The Hawaiian gazette., 1894-06-19


ing fire broke out on King street,
between Fort and Bethel, that
was one of the largest Honolulu
has had in some time. The stock
in trade of six different men was
completely burned out, and several
others had their goods wholly or
partially ruined by water. The
total amount of damage is at pres
ent unknown, though it will prob
ably be in the neighborhood of
$4,000.
Just how the blaze started is a
mystery. There are all kinds of
rumors about the origin, but no one
seems to know anything about it.
Some say the starting place was in
the Honolulu Furniture Store, a
business recently started others
are of the opinion that it was in
the rear of Kubey's cigar store,
while a number cling to the belief
that Lincoln's was the place.
James Spencer, an operator at
the central Office of the Bell Tele-
phone Company, was the one who
turned in the alarm. He saw the
smoke from the central" window,
and says they gained with great
rapidity. Almost instantly after
he saw the smoke the flames burst
through the roofs, and the group
of buildings was ablaze. He says
it seemed to be coming from the
rear of Kubey's store, although be
is not certain as to its location.
When the engines arrived on the
scene the fire was burning fercely,
Chief Hunt was away, attending
to one of the Department horses,
which is sick, and consequently
did not reach the fire until some
time after it had started. In the
meantime Minister King took
charge of affairs.
The fire had too big start to be
successfully controlled, and the eff
forts of the Department were bent
toward keeping the flames from
spreading. This was done success
fully, and it is due to their efforts
that the whole block was not
wiped out of existence.
The japanese cruiser sent a
barge, with about twenty men in
il. ashore soon after the fire started.
They went to the scene of the fire,
and worked like trojans, but with
out accomplishing much. They
brought with them a small pump,
that was worked by one man, and
threw a stream about the size of a
lead pencil, but they worked it
hard. and it was not their fault
that they did not extinguish the
blaze.
The heaviest loser was ". W.
Wright, whose carriage manufac-
tory was totally destroyed. About
ten carriages, that were stored up
stairs, were burnt, among them a
new vehicle belonging to w. c..
Peacock, and a new hack of J. S.
Andrade. The building belonged
to E. S. Cunha, and was insured
for $1,000. The adjoining build
ings were owned by the Won Holt
estate. Mr.. Wright had $4,000 in
surance on his stock. A few of
the carriages which were in for re-
pairs were saved, but the greater
part Of the contents of the build
ing was lost.
4 Chinese painter, whose shop
was above Wright's, lost all his
paints and oils, and was discon-
solate. as be had not cent of in
surance on his goods.
IN ldCl, luC Oii4H OtAOA NAAO-
tunate who carried any insurance
was S. Kubey, the tobacconist, who
had $500, on his stock, which was
all destroyed.
Others who were totally burnt
out were McCorriston, the express
man, a Portuguese shoemaker,
Charles Molteno, the barber, and
the Honolulu Furniture Company.
The latter firm was peculiarly un-
fortunate, as they had opened their
store only the day before, and all
their stock was destroyed. They
are new arrivals from the Coast.
The Portuguese shoemaker had
hard time defending his goods.
A few of the bystanders, evidently
In need of new foot gear, went into
his shop and helped themselves to
the pair of shoes that seemed near
est a fit. One even sat down, after
zla Era x-oC ovar ord mt On the