The record-union., 1893-11-02
FORTY ONE YEARS AGO TODAY.
Israel Luce's Recollection of the Big
Fire of '52.
Four Houses Only Escared From Front
to Seventh street and North
From NJ to / Streets.

Speaking OF some of the big fires that
swept Sacramento in early days, Israel
Luce, who was one Of the first citiz ems of
the city, yesterday related to a RECORD
UNION reporter the following story of
the fire of 1852:
at was between 10 and II O'Clock ON the
evening OF the I'd of November, 1852 just
forty-one years ago tomorrow, while the
ballots of Presidential election were be-
ing counted, an alarm Of fire was sounded
which startled the whole of the popula-
ton of the city. A fire had broken out
in the Southern Hotel on } street, near
where w. p. Coleman's real estate office
is now located. 1t was large wooden
structure, in the midst of wooden build
ingS, and these were also soon enVeIOped
in flames, running up and down J street
as fast against the wind as with it.
''As ] reached the block on j street, be-
tween Fourth and Fifth, | saw how "
terly useless it was to attempt to stay the
ravages of the fire by human power, so /
turned and went to my home, on the
southwest corner of Seventh and l.
streets. Before l arrived there the fire
had crossed street and was making its
way over to X The houses at that time
were mostly supported by studding from
the ground to the first. hoor, without
Notwithstanding to the first floor. The
ground underneath and around the build
ings was covered with dry grass and
weeds. My house was a one-story and
half. l went up stairs, broke a hole
where the stovepipe went through, and
then crawled to the roof and sat over the
hole. | then ordered a man III my en-
ploy to watch and guard the dry grass
from taking fire from the flying shingles
and clots OF burning hay from stack of
seventy-five tons which vas on direct
line Of the wind and my house.
my brother-in-law. Rice Nichols,
passed me buckets of water, while with
small hand dipper put out the sparks of
fire as they lodged on the roof. The
shingles and burning hay were some-
times carried block or more away and
ignited buildings, forming a complete
circle of burning buildings on all sides.
''As / sat on my roof | could see the
waves of flame running up and down j
and X streets, then down Front along
the river, sweeping all as grass before the
mower.
"I was awe-struck as / saw the fire
making its way toward me from all
points, the main body from X street, a
Ranking division from Front, and an at
tack in the rear from NJ. On the north
west corner of Seventh and l. my marble
works were on fire; Cn the northeast cor
on the southeast corner fine large brick
church, nearly finished, had caught fire
on the unfinished tower, while on the
southwest corner | sat on my roof. 70
withstand the smoke, which was almost
sutfiocating, placed wet silk handker-
chief over my face, and was thus enabled
TO hold my position.
''But what a positiont Surrounded
with flames which were gradually COM
ing nearer and nearer. In an agony
almost of despair, cried to Him who
holds the destiny of individuals, cities
aud nations in his hands. to stay the
flames and to spare st least remnant of
the city, and | would praise Him as long
as had breath. The fire came no nearer
where l was, aud for lack of food it went
down, and left the space in dense dark
ness, while here and there small blaze
would flicker for few minutes and then
go out.
This went on until daylight, and
when morning dawned itwas great sur
prise to many TO see, amid field of dying
enbers and ashes, four small dwellings
untouched by the destroying elements
and standing as monuments of Gods
mercy.
1.-The house on the roof of which | sat
during the contiagration is still on the
same lot, at the rear the Apollo saloon,
and fronting on Seventh street. Two
houses fronting on the same street and
belonging to the late George w. Wallac
and the house on l. street where Re v
Dr. Dwine1l lived for number OF years,
are all of the frame buildings that were
left in all the district from l TO NJ, and