The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-05-19
Blazing Oil Scattered Throughout a Post
Street R00EGpy.
A TERRIBLE BATTLE FOR LIFE.
a Dozen Occupants Of The Building C0FlGTGd by
the FLAMES Charles ]. Peterson. q Grip
Die, Caught in a Back Room and Burned
TO DHatl-ThTeG jump From windows.
Five Seriously Silget, and Two Of The
Injured NAV Dis-Tla Building De-
SiTOYsi Some Thrilling Escapes.

There were scenes OF great excitement
and confusion along the south side Of Post
street, between Mason and Taylor, soon
after > o'clock yesterday afternoon a dis
astrous gasoline explosion occurred on the
second floor Of the twO-stOry frame building
in the rear Of 519 Post street
The ground floor Of the building was used as
a stable, and the second story was occupied as
the tailoring establishment of Olof Erickson
ana Victor Anderson and the abode of their
families The explosion and tue fire that
quickly followed resulted in the death Of
Charles J. Peterson, and serious burns were
received by five other persons, one Of whom
may die from the effects of the Injuries.
Twelve persons were in the house at the
time, and the wonder is that auy escaped
death.
a TERRIFIC EXPLOSION.
1t was a few minutes after CLOCK when
Erickson sent Joseph Locks, one of his
workman. to ill gasoline stove that stood
in the hallway, near the door of the tailor
shop. Although the stove was lighted,
Locks carelessly proceeded to ill it up
from a tye-gallOn can. Some of the fluid
sila5hed against the fame and the next
instant a terrific explosion shook the build
lng from foundation to roof.
The blazing oil was sc altered in all diTec-
realized the danger the building was a mass
OF flames. In d few moments the work
room was on FIRE Ia half a dozen places, and
those employed there were battling for their
lives. Scenes Of great excitement and horror
followed.
THROUGH THE FLAMES
There was only one exit from the build
ing-a narrow staiTway-and this was almost
smut off from those in the tai0r-ShOp by the
flames. The first to escape was Locks who
had been singed on the face and hands. He
opened a side MlnQOW ana JuW ped 10 The
ground, a distance Of about fifteen feet.
Ills IMP was injured and as he limped
through the narrow passageWay leading to
Post street lie shouted, Fire IRE. help.
Some ran 10 the corner Of GeaTy and
Mason streets and turned in an alarm from
Station T.. In the meantime the FIRE RACED
Itrcey and ribbons Of flame shot out through
lie roof.
FLLEING FEOM THE FLAMES.
When the ire first started MIS-. Erickson,
Mrs. Peterson, Miss Silva BanksOn and
Miss Annie Thompson were seated il a
front room "Oh my GOdI exclaimed
bliss Thompson. " the place Is on fire. Run
toryouT lives" Fortunately the flames were
not between them and the stairway, aud the
ladies fled into the street for safety,
Erickson ran through the DIMES and
escaped with few slight burns. Hearing,
however, that his wife was still Ia the mousse
De again entered and fought his way TO her
traced his steps and was badly burned about
tie bands and face during the retreat.
POSSIBLY FATALLY BURNED,
Charles Hansen and Frederick Bergstrom
also csCaped with few slight bruises and
burns. The others at work IN the shop
were not so fortunate Anderson, who
was in a back room, was envelOped In
flames aud was seriously and perhaps
fatally burned. Charles LindQust was
bruised aud burned on the hands and face
before he made his way to a window and
Jumped out His hip was diSlOcated Dy the
Idl-
BY this time the fire engines had arrived
and with them crowds of spectators, a squad
OF police and a patrol wagon. The last to
leave the blazing building alive was Mrs.
Louisa SandSten, aged 90 years, and the
mother OF Mrs. Erickson. She had BEEN
scOrched on the face and hands and her
gray hair singed before she struggled to a
window and spTang cut just as she
jumped Robert Thorn and Thomas Magee.
Two clerks, appeared beneath the window
and caught her 10 their arms as she fell.
RELIEVING THEIR sUFFERINGs.
The injured persons were taken to a drug
store near by and their Sufferings tempOraT-
ily relieved. Locks was sent TO bis home at
$40 Jessie street. BeTgstTOm and Hansen
We're only slightly bruised, and soon de-
LaTted. Then the patrol wagon was brought
into requistlOn aud in Ii Erickson, Ander-
SIN, Lindquist and Mrs. Sandsten were re-
moved TO the Receiving Hospital There
the Police Surgeon aud assistants made a
more careful examination Of the injured.
The proper remedies were applied TO sOOthe
the burns. EFicksOn's hands and face were
badly bliStered. Anderson, his partner,
was 50 badly burned about the body. arms
and lower limbs that it was feared his in-
juries would terminate fatally.
& LindQulst soon recovered efficiently to
be taken to his home. In addition TO the
burns about her face and head, Mrs. Sand
m al mi on Qr Taft lag
A CHARRED CORPSE.
BY the time the fremen had brought
streams To play on the fire, the building was
mass of flames. 1t was known that all
had escaped from the building but Charles
=. Peterson. Where was he? His friends
shuddeTed as they asked each other the
question. When the flames had been eX-
tinguisbed and nothing remained Of the
building but charred and blackeued shell,
the body IF the unfortunate tailor was
found by District Engineers. The charred
bO3y lay in a corner Of what had been the
Lack room Of the shop 1t was so terribly
burned as TO be little more than mass of
roasted flesh and bones. The remains were
wrapped in a sheet and lowered to tie
ground by the fremen Then they were
placed ia the dead-wag0n and taken to the
MOrgue.
AN UNEXPECTED FATE.
Peterson was a cripple his back being
defOrmed by an accident in youth. Being
In the back room it is supposed that he was
oYerpOwered by the heat and smoke before
lie had an opportunity of joining the others
i'm their retreat. He was aged 40 years, and
native of Sweden. He leaves widow
and two sons. For many years no con-
dncted a talOT-shOp at S78 Walnut street,
Alameda, where he lived with MS family.
Occasionally he came 10 this city 10 see his
old friends Erickson and Anderson and 10
assist them at their work when shoTthanded.
He was in the Dest Of spirits during the
afternoon, little suspeeting the terrible fate
in store for him.
A MERE TINDER-BcX.
The building where the fatal fire occurred
was owned by X. Il, Mcdonald of the Pacific
Bank. 1t was as ln1lamma5le as a tinder-
box, and the fTemen had considerable diff
Guilty in keeping the flames from spreading
to the adjoining structures As it was fire
aid break out in two buildings near by, but
these flames were promptly quenched.
The roof Of q. BaehagalGpPs residence in
the rear oil 5l7 Mason street was damaged
To the extent Of $50, and the rear portion
If Mrs. j. w. Blankman's clearinghouse at
521 Post street was also scorched TO the ex-
tent OF about 500.
There was considerable excitementin this
house and many trunks and considerable
furniture were removed into the street.
L0dgers rushed frantically down the stairs
and increased the excitement in the street.
Inside Of an hour every spark had been ex-
tinguiShed.
HORRIBLE RUM0R.
Crowds lowered in the street until after
dark, discussing the incidents of the fire.
Many rumOrs were circulated and at one
time II was stated that seven persons had