The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-12-22
SAILORS HOME DESTROYED.
The Proprietor and Two Others
Failed to Escape.
CAUSED BY A LAMP EXPLOSION.
For Hours the Fire Department of
Vallejo and Citizens Had
Lively Work.

VALLEJO, Dec. 21.-At 40 o'clock this
morning a lamp exploded in The old Phila-
delphia House, known as the Sailors
Home, kept by man named Jack Finn.
located on Georgia street. near the wharf.
Jack Finn. John Bell and George Josslyn,
three of the twelve men sleeping in the
house, were burned to death. The rest es-
capped with their lives
The bodies of the dead men were ter
ribly disfgured, their limbs being totally
burned off. Finn and Bell were both ex-
en-0f-warsmen. Josslyn was quarter
master on the Independence. His time
would have been out in two months more.
Bell aud JossIyn were unmarried. Finn
leaves widow living in Los Angeles. Her
brother, James O'Connor, was on visit
to Finn, but escaped without injury.
The alarm of fire was sounded about
3:15 o'clock. The Fire Department and
hundreds of citizens were at the scene OF
the fire within few minutes after the
first tap of the bell. It was learned that
all the inmates were not able to get out.
and a heroic fight was made by everybody
to stay the progress of the flames. Ih
building. however. burned rapidly, and
nothing could be done.
While the fremen fought the flames the
inmates of the Sailors Homo who had es-
capped stood on the sidewalk shivering in
the cold. with just the clothes that they
could grab in their hurried flight.
There were fully twelve occupants in the
home, and the opinion prevails that the
three who lost their lives were suffocated
by smoke before they could grope their
way out. Those who escaped had all they
could do to get out and could not render
assistance 10 the others.
For hours the flames ragged, and at one
time it looked as if the entire block would
be wiped out, but good work was done by
fremen ami citizens alike.
AS soon as the flames were subdued
search was commenced fer the missing
persons. The three bodies were found,
burned to a crisp. All Of them were close
to each other, showing that they must
have been sleeping in the same room. A
number of those who escaped from the
building received serious burns. None Of
them will prove fatal.
How the fire started is not known. The
theory is advanced that during the early
hours of the night all hands had been
caTOuSlnB anu IetuTneQ al late Q0ur N ore
or less intoxicated. A lighted lamp is sup
posed to have been left burning and was
knocked over and enveloped the rear
end of the place in flames, burning to
death in the room they occupied the per-
sons mentioned.
The Sailors Home was resort for blue
jackets and was usually well tenanted. 1t
vase one of the principal places in the
locality designate as Barbary Coast. The
proprietor, Finn, whose body was first
taken out, was at one time in the navy
and during his term of service was a good
fellow with his companions, and his place
was well patronized.
The property destroyed was owned by
Masselin IL Angler. who purchased it
three weeks ago for $500. 1t was insured
for $500 in the Fireman's Fund. The prop
erty occupied as a saloon by Wynne was
owned by Edward Lynch and insured in
the Lion Insurance Company for $500.