davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-03-07
GOT SOL MILLER IN.
Hard Work to Provide a Job For Hi
But Success is Won.

Hard Work to Provide a Job For Him
But Success is Won.
Governor Morrill, today appointed a
new state board of pardons, and Sol
Miller, editor of the Troy Chief, is a
member of the board.
The other members are General J. c.
Caldwell of Topeka, who was member
OF the board under Governor Humphrey,
and Charles Smith of Washington county.
Sol Miller was slated for his old place
on the state board of public works, but
when the senate refused to allow any of
the appropriations for state institutions
go through that board. or make any ap-
preparation to pay the members of the
board. it became necessary for the gov
ernor to find another place for the editor
of the Chief
There was some talk of abolishing the
board of pardons early in the session but
it was all talk, although it is one of the
most useless public boards in existence.
The members of the board of pardons
receive $S333 80 each annually.
APPELLATE COURT CLERKS.
Judges of the Northern Department. to
Select Them on Monday.
The judges of the northern depart
meeting in Topeka next Monday to
select the three clerks for this depart
ment
Among the candidates for the Topeka
division are Charles A. Taylor, now as
sistant superintendent of insurance. w.
| A Shook, was was until recently a clerk
in the attorney generals Office, F. G.
Hentig,S. B. Bradford and NJ. D. Hender-
son, late secretary of the board of rail
road commissioners.
/ 1t is said this afternoon that ex-State
| Senator Frank Lockard of Norton is
| likely to be made clerk of the western
| division. which will hold court at Colby.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-03-07

combed TO the inevitable and agreed to
put a Populist on the irrigation board
NJ D. Tomblin of Goodland. Sherman
county, was decided on as the lucky
Populist. He is bank cashier, but takes
a great deal of interest in irrigation.
This nomination was confirmed, and at
the same time W. B. Sutton and D. NJ.
Frost were confirmed as the Republican
members.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-03-07
THE NEW IRRIGAr1oN BOARD.
The Governor Finally Names a Populist
Instead of a Democrat.

@HAS OVFe1HOE NIuAIIy Names q PODulfst
Instead of n Democrat.
The Populist majority in the senate
which holds the absolute confirming
power in the matter of all the governors
appointments, carried it's point late yes-
to put Populist member on +ba --. 80
state irrigation board.
When the senate forr,al1r o,oo4oa
Judge J. S. Emery of Tsvrronoo -S c.,
ernor Morrill, sent the name of w. f..
Petition, of Ford conntv for - =
OF the board Petition is a stalwart
democrat and the editor of an irrigation
paper at Dodge City.
The senate rejected this appointment
tnr political reasons, as it did judge
Emery. Last night the governor 80 s,ec7
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-03-07
Railroad Building in Egvpt.

CAIRO, March THE council of state
has decided to extend the railway to AS
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-28
FIRES OF THE PAST.
CONGREGATIONS OF 1S4o, 1851 and
1S76-The City's Biggest


San Francisco's first great fire occurred
on December "a, 1S49. 1t burned down all
of the buildings on Kearny street between
Washington and Clay which, at that time,
were the most valuable in the City Among
them was the Parker House, a two-story
frame building which served as hotel and
gambling house. The total loss was 81, OO0, :
GOO.
The second great fire occurred May 4,
1885, about six months later. Three
blocks were swept by the flames. Two OF
these were between Clay, Jackson, Kearny
and Montgomery, and one was bounded
by Washington, Kearny, Jackson and Du-
pont.
The first fire had chiefly injured the
gamblers and spectators. In the second
the heaviest losers were the merchants.
The loss at this second fire was estimated
at So, 100000.
Six weeks later, on June IA, there was a
third confagration which swept awav
everything between Clay, California and
Kearny streets and the water front, which
was then near Sansome street. The loss
again reached $4,000 600.
The ground burned over was in few
months covered again with buildings. But
they were of more stable character than
the former houses, as fire-limit ordinance
had been passed. This prohibited the
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-28

On both sides of Fourth street, below
Welsh, not a building stood. On Welsh
street, east of Fourth, eight or ten families
narrowly escaped from their burning
houses.
1t was clean sweep along Fourth street
to BluIome.
Dozens of express-wagons and lighter
vehicles were kept busy moving furniture
and bedding through the fire lines.
Through all the horror, heat and desola-
ton of the catastrophe, the corner-g-ocery
man and the AMBER saloonist thrived.
With the heat blistering their beer signs
and burning their faces, they served up
drinks galore.
1t was simply impossible to secure any
thing like a complete list of names of per-
sons rendered destitute by the fire. Among
them were the following:
On Welsh street, east of Fourth, to
Third, half a dozen houses were burned
and their inmates made homeless. Among
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-28
ALMOST A FATALITY.
Thomas Hogan Pushes Into the
Flames to Save His
Mother

One of the most thrilling incidents &C.
Cured on Fourth street about o'clock
At $50 Fourth street, in a cheap lodging
house, lived an aged widow named Hogan
and her son Thomas, who works in fac
tory at the Potrero. She escaped long be-
fore the fire reached her abode, and fed
from her rooms with a few trinkets. She
was soon lost in the crowd. Attracted by
the blaze her son hurried from the Potrero
and reached Fourth street in time to see
his home wrapped in flames. The poor
fellow seemed to lose his mind, for with a
wild cry of Mother, mother" he dashed
through the line of policemen and ran
toward the flaming buildings. He ap-
preached to within twenty feet of the
ire, and was checked by the
heat. With renewed desperation
Hogan made another dash to the door
way. Again he was driven back, but only
for moment. He hastily threw his coat
over his face and was about to make an
other dash into the burning structure,
when he was seized by Officers Coleman
and Peters, who declared that the man
was crazy. 1t required the combined
strength of both officers to drag Hogan
away to place of safety. He begged pite-
ously to be allo we'd to go to his mother,
put to no avail. He raved like mailman,
until at last some one told him that his
mother was safe, when he wept like child.
The officers who rescued him were almost
bistered by the heat and their hair was
singed, so close were they to the flames.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-28
NARROW ESCAPES.
Assistant Chief Dougherty Res
cues a Man and Kennard
Badly Hurt.

Assistant Chief Dougherty, by his pres
ence Of mind, saved one of his men from
death The walls of the Horstman Soda
Works were lettering and the fireman was
ct work all unconscious of his danger
Several men called TO him, but he did not
hear. 1t was then that Dougherty rushed
in and pulled his subordinate TO a place of
safety. Both were knocked down by some
OF the falling timbers, but they continued
at work as though nothing had happened.
Second Assistant Chief George w. Ken
nard had a narrow escape from being
severely injured. Just as he was leaving
the building known as the Great Eastern
and Western Horse and Mule Market the
heavy cornice over the front entrance iell
and struck him on the back OF the head
and neck, knocking him to the ground
with a crash. Luckily, the casing struck
the tireman's cap worn by Kennard, and
the force of the blow was broken. Several
persons rushed TO help him, and more
severe accident was averted. Engineer
Kennard is 20 be retired on the 30th of this
month, and his last large fire will, no
doubt, be memorable one for him.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-28

rumble of falling buildings were the cries
of destitute women and shivering children
all over the burnt district, who were rem
dered homeless by the flames.
On Welsh and Freelon streets, from
Third to Fifth, the fire made terrible head
way, leveIing almost every house.
Furniture, bedding and other household
effects were strewn in r:otous disorder
along Townsend. Fourth and Fifth streets.
Anxious mothers and half-crazed fathers
ran hither and thither gathering together
their household effects, while trying to
comfort their frightened little ones.
One little girl, with tear-stained eyes
that could weep no more, sat on leather
trunk on the corner OF Fourth and Harri-
son streets and watched the flames as they
swept down toward the channel.
Too dazed to give her name. she man
aged to tell a policeman that she lived on
Welsh street, and that her mamma had
been burned out. She was taken in charge
by the officer.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-28

erection of buildings covered with cotton
cloth.
Then came the Great Fire" 1t &C.
Cured on May f. 1851, Just one year after
the second large confagration. The loss
footed up $1,000 COO.
The fire is called the fire of May 4. 1t
really began little before II o'clock, The
night of May 3. The entire business por-
ton of the City was swept away. This
meant nearly everything, for at that time
there were few family dwellings.
The burned district was three-quarters
of mile long and quarter of mile wide.
More than 1900 houses were destroyed
Sixteen blocks were burned, ten being in
the district bounded by Pine, Jackson,
Kearny and Sansome streets; five were
bounded by Sansome, Battery, Sacramento
and Broadway, and one was bounded by
Kearny, Montgomery, Washington and
Jackson streets. There were fractions of
five other blocks.
Among the buildings burned out were
the Custom-house, the Jenny Lind The
alter, the Union Hotel and the banks of
Page, Bacon & Co.; Burgoyne & Co. and
Wells & Co. The Custom-house, which
was three-story building on the corner of
Montgomery and California streets, con-
tanned large amount of goods.
number OF persons persisted in the
flames. How many is not known.
The fifth great fire came within two
months. The date was June %, 1851. This
time the loss was only 100000.
The fire began on Pacific street, near
Powell, and burned eight blocks, bounded
by Broadway, jackson, Powell and Mont
gomery streets. Then three blocks be-
tween Stockton, Montgomery, Jackson and
Washington streets followed. Fractions
of five other blocks, were also destroyed
The principal buildings burned were the
City Hall, which had been the Graham
House, the hospital, the Jennie Lind
Theater and an old adobe on the plaza.
These were the great fires of the earliest
period of the growth of San francisco.
The fire of May, 1851, was attributed to in
cendiarism. One man, charged with ar
son, was beaten to death while the fire
was raging. So much valuable property
was exposed in the street that a vigilance
committee was formed to act as a patrol.
and summary justice was dealt out to lar
cenists.
The merchants, not able to secure their
property on land, put their goods into old
hulks, which served as storeships. But by
1854 there were many freproof buildings.
The materials had all to be imported, the
granite coming from China and Quincy,
lava from Honolulu, and bricks from sgd
ney, New York and London.
The electric fire-alarm system was not
established until 1865. 1t was resisted by
strong political influences and by many
crimes, such as lncendiary fires, false
alarms, breaking of the fre-aIarm boxes
| and cutting the wires. Those who op-
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-28
FIRE HOSE DESTROYED.
Several Valuable Steam Fire En-
gineS Narrowly Escape
Destruction,

Several times valuable fire apparatus
was in danger of being destroyed. So rap
idly did the flames run with and against
the wind that the fremen had barely time
to move their engines, trucks, hose
and ladders before the flames were
upon them. Engine 8, stationed on
Bryant street, near Fifth, became
so hot from the big blaze that it was
necessary to bank its fires, turn off the
steam and play hose upon it to save it
from being ruined. 1t was run to place
of safety.
Engine Z, on Fifth street, near Brannan,
met with similar experience, except that
it was removed before becoming over
heated.
Engine /, on Fourth and Walsh, had to
be removed on a run when the Shirley
Hotel went up in blaze.
On several occasions quick moves had to
be made to get hose out of the way OF the
fire. but as it was a large amount was de-
st-oyed. In the vicinity of Fifth and
Brannan at least 1000 feet was burned
before the iremen could get it away. so
rapidly did the fire sweep into those
districts
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-28
SEEN AT OAKLAND.
Crowds Watch the Increasing Con-
flagratiOn on the Other
SbOJ-P

When it became evident in Oakland from
the leaping flames and intense reflection in
the sky, that the fire was gaining Roadway
and threatening general conhagration,
interest arose to high pitch and positions
where an unobstructed view in the lirec-
ton OF the city could be obtained were at
q premium.
AS the evening advanced and the flames
were seen to spread, hundreds left their
homes and tlocked to the ferries going to
the city to obtain a near view of the con-
fagration.
The sight from Oakland was beautiful
one, and resembled volcano in action.
The bright glow of the flames as they rose
from the burning buildings contrasted
brilliantly with the dark hues of the sky
and houses, and made the fire swept area
seem immense.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-28

posed it we're the men making up the
| Volunteer Fire Department.
| The fires had grown more numerous and
the Volunteer Fire Department at last be-
came insufficient to cope with them. In
1866 the paid department, with better APP
paratus, was instituted.
The next large fire was on the night of
August %, 1876. Then the block bounded
by Third and Fourth, Brannan and Town
send streets was almost destroyed. Several
lumber-yards and nearly 100 dwellings
were destroyed.
The fire broke out in a cigar-box manu-
factory on Brannan street, adjoining the
German Hospital As the cigar-box fac
tory was only one of number OF similar
shops in the same block. it was found nee
essary ten minutes after the first alarm to
bring out the full force of the fire brigade.
The German Hospital was built of brick,
but soon succumbed TO the flames. Thence
it spread to the lumberyards and the car
houses and stables of the Fifth-street Rail-
way Company.
The woodyards toward Fourth street had
been entirely destroyed within an hour
after the alarm was sounded. The flames
had at that time been carried to. the west
side of Third street also. The spread of
the fire in that direction was, however
stayed by the firemen. 1t was only their
prompt action in this direction that saved
the Pacific Mail dock and the buildings
lying toward Second street.
The block devastated by the flames was
bounded by Third, Townsend, Fourth and
Brannan streets, and was intersected by
three small streets-Ritch Liberty and
Crook. On it were the railroad offices, the
German Hospital, several factories engaged
| in woodwork, and a number of wooden
dwelling-houses.
OF the ten acres of buildings on the
block only two structures remained, the
large brick building of the Central Pacific
Company and the grocery-store at the cor
ner of Third and Brannan.
There were ON the block twenty-one one
story frame houses. five one-and -a-half-
story frames, forty-seven two-story frames,
nine three-story frames, two four-story
frames, three two-story brick buildings,
one three-story brick, five stables and
! three carhouses and stables, making in all
ninety-six buildings. This made the num-
! Der destroyed ninety-four.
! The losses in the aggregate were es-
| timated at $4,000.
| Since the fire OF 1876 there was no notable
/ confagration until last night. There have
| been numerous small fires entaiiing heavy
| loss, but in no instance has the extent of
territory covered been of SO great extent.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-28
FREELON STREET.
Where the Fire Was Conquered
After a Very Stubborn
Fight.

Assistant Chief Dougherty had charge
of the tiremen on freedom street. The
scene OF moving from the street after the
flames crossed Fourth defies description.
The houses are two and three stories high
and occupied by poor families. The exc
dus was instantaneous and the procession
pitiful one.
Invalid women, children, mothers with
babies. little girls with dogs and canary
birds, boys and men with pictures and
bedding, and others with all sorts OF house
hold articles filled the street and crowded
their way around express wagons to Zoe
street and thence out TO Bryant. The
people on Zoe followed the same impulse.
While the people were moving out the
department began reinforcing the line OF
fre-fghterS with extra hose. Meanwhile
the wind, which had been blowing strong
at 7:30 o'clock, subsidized greatly. and the
fremen were able to get close up to the
fire. Dougherty urged his men forward
and at 27E Freelon street, a tbree-story
frame building, his men got the upper
hand on the south side of Freedom
The house where the fire was stopped
although 1t is in ruins, was owned by vii
liam Gleason, who lived in the upper story
The floors below were occupied by the
family OF James Haughton.
The house on the north side of Freelor
street, where the fire was checked, was oc
cupied by Mr.. Speiger, who kept gro
Gerry and saloon. The weak pressure O
water was here observed, and only the
lulling OF the wind prevented the flame.
from going through the block across Zot
street TO Third.
Chief Sullivan visited this point of the
contest, but Dougherty conducted the
fighting, and went right in with his mer
to the thickest, urging them to go down t.
that basement and right into the house
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-28
POLICE WORKED HARD.
Their Well Directed Efforts to
Save Life and Prop
erty,

The third alarm of fire brought to the
scene the entire police force. Their work
was almost as hard as that of the iiremen.
for it was not by any means parade duty.
The officers and ..sergeants were under the
direction of Sergeant Whitman, who di-
rected their efforts. The police went
through nearly all the buildings before
the fire reached the structures and hustled
out the inmates, many of whom
were inclined to take chances on
their lives to save few
dollars worth of property. In the Shirley
Hotel the police no doubt saved many
lives by driving the dodgers from their
rooms by main force. They had hard
fight to hold back the crowds that insisted
upon crowding every avenue leading to
the scene of the big blaze. They also con-
stituted themselves as special guardians of
thousands of dollars worth of furniture
and household goods piled upon the side
walks
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-28

a rickety frame structure that has not
been tenanted for some time, was de-
stroyed.
George w. Phela'ns carriage manufac-
tory at 657 Bryant was very nearly de
stroyed. Phelan was insured for $500,
which fully covers his loss. He owned the
building.
Corbell Brothers, at the Humboldt ium-
beryard, adjoining Phelan's carriage fac
tory, had rather fortunate escape Most
of their great Timber piles were saved, and
the firms loss will not exceed $500, which
is fully covered by insurance.
The Spring Valley Water Company's sup
ply yards also escaped.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-28

I homeless and destitute but few if any act
ually suffered from exposure during the
night. People living in the surrounding
districts gave shelter to their less fortu-
nate neighbors. Many of the destitute
have friends in other parts of
the City, and they bundled themselves
into express wagons and accepted their
friends hospitality. Sergeant Hanna, at
the Folsom-stre Police Station, sent out
word that homeless people could find
shelter in the police station. Only one
accepted the invitation and he was a
stranger in the City who had had room
on Fourth street.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-28
FLOODED WITH WINE,
Thousands Of Gallons of CIaret
Used to Save Prop

The employees of S. Lachman & Co..
whose winery is at 453 Brannan street
near Fourth, adopted heroic measures
when the fire approached the large brick
building, where thousands of gallons OF
wine are stored. Across the winery ward
is the Pacific Box Factory, where large
quantities of lumber are stacked. Sparks
and burning material carried on the wind
fell in showers upon the dry wood ahd
threatened to start the fire east of the
brick wine warehouse. The water in the
tanks on botn buildings was soon emptied
and as the men were unable to draw any
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-28

however, and the blanket breaking his
fall he escaped with a severe shaking and
q few burns.
The convent, parochial school and the
new st. Roses Church were all a complete
loss. The latter was a new building, and
not quite complete, but now all that re-
mains of it are the brick walls. The prop
erty was on Brannan street, near Fourth,
and Rev. Father D. F. Nugent was rector.
The church cost about $4,000, and the loss
will probably be covered by insurance.
In the convent where the Sisters of the
Holy Name taught about 500 children
everything was lost.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-28
AT THE HOSPITAL.

Two men who were injured at the fire
were treated at the Receiving Hospital
Jake Strachler of 2605 Mission street was
on the roof of a house on Brannan street
pouring water on it, when he slipped and
fell to the ground. He received q LAGER
ated wound on the scalp and his back was
confused. James McDonough, 1853 Bran
nan street. was on the roof of his house
pouring water over it, when he also slipped
and fell, but escaped with sprained wrist.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-28

from the Spring Valley pipes it looked for
a time as though fire would break out in
spite of all care.
At this point the wine men came for
ward and attached long two-inch hose to
an S000-gallon tank of claret wine that is
perched upon shed outside of the winery.
For nearly an. hour this supply of costly
liquid held out, and over half an acre of
lumber and dry roofs was drenched with
wine.
Had it not been for the wine the fire
would probably have continued its course
to the bay. While this method of fighting
fire was expensive, it saved thousands of
dollars worth of property and prevented a
large section of the City from being de-
strOyed.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-28

Above the fire the flame-tipped pillows
of smoke spread out into the resemblance
of huge Japanese umbrella, growing
smaller or larger as they were swayed by
the wind.
The crowds of passengers on the ferries
threatened to render the boats unsafe by
congregating on the side of the decks near
est the fire. When the boats landed the
crowds rushed ashore and hurried in the
direction of the confagration
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-28

les Compay of 425 Brannan street to relieve
the pitiful necessities of the people rem
dered destitute by the dual destruction of
their homes, and of the mills and factories
where they gained their livelihood.
Mr.. Isador Jacobs, manager OF the can
neries, has started the relief fund by SUBJ
scribing 500.
Doubtless other equally generous SUBJ
scriptions will follow