Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-04-28

burst from the point of the BUILDING. an
parently beneath the awning. A cry Of
dismay went up from the great crowd OF
people which now blocked the street. for
the awning was completely engulfed in
the roaring flames and on that awning
were three hosemen.
THREE LIVES IMPERILED.
Every hose to the frontip
| Chief O'Meara fairly screamed this. and
his men knowing that the lives of their
| comrades depended upon their prompt
ness lost no time in turning every pipe
upon the awning. The flames resisted. but
were gradually beaten back until all was
darkness again, and the great clouds of
black smoke again obscured the outlines
| of the men.
But the three hosemen were saved by
the quick work of their comrades.
| One of them flung himself from the
awning to the street below, and was caught
| by those who were in waiting The second
| managed to reach his ladder, and while the
pipemen drenched him, he slid down from
the perilous place. The third man sought
safety by scrambling up on the roof of The
building and thence to the adjoining build
ing, which was out of reach of the flames.
Every pipe-a dozen or more-was now
directed upon the front of the building.
The glass doors and windows were smashed
IN and the streams turned inside. But it
seemed that the flames were beyond human
control. They had now burst from the
roof, and roared and cracked deafenipglv.
The neighborhood for blocks around was
lighted brilliantly by the glare, and the
heat became so intense that the crowd was
forced to move some distance away.
The flames were now leapipg across the
alley and seemed to envelop the new brick
structure of Chesley q Co. 1t began to
look as though the building would 90. and
the big Wells-Fargo structure was threat.
ened. Every now and then loud report
would be heard, followed by an unusually
bright sheet of flame, evidently caused by
the explosion of combustibles which were
kept in large quantities y the company.
GREAT WORK BY THE FIREMEN.
The fire-fghters had now succeeded in
breakind down the doors, and exposed to
view the seething furnace within. A
grander and yet more appalling sight
seldom has been seen. 1t was nothing but
one mass of flame, and the roar was
deafening. But the gallant fremen were
not disnayed. They slowly but surely
forced the fire back into the building and
toward the rear. They did not seem 10
realize the danger of falling timbers from
inside.
The fire had now ragged for nearly an
hour, and for the first time began to give
evidences of succumbing. Cheer after
cheer went up from the throng in the
street and the 6remen took ii I'D as they
plunged farther into the building. The
glare was not SO bright now, and the flames
had been driven back fully fifty feet from
the street.
IN ANOTHER QUARTER.
Suddenly word came to Chief O'meara
that it was breaking out in the rear of
Jones, Givens e. Co., on ] street, which ad-
joins the rear of the Sullivan. Kelly, form
ing an l..
Several pipes were Immediately taken
around on ] street and passed through the
Jones-Givens store to where the fire was
This was not difficult to manage, and after
it was extinguished the fremen found that
they had secured quite an advantageous
position from which TO fight the flames,
which were now belching forth in great
sheets from the rear of the Sullivan-Kelly
building. The attack could now be made
from all sides, and it was not long after
when the fire was completely at the mercy
of the firemen.
VICTORIOUS FIRE FIGHTERS.
the buildings in that vicinity are of brick,
there is no telling where the fire would
have stopped. As 1t was, though Chesley
d Co.'s building was at times completely
enveloped in the flames, it was not dam
aged to any very great extent. The brick
walls of the burning building also kept the
fire from spreading to the south toward
Wells, Fargo & Co.'s building. although it
looked at one time as though none of the
buildings could escape.
The fire was easily handled after it was
once under control, and by / o'clock
was out. Several streams we're kept play
ing on the ruins during the night, how
ever, for fear of q fresh outbreak.
THE PROBABLE LOSS
| A RECORD UNION reporter secured brief
interview with Mr.. Mclaughlin, one of the
members of the firm, after the excitement
and confusion had partially subsidized. and
learned from him that the loss to the stock
would probably foot up $4,000, fully COW
cred by insurance.
The heavier portion of the stock was
| not in the building, but the basement con-
tanned large amount of case goods. oils.
etc, which 1t was thought had not suffered
| much. The main floor and shelves con-
| tanned only the lighter class of goods such
as paints in cans, fancy stock. colors, etc.
This floor was not burned through. ex-
cept in spots, and after the fire had been
sufficiently snbdued to allow entrance
thereto the employees of the firm got in
and removed the contents of the safe,
which were found uninjured. including
the books and accounts OF the firm.
| The building is owned by Green &
Trainor of this city, and cost about $780,
coo. As the fire was still burning it was
| impossible to tell to what extent ii is dam
aged. but it is believed thar the loss will
amount TO at least $4,000. The iron front
and the basement walls are probably as
good as ever. but 1t was believed that the
| fercely hot FIRE above the ground floor
| had ruined the main walls.
THE PAINT COMPANY
Is composed of William Mclaughlin. one
of the City Trustees: Captain Thomas
D~yer, of the Sacramento Transportation
Company. and Daniel McCartv, a we'll
known rapchman and capitalist. living
beyond the eastern suburbs of the city.
CHIEF o'MEARA INJURED.
While the FIRE was at its hight. Chief
O'Meara was rushing past the front Of the
burning building. and the smoke was so
dense thst he did not see the
hole in the sidewalk where q heavy