one mass of roaring
flames against Which the water used by the de-
partment had no appreciate effect
In the basement OF the building were stored
5000 gallons oil. This WIS held after boiling In
large open tanks, and by these tanks runs a
sewer to carry OFF the refuse after boiling. The
streams OF water piled on the building splashed
into the basement, and Ia the tanks.
he oil fiOaled, OF course, and was forced over
into the sewer and carried away. Much of it
escaped into the street and with the wafer from
ffftfr hAG4 tanA1a atira
foot deep. The fifemen were compelled to wade
In this water during the latter part of the fire.
SOUTH SEA ARoMAs.
After the second alarm. and when that entire
section OF the city was Illuminated by the almost
instantaneous up-leaping OF the flames, vast
crowds of people liurTled to The locality and
formed dense mass around the burning build
ing.
The c0coanut oil, which burned so brightly,
also emit ed a very pleasant fragrance, add the
crowd could very well imagine themselves in
haling the choicest aroma of the South Pacific
Islands. very curious acid was also generated
by the flames of the burning oil, which was de-
posted upon the faces of The firemen and spec
taorS, aud burned the skin quite sharply.
When The ire first obtained a footing In the
central building the firemen's first object was to
endeavor to contine 1t TO hat portion OF the
structure; but 1t spread aud took In the other
buildings, finally getting the entire structure.
The flames became also very fierce when the oil
IN the basemen. was gnited. enveloping the en-
tire building.
GAsTANKs IN THE LINE OF FIRE.
Right back of the oil works is a tank of the
Pacific Gas Improvement Company, and TO the
eastward Is another owned by the San Fran
cisco Gaslight Company. SO wide.spreadng
were the flames that 1t was thought that they
would become heated to such degree that an
explosion would take place.
Tie crowd edged away from the localities
where the gas reservoirs were. But there was
no danger, as the officers OF the companies i'm
medlalely on being apprised OF the fire had the
gas let out 10 order TO avoid any possible danger
from such cause.
spontaneous combustion. Linseed oil, when
placed in box of shayings, VIII ignite the chips
and when soaked In sack It is also dangerous.
The employees OF the firm had been instructed to
be very careful In this respect and have been
repeatedly cautioned.
There was no fire in the building when the fire
started, with the exception of an electric light.
Only once before has ire occurred in
the building, and that was ten years
ago. when the engine room was par
In existence for tweniy-six years, and was
landmark In the vicinity The present firm OF
kittle & Co. has occupied it for almost the same
period.
THE SOUTH WALL GIVES AWAY.
At midnight the word was given that the south
wall OH King street was beginning 10 give way,
and the firemen hastened to remove their ladders
and TO remove their lines of hose back from it.
A few moments later loud report was heard,
the huge iron doors In the south wall flew out
ward, and tremendous volume of fame burst
Out, leaplng across The street and almost touch.
ing the lumber piles opposite.
There was great amount OF shouting and
rushing TO and fro. but after the excite
ment Gained down measurably 1t was
learned That no one was hurt and
that the lumber piles had not iguited.
The bursting open of the doors saved the south
wall from falling and helped to place the lire
under CONTROL 1t let In Il strong draft of air at
the bottom OF the wall, which drove the flames
back into The building aud Kept it from The bar
rels Of oil in the front.
After thai the bremen Kept the fire confined 10
the center of The building, and up TO the time of
going 10 press the walls were still standing and
all danger TO the undergrad had ceased. The
fire VIII probably still burn for hours to-day and
until the oil within has burned out.
ESTIMATES OF THE LOSS.
The amount of stock IN the building could not
be accurately estimated last night. Mr.. KiJlle
was out OF town, and The books OF the company
were, of course, locked up Superinten-
dent Cotton stated that the stock was
very valuable. The oil was worth from so cents
TO 10 cents per gallon, while the cOcoanut meal
brings $50 Ion. and the pressed linseed sells
for 312 cents pound.
According to estimates made last night. the
probable loss was from $4,000 to so ,000
The building and stock were both stated to
be fully insured but for what amount could
not be asc-rtaned. 1t was reported that an in
surance Inspector was around the building only
last week.
Captain White of the Fire Patrol was early on
hand, and did bis utmost TO save what goods he
could In lie building. which has 125 feet 'front.'
age on hlDg street and extends for the same dis
lance Ioward Townsend street, divided into three
sections by fre-walls running loDgitudinally.
THE WAREHOUSE WAS SAVED.
About 100 men were employed In the works,
where day and night shifts were maintained so
as to carry on operations the entire twenty-foUr
hours. 1t Is lied also that there was no one at
WORK In The room where the fire started. The