The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-06-29
SAN FRANCIsCO's FIRE.
Almost Three Blocks of Frame Build-
ings in Ruins.

SAN FRANCISCO, June 2S.-Something
like one million dollars worth of property
was destroyed by fire in the lower part of
this city last night. Almost three entire
blocks covered with dwellings, lumber
yards and manufacturing plants went up
in smoke despite the efforts of the fire.
men to subdue the flames. The fire start
ed in Garrick, Williams & Wrights box
factory, on Fifth street, between Bryant
and Brennan In three hours the two
blocks bounded by Bryant and BluXome.
Fourth and Fifth streets were reduced to
piles of glowing embers. Then, to COM
plete the ruin, the fire Jumped Fourth
street, famed by a stiff breeze, and licked
up the western half of two blocks divided
by Brennan between Third and Fourth
streets. Fortunately, a breeze, which pre-
vailed during the hottest part of the con-
Migration. died away, or more OF the town
would have been swept. The water pres
sure was not sufficient for the drain
made on 1T by the full complement OF en-
gineS, and in some places the fire was left
to burn itself out. After destroying nearly
two complete blocks the destruction con-
tinued across Fourth street. 1t ravaged
a strip of half a block in width south to
Townsend. To the east, midway to Third,
progress was checked by the brick wine
vaults of S.. Lachman on Zoe street, below
Brennan. On the upper side the new Me-
chanics' Hotel and a Chinese washhouse
headed off farther advance at Freel5n
street. 1t was the worst fire in years, and
one of the most stubborn. The firemen
fought the encroaching tongues of fire in
one place only to see them shoot up in
another. The dry wooden buildings were
like so much kindling wood, and the three
story frames were snapped up in an in
slant. But one brick structure stood in
the path of the element, and that was ST.
Roses Church.. The church was only part
ly completed, but was destroyed along with
the rectory and schoolhouse. Several no.
tells, lodging houses and a hundred or SO
of humble homes were swept out OF exist
ence during the three hours the fire ragged.
inately built barns, box factories and small
dwellings, with lumber yards at intervals.
1t was the piles of lumber that baffied the
efforts of the fremen, who had to do battle
from the rear. The flames would catch in
a losely pile of boards, and the wind.
whistling through c~revices. created a draft
which nothing could check. In this man.
ner the fire spread over such a large area
that the department was compelled to di-
vide its forces, with less results.
would tend to re-establGh the Insurance
compact. The aggregate loss of $500, 900,
divided among forty companies has not
brought the different agencies closer to-
gether, and to-day they are again cutting
total loss on last nights fire is placed at
sl,2OO,00. The companies losing most
heavily are: Royal Exchange $4,000; w.
j. Landers's agency, $4,000; London and
Lancashire. $1,000; Aetna of Hartford, s15,-
600; j. d. Maxwell agency, $4,000: Trans
atlantic Fire, 81, 900; Prussian National,
$1,000; Brown. Craig & Co.'s agency, I.e00.
Three hundred families are not only
Great restitution prevails. A relief fund
has been started.