The record-union., 1893-08-15
LOOKED OMINOUS FOR A TIME.
Two Fires at the Same Time in Diff
ferent Parts of the City.
The Fire Laddies, However, Succeed in
Vanquishing Both-Another Big
Hay Pile in Flames.

Two fires burning simultaneously in
different parts of the city is an emergency
that the fire laddies of Sacramento have
always feared.
They we'll know that they are not prop
erly equipped for such an occurrence, and
should both of the fires be serious ones
there is no telling how disastrous the re-
suits might be.
Yet this is Just what happened early
last evening, and Chief Gutherie says it
ought to afford the city good lesson, al
though the second fire was not serious
one, and, being quickly extinguished, dis
aster was averted and the department
was not crippled.
CRoCKER's sToREHoUsE.
Shortly before o'clock smoke was
seen issuing through the iron doors of the
old railroad storehouse on Front street,
near the corner of l.. 1t is used now for
the storage OF hay exclusively by its
owner, b. r. Crocker.
An alarm was quickly turned in, and
the department responded with two of
its three engines and the hook-and-
ladder. The remaining engine was held
in reserve by the Chief-as is always his
custom-until its presence is considered
absolutely necessary.
The fire was one of the blind" species,
and was said by the firemen to be one of
the ugliest they had been called upon to
fight in a long time The long brick
structure was literally packed with baled
hay, and II was almost impossible at first
to locate the flames. And the smoke was
so dense and sitting that the men had to
cut hole in the timed roof to let it out
In order that they might work within the
place.
AS usual, when the department first
began work, they had difficulty with the
water supply. Mud was pumped from
the plugs in chunks, and the pressure
was not sufficient to send a stream to the
root OF the one-story structure, from the
alley in the rear. 1t was only another
illustration that Sacramento sadly needs
a new water supply. Later on, however,
the pressure improved and some very
fair streams were obtained until the sec
ond alarm came in, when the water
nearly stopped altogether.
Had the city such a main as it is pro-
posed TO place in its center under the
Fish pure-water system, the department
would have had plenty of water for both
fires yesterday. The attention of people
living in the southern part of the city
which has built up wonderfully in the
past few years-is called to the fact that
the only good main the city has now is
in the northern end.
WAS HOT ONE.
The fire ragged fiercely inside the place,
and 1t was plain that nothing could be
saved. The hremen devoted most of
their attention to adjoining buildings, but
they were well protected by heavy brick
walls as well as the walls ofthe storehouse.
The hide house of w. r. Knights Il Co.,
which adjoins the storehouse on the
north, was in danger for time, but was
well taken care of. The walls of this
building became so hot that one could
scarcely touch his hand to it.
There are great many old wooden
buildings in the neighborhood, but their
roofs were kept well dampened and thew
escaped from the sparks.
Alter the fire had burned half an hour
Chief Guthrie told Captain Young, Crock
er's uperintendent, that he would have
to get some men to take the hay out, or
as much of it as they could. 'That fire
will burn for two weeks if we leave all
that hay in there the way it is now," he
said.
The Chief had in mind the experience
OF the department with the Wingard hay
lire OF over week ago. That hay is
smoldering yet.
In obedience to the Chiefs request Mr.
Crocker and Captain Young hired about
thirty men and had them report to the
Chief. he put them to work dragging
out the smoking bales, and this assisted
the tiremen very materially in fighting
THE Loss.
There were 220 tons of hay in the store
house when the fire started, and there
was room for very little more. The hav
was valued at about $500. There was
not cent of insurance on it, The hay
belonged to Crocker, as did also the
building. The building was not insured.
either, and the loss on it will amount to
about 81 200.
We had just finished storing the hay
last Friday" said Captain Young to q
RECORD UNION reporter. 1--WE had the
place unusually full of hay, too How
dld 1t happen? Well, spontaneous COM
Dustion Is the only thing L can attribute
it to. The place was securely locked,
and nobody had key to it but myself.
The fire, as far as l could ascertain. start
ed in about the center of the building,
close to the south wall. The hay is ali
ruined, and not being insured we will
lose the whole business" !"
Later in the night the last engine was
withdrawn from the fire, but hydrant
streams were still kept upon it. At mid
night the fire seemed to be entirely out.
and the whistle announced that factt
THE SECOND ALARM.
At about 6:25 o'clock, and lust when the
Crocker fire was at its worst a second
alarm came in from box p, located at
Third and J streets.
Chief Guthrie put Assistant Chief
Montgaillard in charge of affairs at the
hay fire, and, jumping into an express
wagon, fastened to the scene OF the sec
Ond blaze, which was RuhPs book-bind-
cry on the north side of street, near
Fourth.
A blaze had started in the cellar of
RuhPs place in some mysterious manner.
just beneath the sidewalk, and for a time
the Chief did not know whether or not he
was going to have a conhagration on his
hands. But the fire was only in its incip-
iency, and couple of good streams from
Engine No. =, which came down from
Tenth and | streets. soon had it out.
1t was the prompt action of the firemen
that saved a second bad fire, for the cellar
was stocked with paper and other in
hammable material, and if it had once
gotten good start would have played
havoc.
This fire started in pile of old rags
and waste paper. 1t is not known how ii
started, unless lighted cigar or match
was dropped through the trap-door. Ruhl
was just locking up the place for the
night when the smoke was noticed coming
no through the grating in the sidewalk.
RuhFs loss will amount to several hun
dred dollars.