The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-06-28
J LOST IN FLAMES.
San Francisco Suffers a Two
Million Dollar Fire.
A Large Manufacturing District
is Burned Out.I
FIREMEN BAFFLED.
For Three Hours They Fought
Against the Flames.
FIREMEN BAFFLED.

SAN FRANCISCO, June 28-Shortly
before o'clock fire broke out in the
rear of the San Francisco box factory,
located on the corner of Fifth and
Bryant streets. The factory was a
two story frame building filed with
inaammable material The flames
spread rapidly and it soon became APP
parent that serious confagration was
threatened. The flames soon spread
all over the block, destroying in few
minutes the yards of the Spring Valley
waterworks and furniture factory of
Fl. Euler. The box factory of Korbeu
Bros. at 723 Bry ant street, also the
stable of II. Washburn at 657 Bryant
street and the carriage factory of G.
W. Phelan and the soda factory of J.
Hortsmann were all destroyed in short
order.
The high wind which famed the
flames swept them on their mad career
and drove the fremen back by de-
grees, and the situation became criti-
cal. The firemen were reinforced by
the full department by this time and
fought manfully to confne the fire
within the block where it originated.
BY Gas the whole of the block
bounded by Fourth, Fifth, Brannan
and Bryant streets was destroyed
with the exception of the machine
shops on the corner of Fourth and
Bryant.
At $50 o. m. the entire block bound
ed by Fourth, Fifth, Bluxome and
Brannon streets was a mass of ruins.
The fire reached the Overland Trans
fer company's brick freight warehouse,
and the hardware storehouse of Baker
g. ill IA
temporarily checked the flames, but
they worked around to the yards. A
number of wool warehouses were
destroyed. The enormous brick winery
of Lachman & Co., which contains sew
eral million gallons of wine, caught
fire at one corner.
At p. m. the fire had been raging
for three hours, and was burning as
fercely as ever.
The fire department officials pro-
nounced the fire practically under con-
troll at $50. The wind shifted to the
southwest, driving the flames back
over the burned area. The limits of
the fire were then confined to the
houses Immediately about the burned
territory. The flames We're within
one hundred yards of the railroad
yards and Offices. Over 100 families
lost their homes and all they possess.
A large number of horses were burned
in their stables.
The change in the wind and the big
brick wineries and the railroad offices
are what saved the day for the fire.
men. The flames were checked by
these structures and the fremen had
chance to do some work When the
fire went back over the burned terri
tory the f1remen paid no attention to
it, but watched the big buildings that
seemed to be in danger It is not be-
lieved that the loss will be as great as
first estimated. Probably So, O00, 900
will cover it. It is nearly total loss,
however, as owing to the dangerous
district, insurance rates have been so
high that insurance was almost pro-
hibited.
One death has been reported. A
Miss Gilroy, while attempting to save
some of her belongings, was covered
with burning oil and burned to death.
Probably 100, 900 people gathered at
the fire and the police were powerless
to keep them away. The fire was so
hot, however, that the unmanagea BILE
crowd did not get near enough to be
in serious danger.