davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The morning call., 1894-04-16
A NEW ORDER INAUGURATED
Reed to flake the Greatest Speech
of His Life.
CHAMPIoNING THE NEW RULE.
The Republicans Are Expected to
Acquiesce in the Adoption of
the Measure.

WASHINGTON, April 15.-The struggle
over the adoption,of the new quorum-couut-
ing rule decided upon by the Democratic
caucus Friday, will be the feature of the
coming week in the House. The details of
the rule have not vet been formulated by
the Democratic members of the Committee
on Rules. composed of Speaker Crisp and
Messrs. OGthwaite and Catchings, but it
will probably be ready to submit to the
full committee when it meets tomorrow
morning.
Inasmuch as about one-third of the
Democrats are violently opposed to any
quorum-counsing rule Ii will be impossible
for the Democrats alone, should the Re-
publicans decline TO vote and the Demo-
cratic opposition sustain their opinions to
the extent of also declining TO vote to make.
quorum. to adopt such a rule. In otliei
words, unless the Democrats should frame
rule satisfactory to the Republicans he
latter could if they chose prevent its adop-
iion. The Republicans will, however,
shortly acquiesce in the adoption of any
rnie that contains the essential principle Of
"a quorum present but not voting" includ-
ing those members who decline to respond
to their names.
This is he parliamentary principle
which Mr.. Reed has been contesting ever
since the end of the Fifty-first Congress,
and it is expected when the rule is pre-
sented he will make one of the greatest
speeches of his life.
Owing to the death of Senator Vance the
House will proba bly, adjourn Immediately
tomorrow and the fight over the new rules
will be postponed until Tuesday. 1t is
probable that but little time will be al
lowed for debate. and the chances are that
when the House adiourns Tuesday even
ing the quorum counting rule will have
been adopted, and fiibusterng of the kind
which has characterized the proceedings
of the House for the past three years will
be thing OF the past.
As soon as the new order of things has
been inaugurated in the House considera-
tion of the appropriation bills will be re-
sumed and will consume the remainder of
the week.
The morning call., 1894-04-16
also occupied by Hoffman Bros, insurance
agents. and L. L. Williams, real estate and
insurance agent. 1t was a one-story
WOODEN structure, owned by Henry Rice.
CONSERVATION SPREADS.

Those who arrived on the scene first and
saw the start of the flames at once made
an attempt to turn On the city water, but
were horror-stricken to find the mains
empty.
The terrible news spread quickly and
created the greatest CONSERVATION and
widest excitement People left their
homes and places of business panic
stricken and hurried to the scene of the
fire and watched breathlessly the futile
efforts of the band of brave volunteers, led
on by Mayor-elect Effey. to stem the prog
ress OF the flames.
In few moments the Rice building was
reduced to ashes, but not before the rear
portion of Wessendorf 81 Sttffler's build
ing was on fire. The flames had also crept
around to the north side of Cooper street
and communicated with Hihn's and Syl-
vars wooden buildings, occupied by d.
Staff1er. undertaken. and the Louvre
HOFFMAN.
1t was seen at this iuncture that the
courthouse on the south side of Cooper
street was in imminent danger from the
showers of sparks thrown upon the
wooden cupola from the burning buildings
Of Him and Sylvan, and bucket and
blanket brigade was quickly formed to
endeavOr 10 prevent the cupola from catch
ing fire. With buckets of water and wet
blankets the men noblv strove for time
to save the building, where so many valu-
The morning call., 1894-04-16
ORIGIN OF THE FIRE.

The doomed portion was situated in
the gore bounded by Pacific avenue on the
west. Front street on the east and Cooper
street on the south.
The fire started about 10:40 p. NJ. yester-
day in the rear of Warner Finkeldev's
grocery, on the northwest corner of
Cooper and Front streets. There was a
driveway which led from Front street to
the rear of the store. and on the opposite
side of the driveway was the rear portion
of Wessendorf & S'affler's furniture
store. There Is conflict of opinion as TO
whether the fire actually started in the
rear portion of the furniture-store or the
grocery. Some of the first arrivals at The
scene of the fire declared that they could
see that coal oil had been used from the
fierceness of the flames and the height
they lea ed into the air. An explanation
of this was offered TO the effect that II
was the yarnish and oils used in the
furniture-store which bad fed the flames
30 fercely.
The building occupied by Finkeldey was
The morning call., 1894-04-16
IN A PERILOUS POSITION.

1t was matter Of general surprise to-
day that notwithstanding the extent of the
confagration, the intense heat and the
daring acts performed by individuals
not single accident to life or limb has to
be recorded. But there were many thrill
ing escapes. Among them was that of
three men who were standing on the roof
of the two-story frame bailding adjoining
the Pease building and playing hose
upon 1t to keep 1t from catching fire. They
had climbed to the roof by means of lad
ders. but by some means or other the
ladders had been Knocked down.
The three men continued in their plucky
work till the heat from the flames in the
Pease building became SO intense that
they could not hold the hose longer and
they made for the ladders, only to find
them gone. They shouted for help, but in
the prevailing roar and excitement their
cries were unheard Then their clothes
caught fire and their hands got blistered
with the heat.
Fortunately at this moment their peril
Gus condition was observed from the
street and a scene of the widest excite
ment followed. Men cool enough In or
binary circumstances lost their heads and
ran hither and thither. and it looked as If
The morning call., 1894-04-16

brick building owned by A. P. Hotaling
on Pacific avenue. and oceu upied by the
Peoples Bank, j. S. Tanner, druggist. and
the upper floors by many professional men
and as lodging-house. would be spared.
1t stood next to the furniture-store, and
when the latter was burning fercely the
woodwork on the outside walls of the
handsome brick block caught fire and
in few moments the whole interior was
a seetbiDg mass OF flame. In less than an
hour the front wall fell in with a roar
which caused panic among the onlook-
ers. some of whom had narrow escapes
from being injured.
Next to HOtaliDg's was the Werner
block Of brick. occupied by John Werner,
harness-maker, and A. c. Snyder, dry
goods, and it was soon consumed, imme-
diately followed by the Simpson block,
embracing Beck's saloon and vacant
store, and the second story as the Harris
lodging-nouse.
The morning call., 1894-04-16
WATER TURNED ON.

Fortunately the city water had by this
time been turned on and streams from the
hose were kept playing on these buildings.
Once the City Hall caught fire in the rear.
but the incipient blaze was speedily extin-
guished. The efforts to keep the Ely block
intact were also fortunately crowned with
success, but these efforts were not given
up till the burning cupola of the court
house crashed down. carrying everything
inside with il and leaving nothing bnt the
bare walls stanuing. The records of tie
county were saved in time. but MANY other
documents were burned or buried in the
debris.
While ali this was going on In the neigh
The morning call., 1894-04-16
ASSISTANCE ARRIVES.

Just as the flames had reached the
Pease building, which adjoins Simpsons
and which was occupied by Myrick. real
estate, Anderson. tailor, and Crocker. fur
niture, the Walsonvills fremen arrived on
the scene with their steamer. They knew
the locality well from frequent visits, and
the practiced eye of the chief took in the
situation at a glance.
They were greeted with rousing cheers
by the anxious and terror-stricken crowds.
As they rapidly and expeditously got to
work and the powerful streams of water
poured on the flames with telling effect
sigh of relief escaped from thousands of
lips for the first time since the fire started,
as the people realized that the danger was
practically over. And so it was, although
the Pease building was gutted and also
the small wooden buildings to the north
occupied by the Sunset Telephone Com
pany. Mathews & Tuttle, insurance
agents, Wells, Fargo & Co. and others.
All these had. however. taken the precau-
ton to remove their Office furniture and
other effects.
The morning call., 1894-04-16

southeast corner of Cooper street and
Pacific avenue, and 1t was at once seen
that If it took fire the whole of the east
side of the avenue southwark. including
the Odd Fellows Hall and postofice,
would succumb.
On the other side of the courthouse is
the Hall of Records, brick building be-
lieved to be freproof, and luckily proved
so; but Immediately to the south of 1t.
facing on Front street. are the County
Jail and the City Hall. the latter an old
ramshackle wooden building.
Fears were entertained that the burn
ing embers would set fire to these build
ings, and with them on the one side to
look after and the Ely block on the
other, and the fire still raging furiously
among the buildings in the gore. 1t was
no wonder that the stout-nearted citizens
were appalled, at the impending danger.
The morning call., 1894-04-16

btrhood of The courthouse the fire in Wes-
sendorf & Staffler's furniture-store had
been burning furiously. and the flames
had soon reached the front oh the west
side of Pacific avenue and had communi-
Gated with the Vahlberg building, occu-
pied as the Walker saloon, and the Pilot
Hose Company's building. both of wood,
to the south.
Next to the Pilot Hose building was the
Leonard block of brick on the corner of
Cooper street and the avenue, occupied by
Mahinney & Son. real-estate agents, the
City Bank and ReaLestate Agent Wnittel.
This brick building was almost sur
rounded by fire, and after burning fiercely
for about an hour the walls fell with
tremendous crash and nothing was left
standing but the bank vault.
On Front street the devouring element
had not been idle. The small wooden
buildings ON the north side occupied as
saloons by Italians and women of ques-
tionable repute were quickly reduced TO
ashes.
A two-story frame hotel known as the
Garibadi House and Dan Whtty's house
next suffered. and then Chinatown, COM
posed of about fifty wooden shanties, sue
cumbed, although the celestials worked
with might and main to stays off the in
evitable. They were able, however, to
save some of their effects. There was
nothing else for the flames to feed upon,
as north of Chinatown are Senator Fairs
vacant lots.
The morning call., 1894-04-16
LOSSES AND INSURANCE.

AS near as can be estimated the losses
Pease. three-storv brick building $4,000,
insurance $4,000. tenanted by A. Crocker.
furniture dealer. loss $1,000. no insurance
H. Meybrick. real estate Office, loss $1,000,
insurance $500.
j. f. Simpson, two-story building, loss
$4,000. insurance $1,000. tenanted by
Theodore Beck. saloon, loss $500. no in
surance. and by P. Andersen. tailor, loss
$500, no insurance.
John Werner. two-story brick building,
loss $4,000. insurance $4,000. teauted by
A. c. SNYDER. dry goods. loss $10,000 in
surance $1,000.
John Werner, harness-maker. loss $4,000,
insurance $500. second story occupied by
Mrs. G. Hobson as lodging-house, loss
$1,000. insurance $500; A. P. Hotaling,
three-story brick building, loss $4,000,
insurance $4,000. tenanted by A. Jonas
u Bros. loss $4,000, insurance ST.
600; Georgs Rooding. barber, loss $40,
no insurance; j. o. Tanner, druggist,
$4,000, Insurance $1,000; Peoples Bank,
loss S2500. insurance $1,000; lodging-house.
second story, tenanted by Mrs. ii. d. Antin,
loss $1,000. no insurance; George Steffler,
two-story building and two one-story
buildings. including stock of furniture
and undertaking goods. loss S25.000 in
surance $4,000; Mrs. W. Vahlberg. one
story building. loss $4,000, no Insurance,
tenanted by William Walker, saloon, loss
to stock $500. no insurance; Pilot Hose
Company, two-story frame building. loss
ard. two-stOry brick building loss $4,000,
insurance $4,000, occupied by City Bank,
loss $500. no insurance. The losses on
Cooper street were as follows; Jackson
Silva, two-story brick building, loss
$1,000 insurance $1,000. tenanted by
Louvre saloon, loss $500. no insur-
ance. second story occupied by
Ii. E. Mckinney, seaIcher of records. loss
$780, and by Mayor w. T. Jeter, loss
$780, no insurance, mostly in lawbooks,
valuable papers and furniture; Henry
Rice, one-story frame building. loss $500,
no insurance, tenanted by E. l.. Williams,
real estate. loss $500: w. T. Finkeldey.
grocer, loss $1,000, no insurance; c. Hoff-
man, one-story frame building, structure
and contents $500. no insurance; county
courthouse. loss S25.000. insurance $4,000.
On Front street losses were as follows !:
Dan Wente's lodging-house and contents,
$4,000, no insurance. tenanted by Joseph
Frey. saloon. loss $500; Garibaldi House,
owned by Costello & Co., loss $4,000. 10
insurance; Chinatown. consisting of many
small shanties. with their contents, S15. 900;
Boss stables, $500, no insurance.
AS already stated insurance men place
at about 100000. Among the companies
interested are the following: Firemen's
Fund $1,000. Transatlantic $1,000, n. w.
National $4,000. Home Mutual $4,000. Oak
land Home $1,000. Sun of San Francisco
$1,000. New York Underwriters $1,000,
Hartford $1,000, Cesar Berthau Agency
$4,000. Northern $500. Commercial Union
$500, Western $500. Hamburg Bremen
The morning call., 1894-04-16

tings In Tanners drugstore, some of
which were scattered about the street. 1t
was acknowledged to be one OF the most
superbly fitted drugstores on the coast.
The electric wires were all down. but
early yesterday morning linemen were
busy at work stringing new wires, and by
o'clock this afternoon the electricians
were again running and telephone and tel
egraphic communication was established.
E. Mahinney was regretting the loss of
800 900 worth of promissory notes, which
he felt sure had been consumed along with
other things.
During the excitement over the threat
ened spread of the fire to the Ely block
and thence southwark the storekeepers
were busily engaged removing their goods
and furniture so as to be ready for the
emergency which, fortunately, did not
come.
There was the corpse Of lady in Stat
f1er's undertaking parl0rs awaiting en-
balming, and the coffin was removed just
in time.
The citizens, amid the general gloom
caused by the confagration. have one
great cause for thankfulness in the wiping
out of existence of Chinatown. which for
years has been an eyesore and disgrace to
the otherwise beautiful city. There was
general feeling Of satisfaction expressed
to-day among all classes at the extinction
of the plague spot. and the hope was uni
versal that the municipal authorities will
see to 1t that there will not be another
Chinatown in Santa Cruz. Underneath
their shanties there was from six inches
to foot in depth of black. Shiny foul
smelling water which made women and
men who looked at it turn sick at the
stomach.
Some wild-eyed theorists we're heard to
remark to-day that the fire had been
The morning call., 1894-04-16
ALL IN RUINS.
Santa Cruz After the
Fire.
BUILDINGS IN ASHES.
Chinatown Wiped Out of
Existence.
HOW THE BLAZE STARTED.
The Whole City Had a Narrow
Escape.
HELP IN THE NICK OF TIME.
So Far No Casualties or Accidents
Have Been RepOrted-List
of the Losses.

SANTA CRUZ, April 15.-The loss of
100000 in the destruction by fire of the
most valuable portion of the business sec
tion OF the city has taught the citizens a
bitter lesson. 1t has shown them the utter
folly OF allowing factional differences to
interfere with the efficiency of the Fire De-
partment, which in time of need proved to
be nothing but sham.
There was time in the history of Santa
Cruz when the city could boast of we'll
equipped and efficient fire brigade and the
citizens through last nights misfortune
have come to recognize the fact that the
sooner it is placed In that position again
the better will it be for all concerned.
For heavens sake, don't mention the
fire Brigade" was the general remark to-
day. 1--WE are ashamed to ackno owledge
that we have such thing"
"If we had." said a prominent citizen,
who voiced the sentiments OF the others,
'we would not havelbeen compelled 10 send
for assistance to Watsonville and San
Jose. We have as perfect water system
as there is on the coast. 1t was completed
four years ago at cost of $500, 900 and We
have pressure of 100 pounds to the square
inch, and that could be doubled if the
pipes were large enough. We must get
rid of factional feeling and all strive for
the common good in having. as quickly as
possible, a wel-traiDed and properly
equipped brigade"
There is another extraordinary circum-
stance. which may be merely a coinci-
dence, but which has led to the suspicion
that the fire was of incendiary origin.
The main supply-pipe broke near the
water-gate at the reservoir about 4 o'clock
yesterday afternoon, and the water in the
entire city system was shut off to enable the
necessary repairs to be made. ills pointed
out as startlingly significant that the fire
should have started when it was known,
although not generally. that the city was
completely at the mercy of the fire fiend.
Outside Of this possible coincidence there
seems to be no ground for the suspicion
that frebug was at work. All that the
citizens had to cope with the flames for
The morning call., 1894-04-16

he trains were crowded with passengers to
see the ruins, which presented most de-
pressing sight. Where once stood stately
buildings, nothing was to be seen but
bricks and other debris. The vault of the
City Bank is the only evidence left OF
where the Leonard block stood. and fur
ther north were the crumbling sidewalks of
the fine Hotaling block. with the vault of
the Peoples Bank in the center.
AS II to mark the spot where the fire
started thera stands solitary and alone the
brick chimney. and across Cooper street
are the blackened walls Of the Courthouse.
And to mark the contrast between the old
fashioned way Uf making bricks and the
new there stands the four solid brick walls
in Chinatown of the old Winterholder
butcher-shop, built in 1856. standing as
firmly as the day on which they were
built.
The streets surrounding the burned dis
trict were crowded with people all day
who gaZed upon the scene Of destruction
and listened with wide-open eyes to the
tales told them of scenes and incidents
during the fire.
The owners of the burned buildings all
declare their intentions of rebuilding at
once. They are with probably one or two
exceptions men of competence and are not
at all discouraged by their misfortune.
The erection of the new buildings will do
good to the city. 1t has been a hard win
ter for workingmen, aud employment will
be given to q great many deserving men.
The insurance adiusters will be here to-
day and the losses will be adjusted and
paid promptly so as to enable the owners
to begin rebuilding operations without
dalav
The morning call., 1894-04-16

The heat was so intense that all the
plate glass windows got cracked and
broken. The occupants did not run any
chances. but removed all their goods to
places of safety.
The Sentinel Office, on the corner Of Lo-
Gust street and Pacific avenue, seemed
doomed to destruction. 1t caught on fire
several times and was only saved with the
utmost exeition.
The damage on this side Of the avenue
will probably reach about $4,000.
The Pacific Ocean House escaped with
out injury. There were many anxious
hearts in the big building for time. but
when the Watsonville men began to play
stream of water upon The buildings op-
posite with such marked effect all further
anxiety was set at rest.
The morning call., 1894-04-16
HONORS TO HIS MEMORY.
Funeral Services Over the Late Dud-
lev Field.


NEW YORK, April 15-The funeral serv-
ices of the lale Dudley Field were held
this afternoon al Calvary Presbyterian
Church in the presence of hundreds of
mOurners. The pal-bearers were: Chief
Justice Fuller, John Bgel0w. Charles
Butler. Joseph II. Choate, William Evarts,
Abram B. Hewett. ex-Judge Charles A.
Peabody. Chancellor McCracken. J. M.
Collaway, Judge Abraham r. Lawrence,
Henry FL. Anderson. Sir William Lane
Booker, Judge John F. Dillon, Judge
Charles P. DAILY and General Wagner
Swayne. Rev. DR.. Morgan Dix oficiated,
assisted by Rev. DR.. 81. Y Satterlee. Rev.
C. G. Tiffany and Rev. w. S. Emmer.
Among the mourners, aside from the
jurist's distinguished family, were the
alumni of Williams College, a delegation
from the State Legislature and a commit
tee from the State Bar Association. The
latter included w. b. Hornblower and
General Solicitor Hancock. The casket
will remain in the church all night and to-
morrow will be placed on special car and
taken to Stock bridge. Mass. where the
interment will occur.
The morning call., 1894-04-16
AN EXTREME MEASURE.

1t speaks we'll for the owners of the
buildings destroyed and not destroyed that
they willingly offered to sacrifice their
buildings by having them blown up with
gunpowder if it would help to stop the ad-
vancing flames. Notwithstanding their
willingness to permit this to be done for
the general interest, no one could be found
courageous enough to attempt the job,
which, under the circumstances, was not
to be wondered at.
1t was pitiful sight to see women. and
even some men, when the horrible fact was
made known to them that the city water
supply was cut off, wringing their hands
in their terror and dismay, and imploring
some of the bystanders to get the water
turned on so that their homes might be
saved
The morning call., 1894-04-16

John Werner should consider himself
fortunate man. He does not believe in
insurance. and 1t was only on April "a last
year that he was. for the first time, in
duced by Mathews & Tuttle to place $4,000
on his building and stock. The policy ex-
Dires in nine days and he was not to renew
it, Ii the fire had taken place ten days
later he would have been $4,000 out of
pocket.
There is general regret at the destruction
OF the beautiful and costly pictures and fit
The morning call., 1894-04-16

started by an incendiary for the sole pur-
pose of burning up Chinatown in the ex-
pectation that the shlfty winds would
carry the flames across the street and only
destroy Rlce's building and the Chinese
shanties and not touch the others. But
that is all nonsense.
The last conflagration that occurred in
Santa Cruz was ON Decoration day, 1887.
when number of buildings on Front
street. north of Chinatown. were de-
stroyed, but it was not so extensive as the
one last night
The morning call., 1894-04-16

There is not the slightest doubt that If
the Watsonville engine had been half an
hour longer in arriving the balance of.the
block would have gene. The men worked
hard and showed the effect of careful and
efficient training. They arrived about 8
o'clock this morning, making he twenty
three miles in thirty three minutes.
The San Jose firemen with their engines
arrived shortly alter the Watsonville
BOYS. getting over the thirty-slx miles In
one hour five minutes.
Much valuable time was lost in both
The morning call., 1894-04-16

over an hour was one solitary hydrant be-
longing to the Him system. Then q
fume was built 10 connect the broken
main, and the city water was available,
but too much valuable time had been lost
and the fire had gained complete mastery.
II the wind had been blowing strongly
at the time the fire was at its worst moth
ing in the world could have saved the
whole business portion of the town from
destruction,
The morning call., 1894-04-16
AGAIN IN THE FIELD.
The Duval Club Will Bid for the Big
Eigf1t

JACKSONVILLE, Fla, April 15-J. T..
Bowden. manager of the Duval Athletic
Club. said last night that the club had
been feorganized with wealthy backing
aud would bio for the Corbett-Jackson
fight. He claims that the courts have de-
cided there Is no law against prize-fighting
in Florida, and that there will not be the
slightest attempt to interfere. Governor
Mitchell, however. has said he would call
the Legislature together, if necessary, to
stop another priZe6ght.