The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-07-14
SAW DEATH ON
EITHER HAND.
Chinese Surrounded by
Flames in a Burning
Building.
SECOND ALARM SOUNDED
A Family of Seven Supposed to
Have Persisted in Their
Rooms.
ESCAPED BY A LONG LADDER.
Merchandise Stores and Tenement
Apartments Quilted on Jack
son Street.

Chinatown was the scene OF anoJher
serious fire at 11:l5 O'Clock last night For
time it looked as though all the build
ings on the north side of Jackson street
from the theater to Kearny street would
be destroyed. For the third time in five
days the Fire Department was called out
on a double alarm, and the men under
acting Chief Dougherty acquitted them
selves nobly.
The fire started IN Wo Lung Cheong's
shoe factory and the first intimation Of
danger TO those outside was a sudden
burst of flames from the front, which
seemed to spring half way across the
street. Then followed a scene that beggars
description. The Chinese inhabitants Of
the locality lost all elf-possession and ran
hither and thither shrilly screaming in
their barbarous language.
They knew that Cheong's family lived
in The rear and that all apparent avenues
of escape were cut off by the wall of fire
that stood between the rear and the street.
They also knew that the second and third
stories of the large building were literally
packed with dozens of their countrymen,
whose escape by the stairs was im possible.
The discordant cries and screams in the
street and from the windows of surround
ing buildings soon awoke those who
dwelt in the tenement, and every window
was thrown open. A few gave vent to
their alarm by calls for help to those be-
low. In very few minutes the Chinese
who lived in the second story were out on
the wooden awning over the sidewalk,
where for time they were safe, ii not we'll
clad.
Foot by foot the flames rapidly went up
was intense. The Chinese in the upper
part had ceased their cries and watched
the approach of the fire with stole forti-
tude. To jump out OF the window meant
death or serious injury, so they crowded to
the windows, where they gasped for fresh
air, for clouds OF smoke were pouring out
over their heads.
At last the heat became unbearable, and
q break was made. One by one they
crawled out upon the six-inch window
lodges and stood cllnging TO the wall.
Death stared them III the face on both
sides, but not word did they utter.
They were waiting for the fremen to
erect the long extensi ladders, and,
though the tremen worked with will
and the feat was quickly done, 1t seemed
an age to those who watched above and
below. When the ladder came within
reach the first half-clad Chinese stepped
on and quickly reached the ground.
The others did not attempt to rush, but
with remarkable GOODNESS each took his
turn, notwithstanding that the flames
were scorching hands and faces. At last
all reached the ground in safety and they
hurried away and were lost in the crowd.
Then came the cry that Cheong and his
family, consisting of the father, mother,
three girls and two little boys, we're still
imprisoned in the Building and the first
effort of the iremen was TO reach the IN
fortunate. All the doors and windows on
the front were smashed in and with each
collapse out poured a big volume OF
smoke.
To reach the living-rooms of the
Cheongs was an impossibility, for falling
timbers and leaping flames completely
blocked the way. If the family had not
escaped not a member would live to tell
the tale, for there was no exit in the rear.
The horror Of the situation was plainly
manifest on the faces of the Chinese in
the crowd.
Later in the night the word was spread
that boy had seen Cheong fleeing from
the burning building with his brood a
minute or two after the first cry of fire was
sounded. A search through the Chinese
quarter was made, but where they took
refuge, if they did escape. could not be
found.
Meanwhile the firemen had their hands
full. Fire tower. hosecarts, line of hose
were piled and jammed in the streets in
confusion. Lines were carried to the
roofs OF the adjoining buildings, and by
the time the outside engines had been on
the ground ten minutes streams were
pouring into the fiery furnace within
the brick walls from all sides and above.
While the blaze was at its worst there
was dull explosion in the building, fol-
lowed by a clatter like hail on a tin pan.
Evidently can of powder and few big
boxes OF frecrackers caused the dis
turbance.
The fire was under control within half
hour
The fire burst out with the suddenness
of an explosion and in consequence it is
impossible to ascertain just where or how
it started 1t is presumed, however, that
it originated in Wo Lung Cheong's shoe
store, at 72l Jackson street.
In few moments the fire burst through
into Lang Wo Lang d Co.'s general ner-
c andise establishment next door. The
flames then ate their gay into the two
soon a mass OF raging flames. Sun San
Keys butcher-snop, III Jackson street.
next furnished fuel to the flames.
Large quantities of meat and taIlow
were stored in the shop, and as the flames
reached this stock the smoke and stencil
of the burning meat became unbearable.
The fremen were driven half suffocated
into the fresh air.
Acting Chief Dougherty, seeing that it
was impossible to check the flames with
Tue EdnQ nose, OIOSIeQ the WaLer-tOWer
placed opposite the burning building.
This was done and powerful stream OF
water, fed by three engines, was turned
through the upper windows into the burn
ing mass OF goods and furniture.
Thousands upon thousands of gallons OF
water went pouring into the building, but
il was fully half an hour before the flames
were under control. During the progress
of the fire streams directed toward the
flames would strike projecting corner OF
a standing ladder and the water would
pour into the adjoining buildings.
In consequence the Jackson-street thea
ter, owned by the Sam Yup Company, was
thoroughly flooded. A three-story tene-
ment house, 615 Jackson street, owned by
L. and G. Gendotte. and occupied by a
number OF Chinese families, was also badly
damaged by water.
II is difficult to ascertain the exact loss,
but If is estimated 10 be somewhere in the
neighborhood of $4,000 or $25, 900. The
building, which is owned by II. Miller,
r. -