The herald., 1897-06-07
Burying the Firemen in
the Debris
MAHoLEY's LITTLE DELAY
COST HIS OWN AND TWO OTHER
LIVES
A San Francisco Fire Results In the
Death Of Three Firemen and
Causes Heavy Damage

Associated Press Special Wire.
SAN FRANCISCO, June GA FIFE in
the southeastern part of the city at noon
today cost three firemen their lives and
entailed a property loss Of 100000. The
killed:
John Maholey. of chemical engine
No. 6.
Frank Keller. steward Of hose cart
No. 2.
James Hallinan. driver Of truck No. 1.
The fire started mysteriousiy in the
four-story brick building owned by
Schroth & Westerfield and leased to the
Handard Biscuit company. Work in the
factory ceased for the week at $3.50 yes
terday afternoon and, SO far as known,
the only occupants of the building this
morning were John Erwin, the book
keeper, and w. Cook, the cashier, who
were at work in the office. Cook departed
at II o'clock and Erwin was still occupied
with his books at noon, when q fireman
rushed in conveying the information that
the building was ablaze in the upper
stories. Erwin had been quite uncon-
scious Of the fire, which had been OBJ
served but a few minutes earlier by sew
eral passers by, who were startled by a
sudden burst of flame in the fourth story.
After the first alarm the fire chief turned
in a second and general alarm. A stiff
breeze famed the fire within the brick
walls, causing 1t to develop with extra
ordinary rapidfty, and 1t was soon appar-
ent that the interior of the structure
would be. entirely destroyed. Adjacent
to the brick factory was row of old
wooden buildings. including a branch
Salvation army barracks and the South
ern police station. These seemed
doomed. Fortunately the police station
contained only three prisoners, but the
terrified yells and appeals Of the trio to
be liberated caused intense excitement
among the gathering crowds. They were
transferred as quickly. a. possible to the
central station. -
Meanwhile floor after floor Of the
cracker factory fell in, rendering the side
walls unsafe. Then the east wall Of the
factory toppled over and waving sheet
of fame spread over the wide wooden
area adjoining. With the crash Of the
east wall occurred the tragedy Of the con-
ilagration. A score Of firemen were in a
paint shop endeavoring from
that point to check the spread Of -the
flames. "A falling timber struck Fire
man Maholey on the leg, breaking 1t. He
refused to allow his comrades to carry
him away in their arms, insisting that
he must be born Off on a shutter. All
but two Of the band of firemen ran to
procure a shutter, and just, as they lef.
their injured companion the wall fell.
burylng beneath mass of brick and
mortar Maholey and his faithful friends.
BY ddnt OF much dangerous labor the
three bodies were recovered and sent
with police escort in as many patrol
wagons.
The loss to the brick buildings is esti-
mated at $4,000. with 10000 loss on the
contents. consisting of machinery and
stock. The damage to the Salvation army
barracks was $1,000, and to the police sta
tion the damage was nominal.
The biscuit factory was operated by
corporation organized a year ago and
reputedly transacted a large and pros
porous business. The cause of the fire Is
as yet unknown.
FIRE AT DELANO
DELANO, CAL, June 6.-F'ire broke out
here this morning which, before it was
spent, caused loss Of $4,000. The fire
started from burning waste paper in the
living rooms of the family of 3. B. Metz
ger, who occupied the first floor of the
building as a tin shop and the second as
q residence, and from there 1t spread both
ways to an unoccupied building and
blacksmith shop of D. C. Abbott on the
south and an unoccupied store room
owned by B. Slides, D. s.. Coverdale's
Office. the Delano Currier Office and the
hardware store Of Weaver & Co. on the
north. The buildings were all frame
and the business block in the town. From
the time the fire was discovered until
the buildings were consumed was con-
siderably less than an hour. and no effort
could be made to save them. Every en-
ergy was spent to prevent the fire from
spreading to the buildings just back and
to the east of them. Consequently moth
ing was saved from the flames. Weaver
& Co. are the heaviest losers, their loss
being about $500. with insurance Of $4,000.
The total loss il $4,000 and total insur-
ance about $500.