The herald., 1894-04-16
AN INCEND|ARY'S WORK.
Great COnfagratiOn at Santa
Cruz.
The City at the Mercy of the
Hungry Flames.
Twenty-Four Buildings Burned in
the Heart of the Town.
No Apparatus with Which to Fight tn
Fire - Assistance Sent From
Watsonville and San
Joao.
By the Associated Press.

SANTA CRUZ, CAL, April l5.-The
great conhagrasion OF last night and
this morning reduced to ashes "a build
ings in the heart of this city and caused
a lose OF 100000, which is only partially
covered by insurance. The block re-
duced to ashes is bounded by Pacific
avenue, Cooper and Front streets, and
contained some OF the finest buildings
in the city, which were occupied by law
yers, bankers and merchants. The
burnt district is across the street from
the Pacific Ocean house. The fire was
of incendiary origin, and was first dis
covered at 10 80 O'Clock Saturday night,
when an alarm was rung in, bat to the
dismay of the firemen they could not
obtain supply OF water from the by
drants, as the city mains had broken
Saturday afternoon and the water had
been shut off at the reservoir, three
miles from town.
Private hydrante, owned by the Him
company, on Front street, were soon
tapped, but the force was not sufficient
to do any work. and it was not until IL
o'clock when the city's mains were once
more opened. The water supply was
then sufficient, but as Santa Cruz has
not fire engine sufficient to force the
water through the hose, the streams
were weak and Ineffective. The fremen
worked bravely, however, and succeeded
in saving the wooden buildings on the
east side of Cooper street, adjoining the
county court house.
The fire started in the rear of Henry
R;ce's one-story frame building at the
corner of Cooper and Front streets. but
when the first man arrived at the rear
of the building he detected that coal oil
had been used, as the flames leaped
furously into the air, and soon
tho whole house was q mass
OF flames. A northwest wind was
blowing, and this helped to madden the
flames, which had bv this time fastened
hold of George Staff1er's building ana
were slowly eating their way towards
Pacific avenue. The buildings burned
with great rapidity, and the damee from
the wooden buildings on Cooper street
threw shower of sparks on the scorched
dome of the county court house, a two
story brick structure, and this building
was coon on fire, and in a short time the
flames had hold OF the roof and were
burning downwards. Within 20 feet of
the court house ia the two-story Ely
building and the Odd Fellows hall, both
wooden structures. and the fire compa-
ny, assisted by bucket brigade, turned
their attention to these buildings, which
would certainly have been consumed
otherwise.
While the court house was threaten
ing at any moment to set fire to build
ings by its showers of sparks, flames
were leaping across the front to the
wooden buildings used for hotel pur-
poses, and in less than half an hour
these four buildings were in flames. and
Chinatown, which consists of so frame
shanties, was threatened at every mo-
ment to be in the path of the fire. The
hesthen worked hard to save their
town, but the wind famed the flames
into the town, and being of very in
hammable matter, they caught and
burned like tinder. The Cinnamon
saved some of their effects, but nearly
all of their belongings were consumed by
the flames.
On Pacific avenue the flames were
leaping from one building to another,
and Mayor Jeter, fearing that the whole
business part of the town would be re-
duced to ashes, telepraphed to San Jose
for assistance. Chief Dwyer, of the fire
department of San Jose, wired back
that he would sent steamer and hose
cart to Santa Oruz's assistance, and
they made the trip in an hour and 40
minutes, distance 20 miles.
Wateonvile sent steamer, and it was
largely due to this iact that the fire did
not spread over more territory.
After the burning of Chinatown, the
flames having consumed three brick
ktrsI Gn
the fine three story building owned by
A. P. Hotaling and in an hour this
structure, which extended from Second
street to Pacific avenue, was a mass of
flames. The three-story building ad-
Joining and the G. B. Pease building
were all ablaze when the relief engines
arrived, and at this point the San Jose
department checked the flames.
While the fire was raging at it's high
est, one of the great three-story brick
walls fell in, causing panic among the
people on tho streets, who barely es-
capped without being injured. The
flames which leaped high into the air
from the building occupied By the City
bank caused the Daily Sentinel Office to
smoke. and it was with great difficulty
that the flames could be checked The |
plate-glass windows in the stores on the
other side OF Pacific avenue were
cracked, and tenants began 20 move out,
and their goods were damaged to great |
extent by water.
At 80 the fire was under control, |
and the Santa Cruz people breathed |
more easily. The burnt district today
presents a picture OF devastation, and
the smouldering ruins are being watched |
by guards to prevent any other out
break that may occur. The county off,
cials made good use OF the time when
the court house cupola was burning and
carried all OF their books and documents
and assessment rolls to places of safety.
The vaults Of the City bank and Peo-
ple's bank etood the flames and were un-
injured. One vault contained $50 600 in
gold.
The citizens of Santa OruB have
learned by last nights experience that |