San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1894-11-23
SOMETHING BURST.
MYSTERIOUS FIRE CAUSED BY
EXPLOSION.
Neighbors Thrown From Their
Beds - Resembled an Earth
quake Valuable Electric
Plants Destroyed.

"A UeTEluC eAplOslOn, WblCh suooh
all the surrounding buildings with
in a radius of 300 feet, occurred at
$3.50 o'clock this morning in the
electrical repair shop and electro
plating establishment OF b. Dublin
ski, in the rear of the Grand opera
house, on Losoya street. Guests in
the Maverick hotel were thrown
from their beds.
The Grand opera house was
shaken and the occupants Of sur
rounding buildings thought an
earthquake had occurred.
Flames issuing from the build
ing were seen by the night clerk OF
the Maverick hotel and by Officer
Maltsberger and an alarm of fire
was turned in. The response OF
Chief Kehoe and his firemen was
exceptionally prompt, the firemen
at No. 2 engine house on Avenue
c, very near the fire, being
first on the scene. The entire build
ing of Mr.. Dubinski was found in
flames, and burning so fiercely
that a near approach was impOs-
sible. The front OF the brick
building was partially wrecked
and the plate glass win lows We're
shattered. Pieces OF glass were
thrown forward distance OF 100
feet in opposite lots. a stream Of
water from the upper stories of the
Grand opera house first played on
the flames without success.
Mr.. Henry Brown and his corps
OF assistants tried three lioeS
of hose from the opera
house. Two noZzles blew off, and
the third stream had no pressure
and little good was done. The de-
partment soon had not only its
full number OF streams engaged,
but the hook and ladder men
scaled the walls and attacked the
fire from the roof. The blaze spread
to the fine new plant Of the Fort
Wayne Electric company, in the
same building and great dam
age was done the costly orma-
lures, arc lamps and other
OF this company. The
Texas Steam laundry, adjoining
on the north side, was also dam.
aged somewhat, although only by
smoke and water.
The firemen worked faithfully
for an hour and finally quelled the
confagration, saving the laundry
and a great part OF the Fort Wayne
company's plant. There were no
accidents and nobody was injured
during the fire.
The damage at first was reported
as very great, but closer estimate
made this morning shows that the
plant was but slightly
damaged. No insurance was car
ried. Dubinski's loss is estimated
at between 800 and $500; insur.
ance 81, 800. The Fort Wayne COM
pany's loss will not exceed $500,
but unfortunately the plant had
not been insured,
The origin Of the fire is in doubt,
but it is generally thought to have
been by the explosion of some
chemicals used in the electro
plating establishment. No fire
was left in Mr.. Dubinskis place
when he closed last night. The
men had been working after dark
for some time. The force Of the ex-
plosion bulged the front walls of
the building and they have been
found so dangerous that it was
found necessary today to order
them pulled down, which will be
done.
Mr.. O'Beirne, of the Fort Wayne
Company, says the damaged ma
chinery Of his plant can easily be
replaced by drawing upon the re.
sources OF the Austin plant Of the
company, and no delay will be eX-
perienced, active operations being
sure to commence in the middle of
next week. Their engines and
boilers were untouched, but a
$4,000 dynamo was ruined. Yester.
day there were $4,000 worth of arc
lamps stored in the rear Of the Du.
binski room, but 30 of these
had been moved in the
afternoon and these were saved.
A lot OF fine banana plants in the
building were scorehed and burned
so that nothing but the stems re-
main today. Mr.. O'Beirne says the
origin Of the fire will be closely in
vestigated.
Mr.. Gray, Of the Steam laundry,
desires the LIGHT to express his
thanks to the firemen. Chief Kehoe
and the police department for so
CALAMITY coming to his aid and
saving him from loss. He highly