The morning call., 1893-10-25

Spear street. He rushed to the alarm-box
and sounded the warning call.
Engine companies ,. 4, .. 10 and u, hook
and ladder company l. hose companies l
and 2, the water tower and the fire patrol
No. quickly responded.
Chief Sullivan was early upon the scene
and at once ordered second alarm TO be
sounded. This was at SLY o'clock, ten
minutes after the first alarm. In response
to this second alarm engine companies !,
5, 5, g. II and 10 and hook and ladder COM
psnies and 3 arrived upon the scene.
The night was baimy. the wind was at
rest and the moon in the full shone bright
ly when the first alarm was sounded. The
streets were crowded with promenaders.
Those who heard the alarm turned in
the direction of Steuart and Folsom streets
and they saw a faint light rising above the
housetops. 1t rose higher ard higher be-
came brighter and brighter, and q fe "
minutes after the first alarm it had grown
SO that it resembled an immense pillar Of
fire from the apex Of which darted millions
of scintillating sparks. The calmness of
the atmosphere prevented these from being
scattered, but after fnttering for few
seconds they became black embers and fell
into the fiery pit from which but few
bright light drew to it thousands of the
promenaders who crowded into the vari-
Gus streets from which they could obtain a
view of the burning building. They
crowded toward the fire until they reached
the fire lines established and maintained
by the police.
There were many young men and boys
nimble and active, who were anxious to see
more than those who were on the pave
ment, climbed upon piles of lumber and
housetops. from which points Of observa-
tion they saw all that could be seen, until
the stern voice of sergeant of police was
heard directing his meh to "drive the
crowds from those lumber piles" At the
risk of breaking limbs or neck the sight
seers dropped to the ground rapidly if not
gracefully.
The planning mills extended through
from Spear street to Steuart, and il was
on the Spear-street side Of the buildings
that the fire originated in the upper fiat OF
the buildings.
The company had as tenants Joseph
Kemp. manufactures of office fixtures; the
Swift Lumber and Improvement Com pauy,
Drew IL Mclaughlin. stair builders
Robert Robinson. p-wheelwright, and
Mr.. Evans, showcase manufacturer, in the
Spear-street buildings.
Whether the fire first started in the Dor.
tion of the buildings occupied by the ten
ants or in the mill proper is at present a
mystery. That it started in the upper fat
as already stated, was generally admitted
William Fitzgerald. engineer in the plan.
ing mills, is authority for the statement
that when the dozen hands at work in the
mills knocked off for the day at half-past
3 o'clock everything was all right. The
usual time for quitting work was BIB bu
being busy they worked for fifteen min
utes longer yesterday afternoon.
AS far as could be learned none of theii
tenants had their places open after
o'clock. There was, therefore, over tive
hours from the time every one quit unit
the flames broke out.
Owing to the fact chat the buildings AM
their contents were chiefly composed o.
wood the flames spread with the utmos
rapidity and burned with the creates
fierceDess.
When the engines arrived it was at ones
seen that there was no hope OF saving thu
pIaning-mills, and the efforts OF the fire
men were mainly directed in preventin;
the FIRE from spreading to the lumber
wards to the north and south and to th
buildings on the opposite side OF tn
street, which were Kept deluged will
water.
Part of the engine companies were sta
toned on Steuart street, and he ole Ell
forts were made to fight back the advanc
ing flames, which were quickly and surel,
eating their way eastward.
On the SLeusrt-street side were build