Evening journal., 1893-03-14
OILS MADE A BIG BLAZE
Bradford's Paint Works Badly
Damaged ay Fire and Smoke.
CONQUERED BY BRAVE FIRRMEE


James Bradford Company's Big Plant
Damaged to the Extent of S35,oOo by
Fire which Started Mysterlousiy.
Firemen Battle savagely with the
Flames-The Estimated Loss s35, 900.
Fire this morning in the building occu-
pied by the James Bradford Company, on
East Third street, kept the Fire Depart
ment busy fer several hours and did
$3j, 600 worth Of damage to building
and stock.
Shortly before o'clock Patrolman
Edward Gam saw smoke issuing from
the top floor windows and sent in an
alarm from box 81. Third and King
streets. Chief Shields and Second As
sistant Cloud sent in a second and
a third alarm, respectively within
halfan-hour of the fires discovery and
every company responded promptly and
worked with a will TO save the building
from destruction.
Hampered by Overhead Wires.
Though much hampered by overhead
wires the work of the dremen was com
| UlNnMNNAts " niAt IAnI NNAAAAAH VI WAN'A
were being dashed into the blaze each
company was sent back, singly, after
extra reels of hose which when brought
into play added materially to the attack
ing force
The few witnesses Of the fire when Il
first gained notice swelled into a large
crowd at o'clock and at 7,i5 when the
flames we're extinguished Market and
King streets were lined with people.
No Explosives I'm the Building.
Reports were circulated to the effect
that sufficient quantities Of naphtha,
benzine and other explosives were stored
in the building to shake the city, aud
those who believed the rumors placed a
safe distance between themselves and
the fire. IL was afterward ascertained
that the explosives were safely stored In
the King street alley
The Oils Make Fierce Fire.
The inhammable stock burned iercely.
The flames shot high into the air with
an ominously roaring sound aud spiral
clouds Of heavy smoke poured out Of every
window The King street market house
and other buildings in the vicinity we're
threatened at one time. but the watchful
care Of a few fremen saved them from
q further damage than a scorching.
! Crowds at the Ruins.
Y Fire lines kept the crowd confined to
Z King and Market streets until o'clock
b at which time the flames had been re
Q duced to few smoking embers
A morbidly curious crowd hung
o idly about the building al
e the morning. Ropes we're placed
o across the sidewalk in front Of the build
ing but they we're disregarded by the
; crowd which peered through the smoked
D windows at the damage water and fire
had wrought.
a The Loss About $4,000.
Mr. Bradford said, this morning, that
while nothing could be definitely known
| at the time. he thought that the damage
d would amount TO 1886. 600, $40 Co., Of which
K would cover the loss on the building
v The loss was fully covered by insurance
q he said. lie did not know TO what extent
n the stock had been damaged but thought
!, that the wreck was pretty complete lie
k could say nothing regarding resumption
Il Of business
The origin Unknown.
: The origin Of the fire is unknown. A
I report gained credence that IL was
| the Work OF an ih1eHAi"Al
!; At the Police Department the
u the officers refused to say anything be
yond the fact that the report Is being in
% vestigated. Mr. Bradford when asked
y his opinion OF the rumor, considered /
y improbable that such should be the case
. When Chief Shields was on his way e
. the fire he found Captain Evans sendinl
; In an alarm from box p
! at Second and Shipley streets
y The captain said he was going t
give the second alarm. The chief ex
X planned to him that by the new method /
= was impossible for anyone to send IN
second or third alarm except the chic
and assistants.
Mr.. Shields, in speaking Of the matte
> this morning said to a reporter:
g. "rhe people do not understand tn
- regulations for striking the alarm. AL
y that is necessary is to to pull the alarr
once. A second or third alarm, whe
M needed. will be sent in by officer
of the Fire Deparptment. b
Is citizens or any others pulling the bo.
X two or three times they can accomplis
- nothing as the ten blows necessary I
y bring out the other companies th
q second time can only be sent !
by the officers who are supplied wit
keys to 90 inside the boxes. The te
\ taps have to be sounded from the insid
H. 10 which only the Fire Department OIL
- GERS have access with their keys.
p. The insurance on building amounts Z
90 So. 600 and on stock $l2, 800. A numbs
Il. of policies would have expired to-day
4 RAND M THIEVES CAUGH