The herald., 1897-12-30
FLAMES AND
OLD BOREAS
Combine in Attack on San
Bernardin0
THE JOINER'S GLUE POT
Attempted to Emulate the
O'Leary Cow
THE WHOLE CITY Threatened
BY EMsERs SCATTERED BY THE
WIND
THE WHOLE CITY Threatened
BY EMDERs SCATTERED BY THE
WIND
Prompt Aid Given by Cotton and a -
lands Saves the Town From
Destruction, But Losses
Are Heavy

SAN BERNARDINO, Dec. 29.-About
43O o'clock this afternoon fire broke out
in Whitney's planning mill, and in few
minutes the whole building, together
with piles of lumber, was in roaring
flames, famed by strong north wind.
Cinders, live Goals and burning lumber
were carried on the wind thousands Of
cipal buildings of the city, which lay
directly in the path of the wind.
The fire swiftly communicated to the
Episcopal church, James Murray's, A.
G. Kendalls, Green estate and H. c.
Rolfes houses, and in few minutes was
beyond control. Soon reports Of the
fires communicating to buildings over
1000 feet away and in widely different To-
calities warned the authorities that IL
the city was to be saved from destruc-
ton, prompt action was necessary. A
cry for help was wired to Riverside, Col
ton and Redlands, and the fire depart
|ments of these cities responded promptly.
Cotton eerrived first on the ground: Red
lands came next within nine minutes Of
the call and nine miles away, and Riv-
erside closely followed. By the time
these companies had arrived the fire
had jumped a distance Of 300 feet from
north Of Fourth street to houses on the
south side of Court street, between p
and II streets. Four buildings in this lo-
cality were swept away, adding to the
flying embers and increasing the danger.
The fire companies were all this time
doing good work, turning streams of
water upon the burning buildings and
tearing down blazing ruins. Hundreds
Of men from all over the endangered
part of the city were stationed on roofs
with buckets, and private hydrants and
wells, and were kept busy in putting out
falling embers.
At about the time when the danger
seemed greatest the wind suddenly died
down, and the fire was within few min
utes brought under control.
The fire started by the overturning Of
a lamp for heating glue in Whitney's
planning mill on e street, north Of Fourth.
and burned everything from that point
south to Fourth street and as far east
as Flemings lumber yards, together
with five frame buildings on the south
side of Court street, between and e
streets. But for the abundant supply of
water under hydraulic pressure and the
Iservices rendered by the fire companies
of Cotton, Redlands and Riverside. the
main business portion of the city would
have been swept away. Within seven
minutes from the time the fire broke out
Whitney's mill fell to the ground, and
other buildings followed in quick sue
cession.
One of the greatest personal losses met
by one individual was that OF w. G.
Wright, who has devoted his life to nat
ural history collections, which were in
some features very rare and known to
scientists throughout the country. These
collections had market value Of from
$15,o 900 to $4,000.
The streets were crowded with people
with willing hands, but such was the
fury of the flames that but little of the
contents Of the wooden buildings could
be saved. Costly pianos were taken out
side of houses, only to be abandoned to
the flames, which spread so rapidly as
to drive away the helpers before place
of safety could be reached. At one time
the alarm became general throughout
the business portion of the city. and mer-
cnanLS SelZeu tuclI OOoho dA0 CooAA OA4
hand and took them to places of safety.
The furious north wind died down to
soft summer breeze just as the sun sank
below the horizon, and the danger
passed.
Numerous streams of water from con-
venient fire hydrants under 200 feet
pressure, to say nothing of private fire
hose, played upon the flames and flying
embers and proved speedily victorious.
So strong was the wind that burning
2x4 scantlings several feet in length were
carried over $50 feet. From the time
Redlands got word to come to the time
when it's f1remen had a stream playing on
the fire was "a minutes, and from the
time Cotton got the message until its
firemen had q stream playing was 2S
minutes. Redlands came on the motor
nine miles, and Cotton drove the hose
carts four miles.
THE LOSSES
The total loss, SO far as can be esti-
mated, is $4,000. Individual losses, 80 far
us can be ascertained. are:
]. ]. whitney, $4,000: insurance, 5000.
w. G. Wright, house, $1,000; contents,
$15, ,000 insurance. $1,000 "
Episcopal church, $4,000; insurance.
Aetna and Caledonian, $4,000.
A. G. Kendall. house, $500; Insurance..