The San Francisco call., 1897-06-07
MYSTERY OF THE FIRE.
Losses and Insurance - How the
Books We're SaVed-First Sight
of the Flames Inside.

Losses and Insurance - How the
Books Were SaVed-First Sight
Of the Flames Inside.
The Standard Biscuit Company is a
concern of the kind that is known in COM
mercial circles as close corporation. 1t
was incorporated about a year ago with
the following officers: President and
manager, Phil /. Jacoby; secretary, julius
Brownstein; vice president, Kaspare
Cohn Clos Angeles); superintendent,
Henry +. Drew; director, Sam Jacoby.
The principal shareholders are Phil l.
Jacoby and julius Brownstein.
The managers estimate that the value
of the stock and machinery consumed or
ruined by the fire was $4,000. There was
insurance to the extent of $50, 600 about
equally distributed in the following com
panies: Fireman's Fund, German Ameri-
can, North British and Mercan tile, Ma
tional, Springfield Imperial Franklin,
Norwich Union, Phoenix, Providence,
Hartford and Home Mutual
Phil !. Jacoby was seen at his residence,
900 O'FarrelI street last evening. In re-
ply TO inquiries concerning the fire, he
said: The origin Of the fire is a mystery
10 me. Yes, the company WAS dong a
prosperous business, and our trade ex-
tended to all parts of the world. Recently
we received large orders from Australia
The company was organized about one
year ago. We gave employment 10 sew
enty-hve persOns-say thiTty-fiye men and
1orty girls. Before l came here | was in
business i've years in Los Angeles, being
connected with the Southern California
Cracker Company. This is the first fire l
have ever had. No, we have not largely
ed n of lata
added TO our stock and put in new ma
chimes we took out insurance accord
lngly.
Recently we bought two new ma
chimes, but they had not been put in
place. One was hercules banning and
scrapping machine, which we bought
from Roth, McMahon d. Co. of Chicago,
paying $1,000 Tor It. The other was a con-
unuous wire-cuttlng and deposiIing ma
chine, purchased from +. Westerman of
Chicago. should say that the two ma
chimes cost $1,000. l think the safe is all
right. The books were saved by the book
keeper j. ii, Irwin, who was in the Office
when the fire was discovered. We shall
resume business operations at once, and
shall probably give notice to that effect 10
our employees tomorrow"
Wnen asked ii the building had been
visited by the Fire Mars al or others in
authority TO complain of its weakness or
insecurity, Mr.. Jacoby said that no one
had ever complained. he understood that
the walls had been braced up q short time
before the biscuit corporation leased The
premises.
L. II. Cook, the cashier of the corpora.
tlon, was seen last evening a 800 O. Far
rell street. He said in reply to questions
that he was at the office of the company
in the building on Folsom street from 9
O'Clock until 11:30 yesterday. He went
from the Office 10 the barbershop and
a w 10 in II
said there was no smoke or sign OF fife on
the premises when he lett there at IL 80
he dld not 90 upstairs, but remained in
the office while he was in the building.
John Irwin of 743 Shotwell street, the
bookkeeper of the Standard Biscuit Com
pany, who assisted in saving the books,
gave an interesting account of his observa-
tlons. He said: when Mr. Cook, the
cashier, left the place at IL 80 O clock we
had agreed to meet and resume cur work
TUESDAY evening. As | SAT III the Office
working | noticed strong draft of wind
which blew my papers from the desk.
stopped down TO pick up the sheets ana
fancled that l saw smoke, but concluded
that dust had blown IN from the street
Presently heard cries of fire on the street
and then saw the smoke in the building
went TO the factory door and saw the
smoke and IRE coming down from the
second floor, l rushed at once TO the teIe-
phone and asked the girl at Central to
turn In fire alarm as our house
was on tre. Before | got the message
10 Central l heard the alarm. /
proceeded at once with the assistance of
Mr.. Campbell, one of our employees. to
save the books. We took all the books to
CampbelPs house in that neig borhood
/ noticed two boys, Charles Aiken and
Dick Brown-boys whom l knew very
well-rush into the store and upstairs.
By the haste in which they came down
and ran out 1 knew it was hot up there.
When | went out on the street after saw
ing the books some one remarked that 7
was in the building long time after the
fire was discovered"
Charles Inker, an employe of the Stand
ard Biscuit Company, made this state
ment to Phil Jacoby: Il was standing at
the corner OF Fifth and Folsom streets
when tailor told me that The factory was
on fire. started at once for the building.
When l got TO the second floor | saw a
cloud OF smoke. | went on up the stairs
to the third floor, and there the smoke
was thicker and denser."
John English, the night watchman, was
seen at 900 OFarrell street last night.
he said: 81 made my last rounds of the
building, visiting every floor ana section
OF the premises, between 80 and 4:45
A. NJ. l left the place ten minutes hefore
5. All the hands left the building at 5 80
Saturday afternoon. l was not informed
CT the fire until / was aroused at nv
home, 137 Harriet street, about quarter
OF l this afternoon"
julius Brownstein, secretary of the
biscuit company, was seen at 900 o. Far.
rel street. Responding to inquiries con-
corning the building and the probable
origin OF the mysterious fire be said: II
think the fire started on the third floor.
The building consisted of three stories
and basement. No, my attention was
never called 10 any weakness in the walta
OF the building. The insurance will MOI
cover our total loss. l estimate our losses
$50. 1000. -
81 do not know what Insurance. The