San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-07-17
CONFLICTING ELEMENTS.
FIRE AND WATER CONTEND FOR
THE MASTERY.

Shu AulOulO anu NiClhlty iNA - AOhe
time now, was broken last evening by
one of those sudden wind and rain
storms that are peculiar to this section
of country and this season of the
year.
The wind veered from southwest to
northeast and gale began blowing.
Rain soon descended in heavy vol
ume, and considerable water fell
which was quickly drank up by the
thirsty earth.
The rain was of short duration aud
only one peal of thunder and one
stroke of lightning descended. This
struck in the eastern part of the city
and soon through the rain the sky
was lighted by a conflagration. No
fire bells sounded an alarm,
as it is stated the wires con-
Meeting the Gaynor fire alarm system
throughout the city had been render
ed useless by the stroke OF lightning.
The fire was located in Martin &
Schryver's large lumber yard, which
occupies TWO or more blocks near the
Sunset railway depot and just outside
the yard between Cherry and Walnut
streets. The department turned out
with only tolerable rapidity, the
flames gaining uncomfortable head
way before any stream of water ex-
cept the rain, could be put on. The
rain had no effect and the firemen
when they arrived had almost q
hopeless task before them. Mission
hose company was called by the
Joker" alarm to box ID
and went out of the way
across the river to the U. s. arsenal on
South Flores street. The other COM
panies started for the Sunset Hose
house Oh Grand Avenue,
but were turned to the fire in time by
seeing the flames. Soon after the arri-
val of the department sixstreams of wa
ter were being poured on the burning
mass. The streams had no pressure,
and telephone message had
TO be sent to the water company's
pump house at the head of the river
for more pressure. This was
soon furnished, and with toler.
ably heavy force the fire
was fought from eight o'clock
until after midnight and thus kept
within its bounds and neighboring
frame houses, woodyards and the
wool warehouse of the Southern Pa
cific railway company were protected.
The fire burned nearly all the lumber
In one block bounded by
Hays and Burnett, Cherry
and Walnut streets and when
first seen was located in the wooden
shed at the northeast corner in which
was stored from 10 to Il carloads : of
barbed wire and copper coils. 1t Is
it was this immense quaint
ty Of wire that drew the lightning
and caused the bolt to descend
during the thunder shower.
People in the neigh b0rhoOd said the
cleo richly descended. One saloon man
says it appeared as a straight band
OF white fire about as broad
as mans hand, and and seemed to
to extend into the heavens for many
miles. Directly after the flash flames
were seen issuing from the wire
war ehouse and the night Waterman
immediate gave the alarm from box
2l3. The engines of the railway COM
pany also sounded the railroad alarm,
by continuous blowing OF whistles
and thousands of citizens soon came
pouring to the scene. They were all
very orderly however, and gave the
police hut little trouble The firemen
were left to fight the fire, and were
not interfered with.
1t is estimated that nearly one mill
lion feet of lumber was destroyed or
injured. This was the beat OF the
stock stored in the yard, being com.
posed wholly of ready dressed lum
Der, fine mouldIngs, shingles and
cedar posts. The barbed wire de.
stroyed or damaged will be cOnsid.
cradle figure of the losses. The yards
to the north of Hays street, con
tanning only the heavy and rough
lumber, were not injured. Two car
loads OF lumber loaded on fiat cars
were burned. They were standing
on the Southern Pacific railway track
which runs through the burned dis
trict, and the lumber and cars
were destroyed. The loss to the rail
way company will be light, only thu
damage TO these cars and the Sigh
springing of the rails by the heat, re-
sulUing.
Mr.. A. G. Schryver, the southern
manager of the firm. Is absent from
the city, having started for a tril
north several days ago. The exac
estimate of the losses can not, as yet
be made.
This morning the fire was still
smouldering, and engaged the atten
ton of the firemen, who played upol
| it from one or two streams.
One fireman, who was overcome b.