The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-10-27
INrERIoR OF TIE RuINED JossHousE.

that fires like crimes follow each other In
series.
The first alarm was not sounded until ten
minutes after the flames were discovered.
the Chinese who first saw the fire not being
able to keep their presence of mind.
After the arrival of the first engines in
the district, Assistant Chief Sullivan ordered
q second alarm turned In. 1t was about tif-
teen minutes before the alarm was sounded,
there being some hitch IN the working Of
the wires.
Fire Commissioner Morris Schmidt stated
that after the first alarm the second did not
sound for fully fifteen minutes. BY this
time the flames had gained rapid Roadway,
spreading to adjoining buildings, and were
not under control until the greater part of
the buildings on the block had been de-
stroyed
The principal property burned was owned
by Paul Fleury of Sausalito, On lot 46x
10 feet, reaching from Dupont street TO
Waverly place. he had erected three build
ings. which he valued at $4,000. His in
surance was only $780, as the insurance
rates were very high. 2 per cent on The Du-
pont-street side and per cent on the
WaveTly frontage. All Of the buildings
were entirely consumed. His property had
been leased to Hong Fer Low for fifteen
years The Chinese lessee subieased the
property to various Chinese tenants.
Hong Fer Low himself conducted a res
tauraDt on the second floor of the Dupont
street building. The restaurant was most
gorgeously fitted up, the walls being made
of carved woods imported from China and
inlaid in places with precious stones.
The insurance of Hong Fer Low ia stated
to be S27. 600
Some of the chandeliers in the place cost
$500 each. The restaurant was visited for
years by tourists from ali parts Of the world.
The top fool of the building was oecu-
pied by Chinese rOOmeTs. On the lower
ra "a Of fnl0fnhO ~
Co.; FOok Iuen, grocery store, and
Hong Kue Lung q Co.'S establishment.
The two rear buildings on Mr.. fleury's
lot we're also occupied by poor Chinese.
The fourth building destroyed was on the
north side and was owned by Daniel East
brook. The loss to it Is estimated at $1,000.
Beyond this was fifth structure. owned
by the Crooks estate, which was also
burned, the loss being about $1,000.
In early days this building was the resi-
dence of woman named Rose Cooper, who
was notorious in her time as the keeper CT
an evil resort.
The other small buildings destroyed on
Waverly place, which we're formerly the
haunts of disreputabe women, were all
miserable structures, the loss on which is
very small. A two-story house ON the
south side of.Waverly place was partially
destroyed. President lie Breton OF the
French Bank represents the owner, who is
in Europe. The insurance Is $500, which
fully covers the loss. The policy of insur-
ance expired at II o'clock yesterday, just
few hours after the fire.
A brick building adjoining on the south
side, owned by j. w. Brun of Oakdale, was
damaged.
The st. Francis Hotel, notorious in early
days, Cd the corner OF Clay and Dupont
streets. was badly damaged on the roof In
the building back of the hotel was the JOSS
house, partially destroyed.
Il In N
Mulligan, one of the then notorious charac-
tiers of the town, while laboring under al
attack OF delirium tremens, locked himself
in one Of the rooms and with revolver
fred at persons passing along Dupont
street. One OF the bullets pierced the heart
OF young man named Hart, fireman of
Hose Company 4. McNabb, one OF NULL
gan's intimate friends, volunteered 10 GO
to his room TO pacify him, but as he APP
preached, Mulligan, after warning him to
keep away, fired at and killed him. He
then returned TO his room, and while taking
aim at an officer, who was stationed at a
window of a house on the opposite side OF
Clay street, he received O mimic ball in his
brain fired from a rife in the hands OF OH
Ger Hopkins.
The loss to the entire eight buildings was
estimated by Captain White to be $50, 600,
but the damage will 60 way beyond these
figures. The goods in the Chinese baZaars
and shops were very valuable. some Of them
having silks and curios at fabulous prices.
The buildings alone will almost cover the
amount at which Captain White places the
loss.
A Bilau, the agent for most of the prop
erty, stated that the loss to Paul Fleury on
his buildings alone is $4,000. He estimates
the entire loss by the fire at 100000.
The fire Is known to have started in the
rear Of Hong Fer Lows restaurant. 1t is
supposed one of the Chinese fremakers
was careless in his heating OF the stoves,
leaving room for some sparks TO fall against
the greasy walls. ready aud ripe for instant
combustion.
There were no accidents or deaths re-
ported, although there we're many narrow
escapes, the scene Of the fire being filed
with wild crowd of shriekng and yelling
Chinese escaping from the burning build
ings. The police placed Gordon around
the fire and prevented the vast horde OF
Chinese from approaching too near the
flames.
In the morning, after the fire had been
subdued, large crowd collected, being
replenished during the day.
In the various stores were seen charred
remnants of the Chinese households. In
some OF the stores among the burnt ruins
were packages Of firecrackers and Chinese
bombs which had not been exploded. Many
valuable Chinese curios from tile half-con-
sumed bazaars were stolen during the day.
Mr.. Davis and the Chinese.
Napa Register.
he C..