The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1896-07-23
way, but the heavy iron shutters
could not be forced open.
\ NARROW ESCAPE.

/
BY this time a number of citizens
had volunteered to assist the firemen
Chief Hunt ordered a hose from No.
l to go on top. \ hole was made
through the roof and the hose went
up. 1t was in charge of Foreman
Clarke of No. /, Charles Crane of the
telephone Office and Louis Arnaud of
the band. On the roof Arnaud lost
his balance and fell through the hole
just mentioned into the building.
landed on his back and was hurt.
Crane also went over but was caught
by Clarke and saved a bad fall. Clarke
then jumped in after Arnaud and took
him out, scoring brave feat For
tunately for the band man he did not
fall in the fire. After an hour he had
recovered sufficiently to appear down
town again.
second start was made by Clarke
and Crane. Others came to their as
sistance and in minute a fine stream
of water was playing upon the fire
center. In the meantime the flames
had retreated before the several
streams from the front and was being
confined to the original starting point
Ten minutes more and all fire was out.
A WRECK.
The store then presented peculiar
appearance. Everything was burned
from above and the rear. Shelves were
burned on top while the bottoms were
left intact. Pieces of dress goods
were burned only on the top edges.
Boxes lost their lids. Coverings on
counters were destroyed. Posts were
burned on the top and down the sides.
The office caught fire from the intense
heat above. All books. papers, etc,
were saved.
THE HOUSE.
The business known as b. F. Ehlers
& Co. was owned by H. Hackfeld g. Co.
The stock in the store Wednesday
night was valued at $4,000. 1t was
insured for $4,000 in various com
panies represented by Hackfeld & Co.
Loss looks complete, or so nearly so
that only a little can be realized on
aged fixtures. James Campbell owns
the building. II is insured for 81 900
The damage to it is $3.50 being only
the ceiling, windows and part of the
roof.
ORIGIN OF FIRE.
The cause of the fire will perhaps
never be known. Opinions are about
equally divided between the electric
wires, matches and rats, and spon-
taneous combustion. Many people
were ready at once to accuse the cleo
trio wires. But it is fact that about
two weeks ago the wires were exam
ined by an electrical expert and pro-
nounced in perfect order. At the same
time the meter was overhauled and
cleaned, and every insulator examined.
About July Mr.. w. |. Warriner, the
insurance inspector, at the request of
the agents holding the policies on the
store, examined every part of the
building and the lights, and pro-
nounced the house in good condition.
SPECULATING.
Within the past few weeks several
parties, chiefly light people have been
into the attic of the building. Some
think they may have dropped matches
which were found by rats. This is
accepted as "A very plausible theory.
The third idea advanced is spon-
the Electric Light company and 9th
ers who have given a close study to
the subject hold that such is probable
under certain circumstances which did
exist, even though the fire started
early in the morning. They say that
the roof was very tight and strong
gases had accumulated in the attic.
The spot near where the fire started
was frequently wet. Il wash basin be-
ing kept there. Mr.. Hoffman believes
that the water, natural heat of the
thick walls. combustible material of
the ceiling and the gases combined to
make a condition conducive TO spon-
taneous combustion.
The blaze is the first big fire the
department has had TO handle since
the opera house burned eighteen
months ago and good work was done.
II is announced that repairs may not
be made to the store until a decision
is reached by Mr.. Campbell on the
matter of building new block on the
entire tract from Wichman's to the
King street corner.
Col. w. F. Allen, f. F. Bishop, l.. c.
Ables, Joseph Gilman and Henry
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