The San Francisco call., 1896-03-31
HALF A BLOCK
FALLS IN FLAMES,
Oakland Is Visited by Fire
in the Stormy
Night.
MILLS AND HOUSES LOST
Two Firemen Seriously Injured
While Fighting the
BlaZeS.
BURNING BRANDS TAKE WING.
Only With Great Difficulty Was the
Fire Confined to a Water
Front Block.
BURNING BRANDS TAKE WING.
OAKLAND OEFIcE SAN FRANcIsco CALL.

OAKLAND OEFICE SAN Francisco CALL
906 Broadway, March 80.
The east half of the block bounded by
First and Water, Broadway and Wash
ington streets was destroyed by fire to-
night. The flames were first discovered
near the englne-room of the Pioneer Plan
ing-mill owned by T. l.. Hierlihy.
The first alarm was not turned in five
minutes before it was seen that the high
wind prevailing had made certain the de-
struction of all property east to Broad
way. A general alarm was sounded and
by the time the whole department was on
hand the flames had spread to an adloin-
ing lumber-yard. Large pieces of burning
wood were carried across to the west side of
Broadway, and two chemical engines were
detailed to put out the fires there as fast
as buildings began to blaze.
Twenty minutes after the alarm was
given the flames were mounting high in
the air and the fresh breeze spread them
with fearful rapidity. 1t was evident that
nothing could be done by fighting the fire
from the windward side, so Chief Fair
drew all his men to the Water-street and
Broadway sides of the doomed block and
street, and confined it 70 the block where
it started.
After sweeping through the Pioneer
Planing-mills the flames enveIoped
Spencers Feedmill and in ten minutes it
was a mass of flame. The wind carried
the flames southwark and the American
Boiler Works were soon a blazing mass.
Next to feed the hungry flames was the
Cottage Restaurant. This frame building
did not stop the progress of the fire long
and the adjoining saloon and cigar-store
were soon absorbed. At the back of these
small structures is Taylor's lum berry ard.
The lumber is stacked high across Water
street and it was not till the fire reached
the solid piles of lumber that Its progress
was stayed.
The ferry steamer Alameda that plies
on the creek route was in her slip just on
the south side of the lumber, and she was
III uanger -vf tuking nrc Uwing
showers of sparks that fell on her decks.
A stream was played on the decks and the
watchman pulled the steam whistle, and
did not cease till the engineer arrived and
the boat was moved to place of safety.
By half-past 8 the fire was under control.
The destroyed buildings were two-story
frame structures and very old.
T. J. Sheehan, a fireman, fell off lum-
Der pile and hurt his head, causing slight
conclusion of the brain, and he also
sprained his left hand. H. c. Yorke, an
other fireman, was badly injured on one
foot by glass insulato- that fell from q
burning telegraph pole. No other acci-
dents were reported.
The Cottage Restaurant was conducted
by Mrs. Eliza Dubois, who lost all her fur
niture. The saloon was the joint property
of III. Coppers and Joe Cooper, and the
cigar-store was run by Henry Branton, all
of whom lost all the stock and furniture.
The whole of the destroyed property was
insured, and it is estimated that the dam
age will not exceed $4,000. The property
was all classed as high risks and the
premium was as high as and 10 per
cent.
There were two other small fires during
the day and early this morning. The old
Reinhardt place on Lake Shore avenue,
near the boulevard, now owned by Mrs
Sarah Coiners, was destroyed by fire. The
origin of the fire is a mystery, but it is
supposed that tramps caused it by the
careless use of matches. J. J. Mulgrew of
the Brooklyn engine company was Sc
verely burned about the head and hands
by an explosion of gas when the water
was turned on the coal in the cellar. Fire
man Stokes was slightly burned at the
same time