The record-union., 1891-06-30
EPIDEMIC OF FIRES.
THE COUNTRY AROUND SAN RA-
FAEL IN FLAMES.
Six Cinnamon Reported Burned to
Death in San Francisco-Fatal
Fire in Los Angeles County.
Special to the REooRD-UNIoS.

Special TO the RECoRD-UNIoN.
SAN RAFAEL, June 29.-This afternoon
a horseman dashed into town and re-
ported that the woods on the eastern
slope of Mount Tamalpais were on fire.
The alarm bell was tapped, and the de-
partment responded instantly. crew
OF volunteers were Immediately sent to
the scene. The water company received
a telephone message that their property
was in danger, and they dispatched a
crew of fifteen men to assist in extin-
gushing the flames.
At present it is impossible to gain any
definite information as to the origin or
extent of the fire, but it is supposed that,
from the course the fire took, it started
in the vicinity Of the residence OF Mrs.
Porteous. Other reports state that the
fire started on the ranch of Mr.. Barbour,
the attorney, and that sixty or seventy
acres of hay was burned. The fire
spread rapidly, and soon the grounds of
j. q. kittle were q mass of flames.
The fire tonight has gained cOnSldera-
BILE headway, but the residences OF
Messrs Kittle and Barbour are out OF
danger. Bill Williams gulch, one of the
beauty spots of Marin County scenery,
about two miles west of Ross Station, is
now in flames, and the fire is rapidly
running up the side of the mountain.
1t was thought that the road leading to
the summit would check the fire, but
owing to the fact that there is not breath
OF air in motion the fire spread across the
road and now covers an area OF about
1000 acres. Tall pines and redwoods are
shed of their branches in few seconds
after the flames reach them. The crack
ling sound Of burning trees can be heard
for mile distant, and the air is filled
with cinders and ashes.
After burning a considerable portion
through the Bill Williams Gulch, the
fire spread to the south, and it is now in
close proximity to the residence Of y. +.
Kent. About 100 men are now engaged
i'll fighting the fire, but it is not thought
1t can be extinguished within forty-eight
hours. The temperature is about 9S> in
the shade, and it is impossible for the
men to stand the heat.
A few minutes after the fire alarm for
the Mt. TanIalpais fire was turned i'll a
second alarm was rung in for brush-fire
on the east side OF town, near the Hotel
Rafael. When the tiremen arrived on
the scene there was about 30 acres III
flames, and it was with great difficulty
that the residence of L. w. Spencer was
saved.
The firemen were compelled to set fire
to grass around Spencer's residence in
order to save it.
At present the fire is confined to a
grove of eucalyptus trees on the Nevada
Bank property. Two miles of fencing has
been burned. The Fire Department has
started fire in several places in order to
cOnfine the fire to the grove, where it now
is burning. At this fire the male portion Of
San Rafael turned out en- masse. There
necessary to fight the fire with branches
and sacks. Beyond the burning of vol
unteer crops and fences the damage will
not be very great.
AN ITALIAN FATALLY BURNED.
HEALDsBURG, June 29.-G. Dinucci,
italian, while enGeavoring to eXtinguish
a grass fire on the Bidwell ranch, was
overcome by heat and fell into the flames,
receiving such injuries before he could be
removed that he died in a short time.
FIRE AT CORNING.
CORNING, June ga fire started at
noon to-day in the grain field of II. c.
Wilson, near Corning, and burned 100
acres of barley, which averaged fifteen
sacks to the acre. 1t was insured for
81 ,290. Ninety tons of hay, seventy-five
acres of wheat standing and in sacks.
which belonged to II. kroft, and averaged
ten sacks per acre, and one mile of new
u.
insurance on the hay or wheat. A hot
north wind was blowing, and the ther-
mometer registered ll0'.
FATAL FIRE IN Los ANGELES COUNTY.
Los ANGELES, June 29.-The house
occupied alone by Lorenzo d. Gavitt at
Vincent, in the northern part of this
county, was destroyed by fire early this
morning, and Gayitt's charred remains
were found in the ruins. 1t was also re-
ported in a special to the EUcni7lg Express
that his sOn-in-law, VIII Paris, OF this
city, the well-known steamship agent,
was also burned to death in the fire, but
this is a mistake, as Paris left there last
night and was here this morning. Paris
intended to bring Gavitt TO the hospital
here, but the latter was too i'll TO move.
Gavitt was a pioneer resident. The cause
of the fire IS not yet known.
SIX CHINAMEN REPORTED BURNED.
SAN Francisco. June 29.-A fire this
afternoon destroyed a lodging-house in
Chinatown. The fire burned over an
hour, and the building was completely
destroyed. The charred remains of one
Chinese woman were found i'll the ruins
It is stated that five other Chinese women
were burned To death, but the bodies have
not yet been found.
FIRE AT SIsSoN.
STsSON, June 29.-At l p. VI. q fire was
discovered in the lie Grande Hotel. A
north wind was blowing. The hotel and
furniture are a total loss. The fire was
soon communicated to the residences of
p. Mcbride, Fred. States, and Mrs
Bridges of Red Bluff, and all are a total
loss. The loss of the lie Grande Hotel
and furniture, owned by f.. Frisbie of
Redding, is $1,000; insured for s, COO. The
loss on the residences is 81 400; uninsured.
w. II. Moss, lessee of the lie Grande
Hotel, loses 81 200 on stock of liquors
and supplies; uninsured. The guests Of
the hotel lost everything. The cause of
the fire was children playing with
matches.