The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1893-07-13

MAXWELL, July PA fire started here
at Ills this morning which almost wiped
out the town. Twelve houses were
burned, together with warehouse con-
tanning 10000 sacks of wheat belonging to
various farmers of the neighborhood.
The fire is believed to have been the
work of a firebug. 1t started in the rear
of hardware store.
AS soon as the flames burst forth they
were seen by the night Waterman of the
warehouse, who Immediately gave the
alarm. Ina few moments the entire in
habitants of the town were out, and, with
all the means at hand, joined with will
in battling with the flames.
Water was scarce, however, and
strong north wind was blowing, which
made it extremely hard for the volunteer
department and their assistants TO con-
tend with the flames. For time it
seemed that the whole town would go.
The glare of the light Illuminated the
country for miles around, and made a
scene which the people hereabouts will
not soon forget.
Several bold stands were made by the
fire-fighters, but they were invariably
driven away. When the Postoffice caught
the state of affairs looked critical. Sparks
filled the air, and were waited on the
breath of the wind to roofs of adjacent
buildings. People could be seen on the
tops ofdwellings and stores with buckets
of water extinguishing the lighted cinders
as they fell.
The streets presented an appearance
that has not been witnessed since the
foundation of the town. 1t was genuine
panic, and men and women were run
ming hither and thither in the widest
dismay clad only in their nightdresses.
The sparks from the Postofice set fire
to livery stable, leaping from there to
two saloons which were consumed while
three adjacent stores were burning. The
insurance Office of Harden Bros. fol-
lowed;s the Mercury office and the princi-
pal blacksmith shop of the town col
lapsed.
While the conflagration was at its
hight three explosions took place in
rapid succession. They occurred in the
bartholomew building, throwing glass
and other debris across the street.
The fire was not under entire subiec-
ton until o'clock this morning.
AS far as can be estimated the loss will
amount to at least 100000. The insur-
ance is in the neighborhood of $50 900.
If the incendiary is captured it will
certainly go hard with him, as it is now
thought that human life has been de-
stroyed in some of the burned buildings.
A BLAZE AT OAKLAND.
OAKLAND, July ia fire broke out at
Seventh and Myrtle streets at IL O'Clock
this morning. Before it had been SUBJ
dued it had destroyed the Gregory block
and entailed a loss of $4,000.
The Gregory block was a large frame
building, occupied by fifteen stores on the
ground floor. Above the stores were flats
in which were some thirty tenants. All
these were Quilted, and almost the entire
contents were destroyed.
When the firemen arrived the flames
had gained great Roadway, and it was inn
possible to save the building.
The origin of the fire is not definitely
known, but is supposed to have started
from a stove in the flat occupied by Mrs.
Turner.
The building had frontage of 300 feet
on Seventh street by a depth of fifty feet.
The insurance on the structure, flimsy
frame affair, was 223, 800. The losses of
the tenants range from $50 to $1,000.
GRAIN FIRE AT BRENTWOOD.
BRENTWOOD Call, July ia fire
started this morning in the grain field of
Charles Schafer, burning one stack Of
grain and sixty sacks of wheat in the
field. Plumley q Winter also lost sixty
acres of standing grain, and J. SprowI
fifteen acres. The loss is 1000; insurance
light.