The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-12-16
DEATH IN THE FLAMES
A Chinese Merchant Meets a
Horrible Fate.
His Charrsd Body Is Recovered From the
Debris Of Sunday Nights Firs-An.
other Man Is Missing.

The body of Quon Way, partner of the
GUN Kee shoemaking firm at Alb CONNER
clai street, was found at 9 o'clock yesterday
morning in the burned building. 1t was al
most unrecognizable, only fostering mass
OF flesh and bones that were charred and
roasted, while the limbs were horribly dis
torted and curled. He had met his death in
the flames the night before.
1t was not known that any of the Chinese
occupants of the building Quilted by the fire
sunday night were lost until early yesterday
morning. when crowd of excited Chinese
gathefed about the ruins and stated that
several OF their countrymen had been burned
10 death, and that the dead bodies could be
found on the third floor.
This announcement was heard by firemen
who were on duty and search was begun
through the large heaps of debris upstairs
Inc task seemed a hopeless one, as timber,
machinery and all kinds of stock were
mixed up in confused piles under which
human bodies might easily be hidden. On
looking through a back window, however,
the remains of Quon Way were seen lying
up on the floor of an exterior structure that
reached to the back wall of the opposite
building.
HEMMED IN BY FIRE.
The space had been utilized by the Chi.
nese for sleeping apartments. Apparently
Quon way passed through window and
sought refuge in his airy dwelling place, but
the fierce flames bursting from below caught
IL underneath and enveloped the shanty.
Inc chinese found himself without means
OF escape, hemmed in on all sides Che could
not go back into the main buildinaassilnd he
was literally baked to death in a wooden
oven.
From the position of the body and the evil
dent insecurity of the burned platform upon
which 1t lay, some difficulty was experienced
in getting at the remains. But with the aid
OF larlat 1t was dragged through win
COW. 1t was removed at once TO the Morgue,
where Chinese identified it by the teeth,
and large crowds of Mongols reviewed it
from distance.
A Chinese cook employed in cigar fac
Tory In the same building is also missing
put no trace of his body could be found.
kum0r has 1t that three men were burned to
death IN the fire: 1t is not likely that an
other body will be recovered until the work
OF removing the debris begins.
Quon Way occupied quarters on the third
moor, and when the fire was first announced
ne arose with the other: and at once went
to the sale TO secure the moneys and papers
belonging to the firm. He removed tn e
articles, and was about to come to the win
COW where the ladder was raised; but,
thinking OF his clothes, started back to get
them, when the flames drove him backward
w INC place. Wuefe ne uleu.
THE BOSSES.
The burned factories are those of Quon
Sing, boots and shoes, 415 Commercial
street; Yuen Kee 81 Co, boots and shoes,
413; We. Sing, slippers, 411H; Quong Tai
Lung. shoes, 41Si Yuen Lee, boots aud
shoes, 400; Quong Wah, shoes, 409; the Pearl
Co., cigars, 400, and the Key West Co.,
cigars, 400. Their total losses will not far
exceed $4,000. some of the machinery
being uninjured. Z. T. Anthony & Co.,
repackers, lost about $1,000 from damage done
by fire and water. Messon & Brother, owner
OF the building from 400 to 4l5, inclusive,
lost about $1,000. AT first it was believed
that the walls were destroyed but on in
spectlon yesterday they were found to be
unlnJured. and only the floors. partitions
and roof will need replacing.
The fire is the third one that has taken
place in the same row of buildings within a
year or so, and some suspicion is attached to
the origin of this one There can be no
doubt but that the fire started on the ground
floor and passed up the elevator shaft to the
top story, where the flames spread under
meath the roof and caught up flimsy wood
work and other inflammable matter before
the occupants realized what had happened
The Chinese complained yesterday that
they had been robbed, and their trunks
bear out their statements. Boxes were
broken open and the contents tumbled out
as If ransacked hurriedly. while others had
been forced open with axes.