Los Angeles herald., 1892-05-30
Two Large Manufacturing Es-
adjustments Burned.
The Fulton Iron and California Car
Works Destroyed.
A Number of Minor Manufacturin g
Plants Gone Up In smoke-The
Same District Burned Over
Five Years Ago.
By the Associated Press.l

From a small blaze quickly sprang .
raging fire that burned through the
block, wrecking in its pathway two OF
the largest manufacturing establish
ments of their kind in the city, temper
arily throwing about 300 men out of en-
ployment, and seriously injuring two
firemen. The heaviest losers are Hinck-
ley, Spiers & Hayes. proprietors Of the
Fulton iron works, and John Hammond
& Sons, owners OF the California car
works. Nothing remains of these big
industrial institutions but few charred
walls and mass of blackened iron and
machinery, melted or twisted into fan
tastic designs by the intense heat.
The Fulton iron works was situated in
two-story frame building fronting on
Fremont street, and extended through
the block to Beale street. Adjoining on
the south was two-story frame build
ing occupied by the California car
works, fronting on Fremont and also ex-
tending to Beale street. 1t was these
large buildings that furnished the best
food for the flames.
RAPID SPREAD OF THE FLAMES.
About $50 o'clock Watchman Berens
was in the rear of the Fulton iron works
getting up steam in the boilers. when he
saw volumes of smoke issuing from the
street entrance. A small FIRE was kept
burning in brick furnace there, and he
supposed that some OF the woodwork
hrl .rvht Dnf rrvSt1 nh,
the core room the flames were spreading
ing in all directions, and it was with
considerable difficulty that he escaped
from the building. Before the first
engine arrived the fire had spread to an
alarming extent, and tongues OF fame
were shooting through the roof OF the
iron works.
At 6:0l o'clock second alarm was
turned in, which summoned all the fire.
fighting paraphernaiia. The firemen
went to work with will. Streams were
brought to bear from fremont, Beale
and Howard streets, but with little ef-
feet, on the rapidly spreading flames.
With such lightning like rapidity did
the fire extend that the firemen had to
retreat from the Fulton iron works in
short order. They got out just in time,
for portions Of the roof fell in with q
desfening roar, burying everything be.
meath it.
Within half an hour the flames had
awept throegh the iron works, wrecked
. three-story brick building ct 2lSsErer
montetTeet, used ~ an of3ce, and com:
municated with the tinder-like structure
Of the California car works. This
building was also consumed in short or
der, and only . small portion in which
the Office was situated, escaped.
From the ruins of the Fulton iron
works, the fire spread northward to q
one-story frame building occupied by NJ.
Greenberg 4 Sons' brass works, and
Vandrake's machine shop. This build
ing and it's contents were also wrecked,
Atwo-story frame building, occupied
by Outsen & Bruins feed mill, was also
badly sc0rched and considerable damage
was done to the contents.
THE CONFEDERATION CHECKED.
The southward progress of the flames
was checked by the four-story brick
building Of Whittier, Fuller & Co..
pioneer lead and paint works, which
fronts on Fremont and also extends to
Beale street. The fire scorched and
blaokened the walls of the big building,
bat did little damage to It, beyond
burning two wooden tanks which were
on the roof.
The loss is estimated at $45O, 900 and
the insurance only $95, 600.
The Fulton iron works lose $3.50, 900,
Hammond car works $00,O00, and the
restiis divided between Vandrake's brass
foundry and smaller manufacturers.
One man was severly Injured by fall
ing from q third-story window.
FIRE AT BENICTA.
BRNCIA, May ga large building
on X street, between West Ninth and
Eighth street, formerly used as Tanners
boarding house, was burned this after
noon. The front portion of the house
was occupied by B. McAvery and FAM
lily. The FIRE started in one Of the rear
additions, and ae there was no water in
the building it was entirely consumed.
The building belonged to William Wells
of Martinez. It was werth about $4,000; ;
insured for $4,000.
THE RIvERsfDnRs yICrORIOUs.