The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-07-20
MORE BURSTING
OF ROTTEN HOSE.
Four Honses Destroyed on Twen-
tieth Street.
The Fire Originates in an Cd Wooden Ash
Barrel-A Total Loss Of $4,000 Is
Entailed

A fire broke out al $50 O'Clock yesterday
afternoon on the corner OF Stevenson aud Twen-
tieth streets, which gave the department con-
siderable trouble in handling and which at one
time looked as II it would carry the entire block
The fire started in the rear of two-story
frame at 1913 and $50 Twentieth street. owned
by j. A. Spamer and occupied by Charles Fink
and S. w. Fassett. 1t had obtained consider
able Roadway before 1t was discovered. An
alarm was Immediately rung In from BOX 142,
but before the arrival OF the department the
flames had enveoped the greater part of the
building.
a fresh breeze was blowing at the time, which
famed the blaze until the flames were communi-
Gated to the adjoining structure another two
story frame owned by James Callopy The
second story was occupied by the owner. while
in the first was grocery kept by John Tied
man, The frames were light modern structures
and easily succnmbed to The flames.
While a stream from Hose 81 was playing on
the fire the hose suddenly burst, completely
flooding the street and Captain White OF the Fire
Patrol. This proved setback to the men who
were working to control the flames. They were
compelled TO witness the fire spreading to a third
building, two-stcry frame, at 1868 Stevenson
street, owned also by James Caliopy and occu-
pied as dwelling by James Rodgers.
MORE BUILDINGS ATTACKED.
fourth building was atiacked, notwitbsfaud
ing the efforts Of the fremen TO cOnfine the flames
to the structures mentioned. Inc next building
to 20 was three-story frame at S66 and 1868
Stevenson, owned by Catherine righe who occu-
pied the basement. The remaining stories were
occupied as dwellings by William eastman and
Henry Rechmuller.
As 1t was impossible to save the light struc.
lures when once attacked the firemen directed
their chief attention 10 saving adjoining build
iugs and preventing the spreading of the flames.
In this they were successful, the only other loss
being q slight damage 10 tine roof Of two-Story
frame at 1864 Stevenson street, owned by q. z.
Perine.
The spreading of the flames over so extensive
a territory was attributed TO the bursting OF hose
at the critical stages during the progress OF the
fire. The total damage Is estimated at $50, 900,
almost evenly divided between the different
houses, except the last, which was only burned
on the roof. The remaining buildings may be
said 10 be totally destroyed, as what is left OF
them In the way Of standing charred walls is
only good for fIewood.
A LOSS OF $4,000.
The sic, 900 estimate also includes the losses
of personal property by the different parties re-
siding in the burned buildings. The loss is only
partly covered by Insurance. Among those in
sured are }. A. Spamer, Charles Fink and James
CaiIopy. Mrs. Tighe had no insurance her
personal property, nor had James Rogers and
William eastman any insurance. John Tied
but Mrs. Brady. who ran bakery next door.
had none.
The IRE Is supposed 10 have been caused by
heated wooden ash barrel in the rear of the first
building attacked. There is always strong
wind blowing through an alleyway there, and
the draft Is thought TO have speedily famed the
first small sparks.