Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-06-28
RED DEVASTATION.
Flames Sweep a Large Section
Of San Francisco.
LOSS WILL Run INTO THE MILLIONS

turing District Go Down Before . Con-
observation-disclosures Almost Helpless to
Stay tho Ravager-Whole Department
Engaged in Fighting the Red Destroyer
"Details OF the Aayoc-Six EirsmsD
Killed ut Minneapolis.
SAN FRANCISCO, June 2S-Shortly be-
fore p. IN. yesterday a fire broke out in
the rear of the San Francisco box factory,
located on the corner Of Fifth and Bryan
frame building filled with inflammable
material. The flames spread fapiily and
it soon became apparent that q serious
con1agration was threatened. The first
alarm was turned in from box No. 90.
and it was Immediately responded to by
the department. a second alarm was
turned in upon the 1rc spreading to the
Liberty sofa works adjoining on the other
side Of the block. Within q few minutes
the entire east end of the block bounded
by Bannon and Bryant streets was a mass
of flames. A strong southerly wind was
blowing, and it was deemed necessary to
turn in second alarm.
Flames Famed by s EiSI, Wind.
The flames soon spread all over the
block, destroying in q few minutes tho
yards of the Spring Valley waterworks
and the furniture factory Of II. Eueler.
The box factory OF korbcll Bros, at 723
Bryant street, also the stable of II.
Washburn. at Gj7 Bryant street, and the
carriage factory of c. W. Phelan and the
soda factory of j. Horstmann were all de-
stroyed in short order The high winds
which famed the flames and swept them
on their mad career drove the fire.
men back by degrees and the situation
became critical Long tongues Of hame
shot out from the mass clear across the
street and from time to time the hose
had to DO turned on buildings which
threatened to involve u still larger terri
tory in the conflIgration. Tho firemen
We're reinforced by the full department by
this time and fought manfuily to confine
the fire within the block where it origin .
ated.
Havoc Done in Less Than An Hour.
BY 6:45 The whole OF the block bounded
by Fourth, Fifth, Brannan and Bryant
streets was destroyed, with the exception
OF the machine shops on tho corner Of
Fourth and Bryant. At that hour the
fire was spreading toward Bluxom
street, sweeping on its way the lumber
yard Of Van Wart on the corner OF
Fourth and Brannan; tho Meehan
Lumber company on B-annan street, and
various small machine shops and tene-
nents. While the department Was strug.
Cling with the flames, which grew fereer
and 1erccr every moment, every availa-
bic resource at the command of the South
ern Pacific company was drawn upon to
quench the fire. The intense heat made it
difficult to utilize to its full capacity the
water supply, which was anything but
sufficient owing to the unusual number
OF hydrants called into play all over the
district.
Sbovs No Signs of Abatement.
The water tower rendered most efficient
service, furnishing a j,t of water which
could be rendered serviceablc where the
other streams thrown upon the flames
! were turned into steam before they had
| barely left the nozZ.c. The Wright, Car.
rick s, Williams box factory is entirely
destroyed. Main G; Winchestcr's harness
factory on Fifth and Bryant streets is n
complete loss. At 7:io p. III. the fire was
still out CT all control. The houses along
the lines of the cross streets surrounding
| the block bounded by Fourth, Fifth, Bry-
ant and Brannan were all more or less in
flames, with the fire working to the
northward across Bryant street.