The herald., 1897-05-03
FIERCE FLAME VERY INSANE
Devours Four Cottages and Anton Vital on His Way
Livery Stable to the Asylum.
EIGHT HORSES PERISHED WAS CAPTURED IN ARIZONA
EARLY MORNING SAN LIVELY RECORD SINCE
JULIAN STREET ESCAPE
+ A,or =, +n. Through City Yesterday
cor+rosd The Famss-rhe Fire Strongly
Devours Four Cottages and
a Livery Stable
sEs PERIsHED WAS CAPTURED IN ARIZONA
EARLY MORNING FIRE ON SAN
JULIAN STREET
Prompt Action Of the Department
Controlled the Elames-The Fire
Started In the Stable

The fire department was up bright and
early Sunday morning engaged IN
practice drill by the Wilcox block, but
sterner work was in store for them this
morning and at an earlier hour.
A few minutes before 2 o'clock fire
broke out in barn Just south Of the San
Julian hotel, at the corner Of San Julian
and Fifth streets. The flames speedily
spread to the row Of cottages on the east
side Of San Julian street. The barn was
completely destroyed and eight horses
belonging to John Goodwin perished In
the flames. Four hacks were also lost.
Four cottages belonging to DR.. D. M.
Whistler were partially destroyed and
for half an hour the San Julian hotel
seemed in imminent danger.
The flames had gained considerable
headway before the alarm was turned
In but the fire department responded
promptly and had the flames we'll under
control within half an hour. Within a
few minutes large crowd Of anxious
spectators in various stages of desha-
billie had assembled and the street litter
ed with bedding and odd pieces Of furni.
ture. presented a weird appearance in
the light Of the flames. which for some
minutes burned very fiercely.
The inmates Of the threatened cot
tages rushed out into the streets carry
ing such of their belongings as they
could handle. Garden hose was drafted
into service, and everything possible
was done to keep the flames from spread
ing. The first cottage north Of the San
Julian hotel was occupied by Euclid
Normandie and family. Mrs. Normandie
was seriously Ill, after confinement, and
was with difficulty conveyed in safety
to neighbor's houre. The second cot
tage was occupied by DR.. D. M. Whis-
Ter. the owner of the row of cottages.
The third house was unoccupied, but
was filled with furniture. awaiting the
arrival Of family from the east. The
other house was occupied by Mrs w.
A. Crawford. widow.
The houses occupied by Normandie
ard DR.. Whistler were almost completely
ruined and the others were considerably
damaged. The loss on the houses Is
partially covered by insurance aggre-
eating $4,000 on the four. 1t is not thought
that there was any insurance on the
horses and hacks lost by Goodwin.
The blaze started in the barn. Its orr
gin is mystery, as no fire was ever kept
there. 1t then spread to the houses. DR..
Whistler said last night that heh.ad rea-
son to believe that the fire was started
by an incendiary. He would not tell
v hom he suspected of the crime. although
he admitted that circumstances pointed
to q certain individual.
JESSE AVIS MISSING
Up to the time of going to press no
trace could be found of Jesse Avis, a
hackman whose headquarters were at
the burned barn. His fellow-hackmen
fear that Avis may have perished in the
flames.