The record-union., 1892-04-25
FATAL FLAMES.
One Man and Several Horses Burned
to Death.

One Man and Several Horses Burned
to Death.
SAN FRANCISCO, April 24.-A fierce
conflagration broke out in Hayes Valley
early this morning. which caused the de-
struction of two big barns, wagon shop
and considerable damage to other prop
erty. For a, time it looked as though the
block bounded by Laguna, Buchanan
and Grove streets and Ivy avenue was in
danger of being swept by the flames
Within the block are located many highly
infiammable wooden structures, such as
the old Mowry Opera-house, Station III
of the Postoffice, barns and residences,
and it was only after hard battle by the
fremen that these buildings were saved.
As it was, the flames caused the death of
one human being and sixteen valuable
horses.
1t was past 4:30 o'clock when tongues
of flames shot out from the roof of a two
story frame building, at 61S Ivy avenue,
owned by Mrs. Ellen MOwry, and occu-
pied as stable by the City Transit Com
pany. Before the firemen arrived the
barn was mass of seething, roaring
flames from the ground floor to the hay
loft.
A. Craig, a driver employed by the
company, who lives near by, was the first
to arrive on the scene. He tried to open
the front door of the barn, SO as to liber-
ate ten horses that were rushing fran
tically about within, but the intense heat
caused him to quickly retreat leaving
the animals to their terrible fate. BY this
time the firemen had brought several
streams to bear upon the barn. The
flames had communicated to two-story
structure adjoining, in the rear of the
barn. This building was occupied by g.
Pheuger's New York horseshoeing and
wagon-shop. Both buildings were
quickly reduced to ruins.
From the City Transit Company's
stable the fire next spread westward to
the rear of John Bennetts S stables. There
were also six horses imprisoned in this
place, and before they could be liberated
three perished in the flames. The other
three horses were SO brdly scorched be-
fore they escaped that their suffering
was ended by their being shot by their
owner.
Within an hour the flames were under
control and completely quenched an
hour later. During the progress of the
FIRE there was great excitement in the
neighborhood. Nearly every one in the
block thought their abodes were in dam
ger of destruction. Furniture and other
personal property were removed during
the confusion to places of safety.
The loss to buildings was estimated at
$500 and to contents So, 300.
AT nrSt the cause OF the fire was mys-
terry. 1t was learned, however, that
John Hand, aged 26, and driver en-
ployed by the City Transit Company, had
been in the habit of occasionally sleeping
in the hay loft. As he had been seen in
the vicinity just before the fire started 1t
was feared that he had crawled into the
barn and started blaze with a cigarette
or cigar. Later in the morning Hand S
body was found in the ruins.
FIRE AT NAPA.
NAPA, April 24.-At $3.50 this morning
fire was dicovered in the Office of the
White House dry goods house, the prin-
cipal block on Main street. The flames
were extinguished before they spread to
other buildings. The stock was badly
injured by smoke and water. The loss is
about 1000; insured. 1t is supposed the
fire was of incendiary origin.