The morning call., 1893-06-08

first attention. In the block west of Lyon
street there were seven or eight pianos on
the street at one time.
The heat was terrific and interfered
considerably with the fremen's efforts to
control the confiagration. Many of them
were compelled to almost stand in the
flames. which blistered their faces and
hands and even caused their headgear to
warp. They were often compelled to turn
the streams on themselves to prevent their
clnthinG catching fire.
The fire continued TO spread in every
direction. and as each engine arrived il
was stationed at the most available hy-
drants. but some OF these were several
blocks away, and owing to the scarcity of
water three engines were required to do
service for one pipe.
1t soon became apparent that the whole
row of two-st0ry and basement buildings
on the north side of Page street, between
Baker and Lyon, were doomed, and in less
than an hour from the time the first alarm
was ruDg they we're reduced to ashes.
On the same side of tho street between
Lyon and Lott the two-StOry and basemen,
| residences, 1900 to 1903, were also re-
duced to ashes and 1912 was considerably
damaged. In this direction the fire
stopped at 1914, which was slightly dam
aged IN the lower portion.
The clouds OF sparks and burning en-
bers which had been blowing here and
there, settled upon the roofs of 10 Lyon
street, in rear of the Rountree building,
and the adjoining building 112. The for
mer was gutted and the latter nsiderably
damaged.
Across Page street, on the south side,
were three handsome family residences,
Nos 1909, 1915 and 1921, and they were soon
in flames from the burning embprs lodg-
Ing on the roofs. The first to be consumed
was 1921, owned by NJ. Z. Finn, and occu-
pied by j. S. Webster. The next was
12l5. owned and occupied by f. A. Lux Of
Miller 81 Lux. The other, 1909, was re-
/ Gently constructed and was owned and oc-
cnpied by Mrs. Swigert. All tnat is left
OF 1t are the walls. Close to this latter
! building is long shed In the rear of and
adjoining two-story dwelling on the cor
ner OF Baker street. the first If block ex-
tending southwark TO Haight. On the
! opposite corner is a vacant lot, and next to
the lot is the CrOcker schoOlhuuse.
1t was evident that if this block of
dwellings and the schoolhouSe caught fire
the confagration would not be stopped till
the whole western portion of the city had
been Swent out OF existence.
Chief Sullivan had Sfen and appreciated
the danger and ordered Il general alarm TO
be sounded from box 3S6, the time being
4;27. Meantime he ordered triple engine
stream to be turned upon the Baker-street
block and although the rear portions of
the houses nearest to Page street several
times caught fire, the incipient blaze was
quickly eXtinguished The houses ran
from Nos. 10 TO %. No. 10 is owned by
Charles Cross, and occupied by Attorney
E. '. Young; q is owned and occupied
by joseph Boode; % is owned by Joseph
BOode. and occupied by Oscar Herman; %
| is owned and occupied by James Young.
While these efforts were being made the
Crocker School was not overlooked. An
| immense crowd of people had congregated
/ inf flnn cnn- h i
that every one recognized the peril in
volved from the school catching fire. 1t is
a large, three-stOry. wooden structure, nd
would have fallen speedy ana easy
prey to the devouring element. At one
time the dry grass in the vacant lot ad djoin-
ing the school caught fire. and a cry of
dsmay arose. Several iremen rushed in to
the lot and fought the fire with sand and
Jumps of soil till they succeeded in extin-
gushing it. A hose could not be used
owing 20 the scarcity of water
few minutes afterward some of the
red-hot embers lodged in the lattice work
of the cupola, and the thousands of spec
tatorS saw with CONSERVATION the wood
work slowly igniting. But the watchful
eve of the Chief saw the tiny blaze, and
he knew that in few moments it meant a
terrible confederation if not prOmptly ex-
| inguished. lie at once detailed Fireman
Riley of hose to climb to the roof with a
manu- tAlluSuIS utI. Dut D6lOTb Vie lDtTeplQ
fireman reached the source of danger the
cupola was enveloped in flames. The
Chief instantly ordered several more fire.
men to ascend to the roof and directed q
stream Of water 20 be- turned on the barn.
ing cupola, which soon Quenched the
flames. and the crisis was over.
| The firemen continued their efforts un til
5 O'Clock. when all danger of the flames
| spreading further was past.
The scene presented at the dawnipg of
| the coming day was one of utter desnla-
tion. Nothing was left of many fine resi-
dences but Smoldering debris, while the
| blackened and charred remains of horse
which had been roasted to death in
Roundtree's stable showed the rapidity
with which the flames had spread, as. not
withstanding its screams of agony. which
could be heard blocks away, no one had
time to break open the door and save its
! life.
All day long hundreds OF people of both
sexes visited the scene of the confagration
and gazed with curiosity upon the terrible
work Of the flames.
| Kind neighbors opened their doors to the
homeless families and showed them eyery
token of sympathy and hospitality.