The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-12-24
HEAVY LOSSES.
Agricultural Implement Ware
houses Destroyed by Fire.
Total Loss Of q Valuable Stock Of Mor-
ChandiSe at Sacramento.
The Commercial Hotel and Other BUILDINGS
in Martinez Burned 70 the Ground
Fireman ln.nrtj.
Special TO THE MORNING CAur..

SACRAMENTO, Dec. 23.--The most disas-
trous fire that has occurred in Sacramento
for years broke out this morning and de-
stroyed Baker & Hamilton's agricultural
implement warehouse, containing a valua-
BILE stock of merchandise. The building
was brick structure, S0x160 feet in area,
one story in height, with a basement. 1t
faced on Front street, with its eighty
foot frontage, and extended back TO the
alley between l and j, Front and Sec
ond Its south wall adjoined the build
ing occupied by the firm as its retail depart
ment. Special Officer May, while on the
corner of Second and j streets at $3.50
o'clock, observed smoke arising from the
building, and fastening to the entrance of
the alley oD j street. saw smoke and flames
issuing from the windows of the basement.
An alarm was Immediately sent in and
Chief Guthrie was soon ON the spot. Some
difficulty was experienced il effecting an
entrance. Finally a basement iron-door was
broken in, but still in the large apartment
there was difficulty in locating the exact
spot.
Although the smoke was binding and sitting,
there was not sufficient light from the flames to
show where the fire was burning, and The Chief
crawed in on his hands and knees and found
hames burning hercely In almost the center of
the moor. 1t waSa close call for the Chief to re-
gain the open air so oppressive was the heat and
smoke. The fire had evidently been burning for
some time before evidences OF II were discovered.
The opening of the doors created a draft
which soon carried the flames through
the floor and up through the main
room, and they burst through the
roof. AS fremen Steve Butler aud Dick Tren-
grove ran up The ladder with the pipe an expIo-
sion OF about forty pounds of sample powder oc.
CURED and Knocked them backward TO the
ground, breaking IrengrOve's knee-cap and
otherwise Dfni>ing both him and Butler.
The second alarm WIS turned in and the other
Two engines OF the city responded. as well as a
water train from the Southern Pacific yards
The latter directed Its attention to preventing
the flames from communicating TO the Southern
Pacific frelght-sheds across the street Il ON the
burning building The efforts of ihe Fire Depart
ment were well directed, and prevented the
spread OF the flames to any adjoining property.
The contents OF the warehouse were wagons.
reaiers. buggies, scrapefs, aud in fact ali kinds
OF agricultural implements, barbed wire, rope,
eic. They are considered total loss. About
100000 gun cartridges were among the con-
tents. and heir explosion kept up lively fusil
lade and caused The spectators 10 stand at Il
distance. though there was NO real danger from
them.
The warehouse building belongs to William
$4,000. which will cover the loss, the walls
are intact. The contents were valued at be-
tween $4,000 and $4,000, and are nearly
total loss, but are fully covered by insurance.
BUILDINGS BURNED AT MARTINEZ
MARITIME, Dec. 23.-This morning about 8 80
O'Clock fire broke out in Chinese laundry on
heavy wind was blowing 1T the time. Tile
hose-cart and hook and ladder truck were
a Will to subdue the flames. Owing to
the lack OF force TO the water the
flames could not be controlled IN time aud
quickly spread 10 the Comme clai Hotel. which
was burned to the ground, together with tailor
and barber shop adjoining. By this time full
force of water bad been obtained, and the wind
subsldlng, the flames werc, after hard work,
brought under control aud prevented from eX-
tending TO the other buildings.
Tie buildings on The opposite side OF Main
street, occupied by McMahon Bros; Perry's har.
ness-shop. Nelson's shoe-store and the Douglas
yarety-store were badly scorched and all the
large glass windows broken.
Shortly before The fire broke out there had
been heavy shower OF ram, and IL was perhaps
owing TO this that the fire did not spread more
RAPIDLY, as the roofs OF the buildings were damp.
The fire is supposed to have been caused by
the habit the Chinese auudrymen have of drying
clothes indoors by means of Goals in open pans,
the clothes in this instance catching fire. The
total loss, as near as can be ascei taIned,
Is about $4,000, the principal losers being
j. Ipswich of tho Commercial Hotel, who lost
everything but his parlor furniture, horse and
COW, insured for $500; J. Rankin who
osey 'ns as Seuped aDS 6s Ss NJ
barber-shop, insured for 5000; OMaliy and
Segu! saved nearly all their effects, loss nominal;
the laundry building was owned by j. Sturgis
loss nominal. Some clothing was burned, but
how much il is impossible to ascertain at this
time. The loss by breaKage OF glass windows,
ETC.. on the opposite side of the street, will
amount 10 $500 or more. Considerable damage
was done TO Gllpatrick's butcher shop by water
and also TO Mrs. Hollenbeck's building adioin-
ing.
II was remgrkabe escape for the town.
The yard fire engine from Port Costa was sent
iVa6t iafQ a IN ha anfca rrIn
HOTEL BURNED.
ANACoRTES (Wash.), Dec. %. - The Island
Club Hotel and annex, situated on Point Rocks,
north Of Ocean Rock, was burned this afternoon
The loss Is estimated at $4,000,