The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-09-23
SAVED THE TOWN.
Prompt Work of the Bay
Steamer SunOl.
How Fire Which Would Have Swept
The Town of Vallejo Was
Extinguished.

The steamer Sunol. which plies between
this city and Vallejo. carrying freight and
passengers, arrived an hour late yesterday
morning. II was not the fault Of Captain
Dye that there was an infringement ia the
schedule time. The delay, however, was
an unavoidable one. and the passengers
who understood the cause Of il, instead Of
feeling put out" about not reach
ing here on time, had only words OF
praise for the work which the cap
tain of the Sunol had performed in saw
ing the greater portion of the Vallejo
waterfront property from being de-
stroyed by fire.
1t vas about 80 o'clock when the fire
broke out in the coal-bunkers adjouin &
the engine-room on the east side Of the
Starr Mills, and in very short time til g
flames were under such a Roadway that
the prospects were strong that the entire
water front would be consumed.
At the time the steamer Sunol, which
keeps steam uD all night in readiness for
the return trip TO this city in the morning,
was discharginR cargo at the Selby Smelt-
ing Works. Captain Dye saw the smoke
and blaze. and realized the danger that
threatened South Vallejo. He remem-
bered, too, that the fire service of the place
had the Sunol under way for the scene of
the cOnfiagratiOE.
The SunoI is supplied with heavy pumps,
even if she is a light-draught boat, and on
the way across the straits the pumps were
gotten in condition for immediate use.
When she arrived at the scene of the fire
there were three streams ready, with about
800 feet of hose. By this time the fire was
well under way, and the local fire depart
ment had a contract on its hands which il
could not handle.
The crew of he Sunol acted nobly under
instructions from Captain Dye and the
heavy streams of water which were poured
into the mass Of flames had telling effect.
The assistance of The Sunol came just in
time. for the wooden structures were dry
from the summers heat and would have
burned Ike finder.
The people of South Vallejo were more
than hearty in their thanks 20 the captain
and crew OF the SunOl and said that had 1t
not Deen for the timely arrival of the
steamer the entire city front would have
been swept away. AS II was the damage
was confined TO one spot by the SunoPs
streams and the loss Will not amount to
more than $1,000 or $4,000 Had the fire
gained headway the loss would have
been at least half million dollars and the
conflagration might have even spread
further and caused considerable suffering
among the residents in the vicinity.
This is not the first time that the Sun oil
has rendered valuable service to the people
OF Vallejo and the vicinity. Since she has
been running on the Vallejo route she has
served as sort OF fire patrol boat between
Port Costa, Vallejo and those points. She
is light-draught vessel and mas p werful
pumps, which are needed In such an emer-
gency as that of yesterday morning.
There are warehouses filed with valuable
produce at Port Costa, Vallejo and other
points around there which are wholly I'M
protected and liable to total loss. AS the
Sunol remains in the vicinity all night
with steam mp great confidence Is placed in
her by those interested In whatever may
be stored in the warehouses there Sew
eral OF the passengers on the Sunol called
on Piper. Alden 81 Co., the owners of the
Sunol, and rendered tie thanks OF Vallejo
people for the effective work of the steamer.