davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee., 1893-12-10
Jewelry, Frenzer, opp postolice.
san Francisco's Midwinter Fair

"a IHttr FWIr
VIII be one OF the attractions on the Pa
eiiie coast during the coming winter.
II Will be held from January LIST to June
3oth, ls9f and might be aptly termed
the Worlds fair in miniature.
1t Will equal if not surpass the great
Centennial.
The Union Pacific is Offering II
ally low round trip rates to all Cali,
fornia points and Portland, Ore.
Send , cents for our California Sights
and Scenes.
ii. II, Duel, 1902 Farnam St. f. L.
LomaN, general passenger and ticket
agent, Omaha, Neb.
Omaha daily bee., 1893-12-10

City Treasurer Bolln yesterday forwarded
to New York the s52,500 in district
paving bonds of the city. recently disposed
of TO Farson, Leach & Co. This firm has an
option until the 18th on the remaining
$500, 900 of district bonds, paving, grading
and sewer.
Omaha daily bee., 1893-12-10
SOS 5O-ualiEornln aud Return-san 40

The Union Pacific offers to the Cali
fornia tourist for the winter of 1904 a
rate of 5000 for the round trip from its
Missouri river terminal. Quickest time
and best service. The only line run
ming Pullman palace sleepers and diners
through from Chicago to San Francisco,
For any additional informamation cali
on or address II. L. Deuel., 1902 Farnam
street, or f.. l.. LomaX, negeral passen-
ger ana ticket agent, Omaha, Ne6.
Omaha daily bee., 1893-12-10
Eids for city Printing.

City Comptroller Olsen has completed the
work of tabulating the bids for printing,
and will make his report to the council Tues
day. Mr.. Olsen ascertains that it has cost
the city over So, 600 less for printing and
stationery supplies during 1898 than it did
in 1892. This he attributes to the diligence
of his department and the fairness of the
contractors.
Omaha daily bee., 1893-12-10

Beginning tomorrow morning at 10
O'clock, at l40S Farnam street. opposite
Paxton hotel, 80. 900. 90 worth of me-
dunn and fine furniture: nothing re-
served. See further announcement on
page sixteen.
Omaha daily bee., 1893-12-10

is the subject recently given by the New
York Sun to an article on Tourist
PARTIES to the far west. The one way
is via the Great Central Route Weekly
California excursions via the Union
Pacific.
Solid comfort, jolly times, cleanliness
and %cheapness eXempliiied.
Send for folder giving details. F. f.
Shearer, manager, l0l So Clark street,
Chicago. +. l.. Lomay. Gen'l. Pass. and
Ticket Agt., Omaha, Neb.
Omaha daily bee., 1893-12-10
Home Seekers Excursions.

The first of the home seekers eXcur-
siOns will leave Omaha via the Missouri
Pacific railway on December IL to
points in Texas, Arkansas and Louis.
lana, Rates, one fare for the round
trip. Tickets limited to 80 days. For
further information call at depot, 18th
and Webster streets, or company's
offices. N. f. corner, 18th and Farnam.
j. O.. Phillippi, assistant general ticket
and passenger agent: Thomas +. God
frey, passenger and ticketagent.
Omaha daily bee., 1893-12-10
Ladies',

Do not fail to hear the eminent
speaker, Mabel b. Frew of Chicago, in
her illustrated lecture to the ladies of
Omaha, Patterson hall. 18th and Far
nam, Tuesday, Dec. II, 2:3O p. m. Sub
ject: What Should a Woman Know"
This lecture free.
Omaha daily bee., 1893-12-10

First premium at the Columbian ex-
position. The Singer Manufacturing
company received ti~fty-four first awards.
The largest number of awards obtained
by any exhibitor, more than double the
number received by all the other sewing
machine companies. The Singer Manu-
featuring companvs branch office of the
west located at 1916 Douglas street,
Omaha, Neb.
Omaha daily bee., 1893-12-10

Why pay Sl0.5 o for hard coal for your
furnace use, when you can buy the
Huntington smokeless (semi Anthra-
cite coal for 81 from JEFF w. Bedford,
N. w. Cor. Fifteenth and Farnam.
Omaha daily bee., 1893-12-10

In appreciation of past favors we will
present to every one of our customers
visiting our store between December 10
and January / a bottle of choice wine.
Family trade Il speciality. Mail orders
receive careful attention. No charge
for jugs or packing. A bottle of wine
free with every out-of-town order.
HENRY KILLER,
3D. North 10th street, importer and
dealer in choice wines and liquors.
Omaha daily bee., 1893-12-10
Maria &c Licenses.
60 south Ma tne Mannsh.

The first of a series of half-fare ex-
cursions south to be run by the Wabash
will leave Omaha ut !, Council Bluffs
4:iO p. m, ON Tuesday, December II.
For tlckots and full information call at
Wabash office, 1902 Farnam street, or
write &. n. Clayton, N. w. p. Agt.,
Omaha, Neb.
Omaha daily bee., 1893-12-10
1t Pound Tic Man.

Some days ago Tn BEE published an item
stating that John Gaal of West Newton,
Pa, wa seeking for a long lost brother,
Ignatz, who left Hungary in 1865. As a re.
suit of the publication the information
comes from st. Louis that Ignatz resided in
that city for several years and was employed
as a letter carrier, residing at Thirtieth and
Market streets.
Omaha daily bee., 1893-12-10

To the friends of the late L. ]. Collins
we return our sincere thanks for their
kind attention in this our hour of
sorrow. Respectfully yours.
Y. w. COLLINS.
Mrs. MARY A. NORTON.
Omaha daily bee., 1893-12-10

A doll free with each half sack
minneapolis Best" flour. Not only the
best, but the cheapest. Sold everywhere.
Omaha daily bee., 1893-12-10
Auction Sale of Watches.

Auction sale of watches, jewelry, etc.
every afternoon at 2:30 and every even
ing from I to Q. 5. ~Jonassen, 2O6 North
10th st. Masonic building).
Omaha daily bee., 1893-12-10

Discount on pictures, 1871 per cent for
cash. A. HOSPE, JR.,
1913 Douglas street.
Omaha daily bee., 1893-12-10

DIR. j., NJ Keys has removed to rooms
307-S-0 McCugue block.
Omaha daily bee., 1893-12-10

Discount on pictures. 33t per cent for
cash. A. HOSPE, JR.,
1913 Douglas street,
Omaha daily bee., 1893-12-10

Discount on pictures. 1874 per cent for
cash. \. HOSPE, JR.,
1913 Douglas street.
Omaha daily bee., 1893-12-10
~
Eurniture at Auction.

Samuel Burns will keep open evenings
until Christmas.
Omaha daily bee., 1893-12-10
TIME CHANGES.

Storm sash and doors cheap at Hamil-
ton Bros Ala 5. 18th street. Tel. Il79.
Omaha daily bee., 1893-12-10
Furnace Coai &,.OO,

New attractions in mems clothes made
OF thetine5t woolen5 at Frank J.. Ranges
Omaha daily bee., 1893-12-10
4 Gard OF u

Clearing out all our fur muffs. Shukert
furrier, Fifteenth and Harvey streets.
Omaha daily bee., 1893-12-10

Drexel hotel, 10th and Webster. l blk.
from NJ. =. Il Elk. depot Nat Brown,
prop.
Omaha daily bee., 1893-12-10

Fur muffs from SOC up, at Shukert's,
Fifteenth and Harney.
The morning call., 1893-12-26
ARRIVAL OF FIREMEN.
First, Second and Third Alarms
Turned in From Box oz

The first general alarm was turned in
from box 27, located at the corner OF Mont
gOmery and Commercial streets. at IL :16
A. NJ. In response engines l, ., 4, and H.
hook and ladder companies l and 2. hose
cart 1, chemical engine 1 and fire patrol l
arrived upon the scene minute later. In
an incredibly short time the hose was
coupled and four strong streams of water
were being thrown on the flames. To all
appearances the water, instead of quencb-
ing the fire. seemed to drive it up through
the floor, while smoke black as night and
so thick az thick as to make its resistance
felt upon the faces of the dremen came
pouring out. For an instant the men on
the pipes held their post; then an atcempt
was made to get hose into the basement.
This proved unsuccessful and the brave
fire laddles were driven by the binding
smoke from the building to the street.
linen it became apparent that the fire, al
though young. was far beyond the control
of the brigade at hand.
Engine 2. which was the first to arrive.
took up its station at the corner OF San
some and Commercial streets; the Others
were strung along Saosome and Clay.
Hook and ladder l and 2 drew up on Clay
street and raised their ladders to the roof
over The CALL departments. Up these
ladders engines and sent their line to
head off. BY way of the roof. any progress
the fire might make. Hosecart 1 was on
Clay street and chemical engine l on Com
mercial, near to where the fire was first
discovered.
at 30 o'clock a second alarm was
turned in, engines 8. 6, 9. 10. II, and hook
and ladder 4 responding. By the time
they arrived upon the scene the flames
had eaten their way through the first story
floors into Francis Valentines printing
house, aud reached the inflammable inks
and oils that were stored away there.
Creeping from there across the first floor
to the opposite side of the room, they
mounted the elevator-shaft. spreading the
roaring sheets of flame on all floors. AT
II IA o'clock a third general alarm was
turned in from the same box. which will
hereafter occupy place in the list of San
Francisco's memorable fire. boxes.
This call brought out engines 8. ID, Is.
10 and % and book-and-ladder 3, making
10 engines. 4 hook-and-ladder companies,
l hose cart. l chemical engine and / fire
patrol engaged in the fight within 2S
minutes after the first general alarm was
turned in.
Chief Sullivan and Assistant Doucherty
arrived upon the scene almost simultane-
Ously with the engines responding 70 the
first call. Loud above the roar of the
flames. as step By step it licked up the ma
terial that was strewn in Its path, could be
heard the voice of the chief directing the
movements of the firemen on Commercial
street, Ssile the assistant ggsded those on
Clay street.
The morning call., 1893-12-26

this was discovered Chef Sullivan directed
his forces to this quarter. a ladder was
posted TO the building on the northwest
corner of Leidesdorff and Commercial
streets. and up it q line of hose was car-
rled. In less than minute from this point
stream OF water was pouring into Shat
tuck's place. From the ground another
stream was being sent through the front
entrance, but all proved of no avail. The
| maddened flames grabbed up the COM
pounds and inks, as if in q mockiaC laugh
they dehed all efforts to subdue their fury
At about the same time and in the same
manner they gained an entrance from the
second floor to the binding and book rooms
OF Edward Bosqui. Here. as in all the
other places. inks, oils and paper furnished
the food, and, despite all the heroic efforts
OF the firemeD. nothing could save either
place. In many places. before control
could be gained by the department, the
floors were burned through and live
embers dropping below to paper or print
ing inks and starting new blaze.
Notwithstanding the intense heat and
that, too, on the east and above it was
bounded by roaring flames, the last place
to catch the fire was the paper warehouse
of Blake, MOffitt e Towne in the base
ment underneath Shattuck's. When once
it became ignited it soon gave promise of
making up for all lost time. The fire was
communicated from Shattuck's place by a
piece of falling debris. Although the top
paper coverings had been wet by the fall
ing water from above and already two feet
OF water was on the floor, when the flames
once took hold like the wreathing OF a
snake they crawled from one of the build
ings to tie other Three streams of water
were at once turned in upon them, one
from the Commercial-street entrance, one
on Merchant street and the other from
Clay street. The fight did not last long.
Dense volumes of smoke rolled out, for
few minutes hiding from view the firemen.
They stuck bravely to their post, however,
until the last sign of spark had died away
and left the basement with four feet of
water in it. Piles of paper from the force
of the water were tumbled over and
floated about like ships without rudder.
While the fire in the Valentine building
was in its prime the cry went up that there
was powder in the gunstore of Paul Brunot-
te, next adjoining Valentines. Hardly had
it been sounded when the crowd gathered
around about the place pushed back. All
save the fremen deserted the scene. The
door of the place was about to be broken
open and the powder taken out by the
firemen. when a clerk appeared and with
the assistance of the firemen carried the
deadly substance across the street.
OF the other places on Clay street the
damage done is mostly by water. The
rear end OF all the places from 511 to 51S
are burned and charred. but in the main
stand in a comparatively good state of
preservation. In all the cellars water
stood to the depth of from 2 to feet. In
the basement of 513. where the large per
fectipg press of THE CALL and Bulletin
stands, an artificial lake was formed.
Pressmen and fremen waded about over
their knees in water rendering what SER
vice they might.
| At 4 O'Clock the big engine of the Un-
The morning call., 1893-12-26

on the dead stone was pied by the water.
That the amount was not much larger was
due to the fact that the center two win
dows facing the fire had iron shutters.
These were closed, which rendered safe
the type near them. In the southeast cor
ner of the room was located the elevator.
used for raising and lowering forms fro m
the composing-room to the stereotype
room. Crossing connecting bridge be-
tween the Valentine building and THE
CALL and entering through the southeast
window, the flames caught the elevator
shaft and before water could he brough {
from the floor above, had destroyed it.
In the southwest corner of the room the
worst havoc was wrought. A few weeks
ago anew proofroom was built in this cor
ner. This was entirely destroyed, to-
gether with large number of type cases
and 200 pounds of type that stood out
side it.
From the floors above. through the holes
that had been cut, the water came pouring
down uIon the tarpaulns covering the
cases and flooded the room. This in turn
was let to the floor below and then turned
into the street.
Meanwhile the flames in the Valentine
building crept through the openings in the
wall. through which the power transmit
ting appliances pass, into the manufact-
nry of e. j. Shattuck & Co. AS soon as
The morning call., 1893-12-26

printing establishment was plain, and the
fremen directed their efforts to keep the
flames confined within the one building.
For time it seemed as though they would
be successful.
The flames from the front began to
die out, but at every moment those in the
rear broke out fresh. Back of the Valen-
tine building is narrow area separati ng
it from the buildings in which THE CALL
Offices are located. Across this area on
every floor is small wooden stage pass
ageway. connecting the two buildings.
Over these passages the flames worked
their way, entering the Bulletin editorial
and composing rooms on the top floor and
THE CALL composing-rooms on the sec
cDd floor. The Salvage corps of the Un-
derwrirers' Fire Patrol gathered in with
tarpaulins. and soon the cases containing
the type were covered.
In the Bulletin rooms the fire entered
first. Creeping through the window, the
flames entered tho editorial rooms. The
papers, books and library with which the
room was abundantly supplied furnished
good dessert for the Christmas dinner after
the oil and ink through which they had
just passed. Soon 1t was only charred and
blackened remains. The stream of water
that was sent in stopped their progress,
but not until the place was ruin. AT the
other end of the passageway the fire
The morning call., 1893-12-26
a CHRISTMAS DAY BLAZE.

building 506h to $40 Commercial streets
and In few short hours rendered worth
less over half a million dollars worth of
property in what is known as Printers
Row" district.
The block in which the steam power is
located is bounded by Commercial, San
some. Clay and Ledesdorff streets. The
block is narrow one. being what is COM
monly called half block, and was occu-
pied by prin ters. prin ters' material manu-
facturers, newspaper Offices and fat paper
warehouses. At the southwest corner of
Sansome and Clay, on the second floor.
are located the editorial rooms of The
MORNING CALL. These extend to 500
Clay street. On the ground floor 511 Clay
are located The CALL and Evening Bull
letin stereotyping rooms. Above, on the
second floor, are THE CALL composing
rooms, while on the third floor are located
the Evening Bulletin composing and editori-
al rooms. No. 513is THE CALL and Bulletin
press and mailing rooms, the heavy presses
being located in the basement Smiths
restaurant occupies 517. and j. S. Sch
weitzer d Co.'s butcher shop 519 Clay.
No. 525 Clay street is located on the corner
of Leidsedorff. The basement for many
years has been used as storage room for
fiat papers by Blake, Moffat & Towne.
The second floor was occupied by E. j.
Shattuck & Co., manufacturers of printers
rollers, inks, etc. The store was all in one
The morning call., 1893-12-26
out of the way before the fire reached it.
ORIGIN AND DISCOVERY.
Smoke Pouring Out From the Power
Works Plant

AS to just how the fire originated there
is difference of opinion. A story was
current that an oil lamp was overturned
in the power-house basement on a bundle
of waste rags, soaked with oil, from use.
Another that bundle of rags was left
close to the furnace and ignited from
a coal dropping from the crate during the
absence of the person in charge of the
furnace. AS to which is the true cause
is matter of conjecture. The fire IN the
furnace was burning and the door locked
when the flames were discovered emerging
from the basement
Edward Cotrell. night clerk in the Pa
cific lodging house. was the first to dis
cover the fire, and turned in the alarm
from the box located in the house. He
was just getting out OF bed and before
dressing went to the window to see what
kind of weather was on the outside. Look
ing across the street be saw smoke issuing
through the grated sidewalk in front OF
Fra ncis, Valentine & Co.'S place. He
raised the window and called out Fire
fire." Hastily putting on his clothes he
rushed downstairs and gave the alarm. At
the moment he looked out of his window
the streets appeared deserted. No one was
in sight, and from what he could see from
his lookout he thought the fire had gained
pretty good headway. The smoke was
pouring out in volumes from the grating
The morning call., 1893-12-26
A NARROW ESCAPE.
Good Work of Printers, Firemen
and patrOimeu

At the time the fire broke out there were
working in THE CALLS composition room
Charles T. Waltham, G. b. Mead and
Edward Smith, compoSitors. These at
once did what they could to save property.
In face of the binding smoke and the heat
that came in through the windows in the
south wall of the room they managed to
close two sets of iron shutters, but were
unable to reach third one. Just then
d. G. Poole entered. and grasping the stu
alton at a glance rushed out OF the build
ing to sound an alarm from sta ation q. In
the meantime the flames entered an open
window. leaped across a narrow space and
set fire to the proofroom. enveloping it in
few moments. The flames licked their
way upward and in few seconds were
fastening themselves on the tongue-and-
grooyed ceiling.
While this was going on, Waltham,
Mead and Smith were not idle. They
seized the makeup tables, which are
heavy and expensive ones, mounted on
rollers and rolled them to the front of the
building away from under the ceiling of
fire. About this time. trooping up the
stairs at SIT Clay street came the fremen
dragging lines of hose after them, and the
members of the Fire Patrol, under COM
mand of Captain ComStOck, each carving
an immense rubber blanket. With the
quickness which has always marked these
brave workers. whose special duty it is to
save property, they filed into the alleys of
the ccmposition-room and quickly placed
their covers over the many stands holding
the printers cases. This work was done
very quickly, but so carefully that none of
the type was disturbed.
In the meantime the fremen directed
three streams to where they would do the
most good and in less than minute the
ceiling. which was mass of living fame,
became charred and blackened ruin.
The walls of the prOOfroom also became a
backened ruin. To look at the compost
tioD-room after the fire was extinguished
it seems almost impossible to realize that
so much damage was done and the floor
above remain standing. The fremen and
the patrolmen are entitled to great deal
of praise for the effective work they did
not only in this but in all parts of the
building where their services were re-
Quired.
To the efforts of the fire patrol is due the
fact that the press on which THE CALI. is
printed and the many pieces of machinery
in the stereotype-roOm were saved from
damage by water.
The morning call., 1893-12-26
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Its Brave Work at Yesterdays
CONFEDERATION.

1t has seldom been necessary to call at
tentlon TO the brave work and almost mill
tary discipline that reigns supreme in the
ranks of the fire department in San Fran
cisco. On all occasions the firemen are
willing and quick 20 perform their duty
when the gong sounds. Leading life be-
set with dangers it might be supposed that
they become hardened TO the trials of their
vocation. Let this be as il may. fireman
is human, and when he enters the midst of
dangers he does so conscious that he leaves
a father, mother, sister. brother, wife or
babies at home.
1t is seldom that fire occurs in San
Francisco with more dangers than was
that of yesterday.
With the floors above them thickly
studded with heavy presses, weighing in
many instances tons upon tons, and the
flames eating among the rafters under
meath which furnish them support. whils
dense clouds of smoke roll all around, shut
ting from view all exits and chances Of
escape, not one faltered in the performa-
tlon of his duty. With fame and smoke
surrounding them on every side many en-
frances into the different buildings we're
made yesterday that seemed almost like
walking into the jaws of death. Several
of these entrances were led by Chief
Sullivan. Issuing from within the binding
clouds his orders to obtain the most effect
i've results in subduing the fire.
The work of the entire department in
handling the conflagration gives evidence
of its perfect organization. No harder
fire 70 fight could have been found Burn
ing oil and printing inks. sending forth
black columns of smoke and intense heat
could have worked good deal more havoc
than did yesterdays fire had it not been
for a ire department OF which We may
be Justly proud.
The morning call., 1893-12-26

and partly open window In the basement
AS soon as he turned In the alarm he
rushed to the scene. By that time police
man had arrived and was trying to burst
open the basement door leading to the
power works plant. Cotrell put his shoul-
der to the door. which after repeated at
tacks yielded to the force of the two men
AS soon as the door was forced open the
smoke. thick and black. came rolling out
into the street in such volumes as to drive
the two men to the pavement above. The
alarm had not yet been responded to, and
Cotrell, believing he could render some
service, rushed off in search of bucket of
water. Before he could return the first
engine had arrived on the scene and COM
menced work.
August kikulick. proprietor of Smiths
coffee-house. says the fire did not originate
The morning call., 1893-12-26

in the power-works basement. AS to its
origin he says: II happened to look out of
my back window, which looks into Valen-
tine 81 Co.'s place. and there saw a pile of
papers lying on table in the rear end of
the shop on fire. l looked well at them
and am sure they were on the table, so
that know the fire started in that place."
Edmund w. Goggin Of the firm of Fran
els, Valentine & Co. is positive the fire did
not originate in his house. Every night
before leaving the place every piece of
waste rag or wiping cloth. be says. is gath
cred up and put carefully away in recep-
tacle for that purpose. In view of this, he
The morning call., 1893-12-26

being made of light wood, were as kind
ling to the fire. Abeut forty cases all
filled with type were burned, the type
melting aud greater portion of 1t drop
ping to the floor. The floors Of the room
were flooded with water. Although it
might not be expected that so many fire.
men as were in there could move aroun d
in printing office and not pie consider
able amount of type, it may be said that
not stick was pied by them.
In The CALL composing rooms. on the
floor below, much the same condition Of
affairs existed, only probably little
worse. About 200 pounds Of type lying