The record-union., 1894-08-27
TIE Village of Guerneyille Almost
Completely Wiped Out
TWO MEN KILLED AND A BOY FA
ETALLY INJURED.
Yesterday General Funeral Day at
seattle, the Bodies of Twenty-tvo
of the Victims of the Franklyn
Mine Disaster Having Been Laid in
Their Last Resting Place.
speciaI to the REooaD-USIoN.

Their Last Resting Place.
Special to the REcoRD-UNIoN.
SANTA Rosa, Aug. 26.-Guerneville,
village in the redwoods about twenty
five miles west of this city, was almost
entirely swept away by fire yesterday
afternoon, and in consequence a large
number of people are now camping along
the banks of Russian River, many
without food. bedding or clothing. The
financial loss will be about S2l0,0O0 IN
addition, two men are known to have
lost their lives and a boy was perhaps
fatally injured.
The fire was caused by defective hue
in the residence OF DR.. J. A. Burns. 1t
was discovered at o'clock, but had
gained such headway that it was impossl-
ble to subdue 1t. There were no facilities
whatever Tor fighting the fire and the
flames quickly spread. 1t was the hottest
day of the season, everything was as dry
as tinder and the fire swept along un-
checked and with plenty OF good material
to feed it.
In an incredibly short time the flames
had swept away the northeast part OF The
town, destroying the railroad depot ana
the telephone office In 1t, and was upon
the main business street. Then IL had
full sway, and in an hour not business
house was left standing. The names were
finally checked by the brick wall OF Nc
ConnelPs stable.
Strenuous efforts were made to save
the Odd Fellows building, tut it was
soon evident that the structure was
doomed.
Then attention was turned to saving
the contents, and it was while engaged III
this work that the fatalities occurred.
The building was in flames, but still the
brave workers continued TO carry out
goods. Suddenly, without any warning,
the front wall fell outward, burylng DR..
j. a. Burns, in whose home the fire
started. Oscar McKeene and Clyde
Hewitt, the messenger boy of the tele-
phone office.
Willing hands at once commenced the
work of rescue, though the heat was al
most unbearable and there was danger OF
the other walls cOllapslng. Soon the
bodies OF Burns and Nick eene were ex-
tricated from the ruins. Both were dead.
Shortly afterWard Hewitt was rescued.
He was unconscious, but still breathing,
aud was at once given every attention
possible. lie was almost asphy yxlated by
the smoke, and suffered also internal in
juries.
1t is believed that there are two more
bodies in the ruins. Two men are miss
ing, and it is thought that they persisted
while tryingto save stock from the stores.
Many persons were hurt by falling tim
bers and burned by the fierce heat. but
no serious injuries are reported.
The flames burned so fiercely that the
people, frantic with fear, were able TO save
hardly anything from the blazing resi-
dences and stores. So fiercelv did the
whirlwinds of ire come down upon them
that many were barely successful IN es-
Gaping from their houses.
In all, twenty-eight residences and
stores were burned. The town had been
burned down previously four times, and
the insurance companies refused risks in
the place except on few buildings.
The heaviest single loss was the Odd
Fellows Hall and contents. This was
comparatively new building and cost
SI20OO. The contents were valued at
81, 600. The insurance on both building
and contents was $1,000.
one thousand cords of wood belonging
to the Sonoma Lumber Company went
up in smoke. By organizing a bucket
brigade and carrying water from Russian
river the plant OF the company was saved.
Most of the contents Of the railroad
depot were saved. The employees at the
frst alarm hurriedly carried the books.
papers and most valuable merchandise
into box cars and pushed them along the
track, out OF reach OF the fire.
The Guerneville House, three-story
frame building, owned by August Worst
man. and its contents was among the
first buildings to go. The loss is il, 900
and insurance 5000.
Other losses were: Carr & Bradley.
general merchandise, loss $1,000, in
surance s., 900; a. Benning, saloon, loss
s.. 800. no insurance.; AnseIl IL kimball,
general merchandise and lumber dealers.
loss $1,000. insurance 81, 600; Methodist
Church, loss $4,000, no insurance; @. B.
Deitz. general merchandise, loss 1900,
nc insurance; DR.. Burns, drug store. loss
s., 900, no insurance.
There were about twenty residences de-
stroyed, and but upon a few was there
any insurance, and then only a small
amount.
DIR. Burns and Oscar Mckee, two of
the victims, leave families, the latter in
destitute circumstances. DR.. Burns was
the oldest settler of Guerneville and
pioneer.
Clyde Hewitt, assistant agent W ho was
crushed by falling walls and injured in
ternally, cannot live. Two more bodies
are believed TO be under the walls. Food
and money were contributed by num-
ber of citizens from santa Rosa. Jacob
Jost, one of the sufferers will call meet
ing of the Board Of Supervisors to raise
$1,000 to buy lumber to build houses for
the needy. This evening a mass meeting
of citizens was held in the Fifth street
Methodist church, and measures were
taken to relieve the people In distress.