The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-02-27

Upon the west side another one-story
structure fed the flames, out aside from
this and the two before mentioned the
loss is confined to the building occupied
by Davis Bros.
As is usually the case in all large con-
f1agratlons the origin of the fire appears to
he in doubt.
Those vino were on the spot early say
that the flames first appeared in the second
story of the Market-street front of the
bazaar. RumOrs Of spontaneous combus-
ton. carelessly dropped cigarette and
similar causes were rife last night upon
the street, but a careful investigation
failed TO corroborate any of them.
Whatever the cause the flames made
rapid Roadway when they had secured
start, as B0okkeeper Van Meter. with
Davis Brothers, who was in or near the
building when the alarm was given. had
barely time to get his books and other
valuables in the safe. The watchman who
was on duty says in his statement that be
had been through that portion of the
building in which the fire started only
few minutes before he became aware of
the danger, and at that time was unable to
detect any evidences of fire.
There seems to be much confusion also
as to the loss and Insurance Estimates.
as usual, are conflicting, and when the
bare truth becomes known it will probably
be found that the estimates are far wide
of the mark. A prominent insurance
man last night said that the policies car
ried by Davis Brothers would aggregate
S175,000 and that the value of the stock in
the store would not fall far short of
S225, goo. The insurance, several conserya-
tive men who are pretty well posted think.
will be found fully adequate to meet the
loss.
In its spectacular effects the blaze formed
pretty sight indeed. When the police
lines were drawn and the ropes had been
stretched Market street for about block
each way from the fire was one solid mass
of lookers-oD, and the periodical bursts of
fiame which shot skyward from the burn
ing structure, as some fresh substance
added fell before it, Illuminated the sur
rounding territory like long-continued
fash of lightning.
It is pleasant fact to record that no loss
of life and no bodily injury to any of the
brave 1remen or others followed the de-
structive blaze. Even while the last wall
was lettering and seemed likely to fall at
any iuOuoub ehS coiNdulS Vi TIE CITY were
fighting the unsubdued element almost
beneath the threatening mass of brick. and
fell back for but moment when it finally
gave way, returning with renewed energy
to their work amid the clouds of mortar
dust and smoke.
An indica ton Of the rapidity with which
the flames spread is also furnished by the
statement of the first arrivals on the
scene, that when the alarm sounded the
bright red reflection of the blaze wa:
visible on the sky for blocks away. The
smoke from the fire seemed to hover about
the earth with a persistency which wa:
uncomfortable to the thousands of spec
tators and rendered life miserable to the
Inhabitants of the houses in the Ugh Dor
hood. Even the big corridors of the
Palace Hotel. a block away. were filled
with it's disagreed bic doors, and the guests
solicitously inquired if the house was mo-
in danger.
Itcannot be said that the loss of thf
building will cause any serious regret il
the city-not referring by this remark Il
the financial aspects of the matter. L
was a common remark last night that Isl
would be good thing if the whole bloch
went" and it but voiced the universe
opinion of our citizens regarding the
structures which are blot upon the mos
desirable. IN many respects. of any OF Sar