The San Francisco call., 1897-05-11
TWO HANDSOME
/ HOMES IN RUINS
Disastrous Fire at Thir-
teenth and Jackson
Streets.
Edison Adams, Henry B. Hough'
ton and G. W. Baker Suffer
Great Losses.
The flames Were Discovered in q
Stable BIZ Youcg Lads While
Playing Tennis.
OAKLAND OFFICE SAN FRANCISCO CALI |

Al A y sf
9oS Broadway, May 10.
Several lads playing tennis at hslf-past
"4this afternoon saw flames issuing from a
stable at Thirteenth and Madison streets.
and before they were subdued the dam
ages amounted to about $50, 600 and two
Of the finest homes in the fashiona BILE
part of Oakland were in ruins.
The fire which proved so disastrous
started in mysterious manner in stable
in the rear of the house occupied by Edison
Adams
Percy Gaskill and George Gage, son of
Stephen T. Gage, were in the tennis
court and as soon as they saw the flames
they gave an alarm.
There was considerable delay in turning
in the alarm from box 9, at Twelfth and
Msdison streets, which was one block
from the fire, and in this interval the
blaze spread rapidly.
When the department arrived there was
s-big fire to handle. The flames ate their
way into the Houghton residence to the
west of the stables and INTO the Baker
residence on the east at the same time.
There were two other stables besides the
sone where the fire started and the flames
%. BOON spread 10 them both.
The horses we're led out and the carriages
taken to place of safety. II was soon
seen that the fire was beyond control, so
second alarm was turned in. By the time
the extra engines arrived breeze sprang
up and other buildings were threatened
by the sparks.
Twenty minutes after the first alarm
was rung in, general alarm was sounded,
and every engine in the department was
on the scene-and so was half of Oakland.
The chemical engine which arrived first
succeeded in putting out the fire in the
Houghton residence. but before water
could be got to it the flames broke out
airesb For over an hour the fight was a
stubborn one, and the flames seemed to
have hold OF the large gabled roof that
could not be located or quenched.
When the Houghton house was COM
pleteIy ruined it was hoped that the Baker
house would be saved, bit suddenly flames
shot out from half dozen places in the
roof at once, and not until it was de-
stroyed and the house gutted was the fire
under control.
The fremen fought well, and frequently
the crowd cheered some especially brave
conduct.
The houses are of three stories and all
the active work had to be done from lad
ders and window-sills in the midst OF
dense smoke. To add TO their discomfort,
II was necessary to hght the hre from
1eeward as the breeze from the westward
sent flames and smoke and cinders and
water in the hremens faces.
There were several minor accidents and
a few burns were dressed on the spot, but
no serious accident was reported.
When 1t was seen that the residen ces
were doomed scores of people helped to
carry the furniture to a place of safety.
Much Of il was saved but the damage is
very heavy as so much was smashed and
ruined by smoke ana water and fire.
Much valuable bric-a-brac was DESTROYED,
and as the houses were two of the most
. luxuriously furnished in the city the
damage will be verv large.
George w. Baker, his wife and Miss
Irene Baker are at present at Honolulu
and the TWO sons, Harry and Ray, are
living at the house alone. They found
plenty off riends, however, in their efforts
TO save everything possible, and although
some Of the carpets and heaviest furniture
could not well be handled in a hurry
everything portable was carried out,
especially things priced by the family.
w. f. Dargie mustered all his clerks
and reporters and personally directed the
work of salving in the Baker residence,
and his brigade did not stop till smoke
and water made further work impossible.
The probable loss is: Houghton resi-
dence, $50, 900; Baker residence, owned by
Mr.. Swift, $4,000; furniture, $3OOO stable.
$4,000. Total, $33 600.