St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-06-28
FLAMES IN FRISCO
TWO MILLION DOLLARS, WORTH
OF PROPERTY DESTROYED
LITTLE INSURANCE.
BUSINESS BLOCKS SWEPT.
CONFEDERATION STARTS IN A
BOX FACTORY AND RACES
OVER THREE HOURS.
ONE WOMAN BURNED TO DEATH
Firement Unable to Control tho
Flames Until n Change of
Wind Occurred.

SAN FRAN CISCO, Cal. June T.-
a 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, filled with in
fiammable material. The flames
spread rapidly and it soon became
apparent that serious confiagra-
ton was threatened. The first alarm
was turned in from box No. SO and
was Immediately responded to by the
department. A second alarm was
turned upon the fire spreading rapid
ly to the Liberty Sofa Works, ad-
joining on the other side of the
block. Within a few minutes the
entire east end of the block bound
ed by Brannon and Bryant streets
was mass of flames. A strong
southerly wind was blowing and it
was deemed best to turn in a third
alarm. The flames soon spread all
over the block, destroying in a few
minutes the yards of the Spring Val
ley Water Works and the furniture
factory of H. Fueller. The box fac
tory of Korbell Brothers, at No. 723
Bryant street, also the stable of H.
Washburn at No. 657 Bryant street,
the carriage factory of G.. w. Phalen
and the soda factory of j. Horst
mann were all destroyed in short
order. The high wind, which famed
the flames and swept them on in
their mad career, drove the firemen
back by degrees and the situation
became critical. Long tongues Of
flames shot out from the flaming
mass clear across the street, and
from time to time the hose had to
be turned on buildings which threat
ened to involve a still larger terri
tory in the conflagration.
ENTIRE BLOCK GONE. =
The firemen were reinforced by
the full department by this time
and fought manfully to confine the
fire. within the block where it orig
mated. By 6:45 the whole of the
block bounded by Fourth, Fifth,
stroyed, with the exception of the
machine shops on the corner of
Fourth and Bryant. At that hour
the fire was spreading toward Bluz-
ON street, sweeping on it's way the
lumber yard of Van Wart, at the
corner of Fourth and Brannon; the
Mehan Lumber company, on Bran
non shreet, and various small ma
chine shops and tenements. While
the department was struggling at
the flames, which grew fiercer and
fiercer every moment, every avail
able resource at the command of the
Southern Pacific company was drawn
upon to quench the fire. The in
tense heat made 1t difficult to utilize
to its full capacity the water sup
ply, which was anything but suffi-
cient, owing to the unusual number
of hydrants called into play over
the district. The water tower rem
dered most efficient service, furnish
ing jet of water which could be
rendered serviceable where the other
streams thrown upon the flames were
turned into steam when they had
barely left the nozzle. The Wright,
Carrick & Williams box factory is
entirely destroyed and the Main
& Winchester's harness factory,
on Fifth and Bryant, Is a complete
loss.
Late estimates place the loss at
least $1,000, 900, with a probability that
it will amount to $1,5OO,000. The greater
part of four blocks was consumed.
The insurance was very light.