The record-union., 1897-09-02
YESTERDAYS LIVELY FIRES.
TWO HOUSES AND A NUMBER
OF BARNS BURNED.
The Eiremen, by Energetic Work
Prevent Great Destruction
OF Property.

were TWO fires after 3 o'clock in the
afternoon, and they were both red
hot ones, and hard work was necessary
to prevent the destruction of valuable
buildings close by.
The first fire started in some loose
hay and rubbish between two barns
in the alley between o and p and
Fourth and Fifth streets, owned by
F. w Steinmayer. One was occupied
by the w. p. Fuller Paint Company as
a stable, and the other by N. Koxor-
ski q Junk dealer In the former were
a couple of horses, some wagons and
harness and a large quantity Of hay
and grain.
Deputy Sheriff Alter and other per-
sons who were in the neighborhood
when the fire started ran to the Fuller
barn and got out the horses and wag-
ons
The barn occupied by Korosn, also
contained a quantity Of hay and bales
OF rags, and famed by a strong south
east wind the flames soon enveloped
both structures, the contents Of which
burned fiercely.
Chief Engineer Guthrie, seeing that
the residences across the alley, on the
north side of the block, were in dan
ger, called out the uptown engine, and
in half hour the diuenlen had the tire
checked, though it was like going into
a furnace to get where they could
handle 1t.
Besides burning the barns referred
to, that Of Steve Butler, Jr., on the east
and the shop of William Hall, an up
holsterer, were also burned. A small
frame dwelling adjoining the Fuller
barn, owned by James McKenna and
occupied by r. Kender, baker, was
also burned and another alongside
somewhat damaged
The flames also burned the fences on
the north side of the alley, and several
residences on that side caught fire, but
were saved by the occupants turning on
streams Of water from their garden
hose. Nearly every family on the
north side OF the block, however, ex-
pecting their houses to be burned, as
well as families on Fourth and Fifth
streets, took the precaution TO remove
most of their household goods.
Nobody seemed to know just how the
hre-originated. An employe Of the Full
Ter Company said that when he reach
ed the fire il was so small that it might
have been quenched with a garden hose
II one had been convenient, but in less
than half a minute the barns were all
ablaze.
The Fuller aCompany's loss, chiefly in
hay and feed, was about $400 or $500,
mostly covered by insurance. The
barn itself was quite large structure,
and worth 500 or $500.
The McKenna dwelling was worth
about $500 and the other structures
DESTROYED of lesser value.
There was a rumor while the fire
was in progress that an old and feeble
man named John Gray had probably
persisted in the Fuller barn. as he
made his home there. A Record
Union" reporter was informed by one
of the neighbors, however, that Gray
had not occupied the barn for several
weeks.
The South Yuba Electric Company has
a pole line through the alley, carrying
seven or eight electric wires. Two or
three of the poles were burned and the
wires fell to the ground, but the cleo
trio currents had been shut off and no
one was injured by them.
1t was found necessary for the fire
men 10 divert streams of water fire.
quentiy from the fire in order to drive
back the hundreds Of spectators who
filled the alley on both sides of the fire
and seriously interfered with the labors
of the men.
This is a nuisance that should be
stopped and the proper way to do it
is for the police to be provided with
ropes, which should be stretched across
streets and alleys in the vicinity of
fires, as is done in other cities The
only trouble about this plan is that
raf
their services are usually required in
protecting property from the thieves
who usually gather at fires.
In the meantime the fire-hose viii
perhaps be called into service when
ever necessary.
The alarm was turned in from boxes
II 13 and Z simultaneously, causing
some confusion, but the alarm from y
came in slightly ahead.
ANOTHER HOUSE BURNED.
AS soon as the fire was under con-
troll Chief Guthrie ordered Engine Ne.
3 to take up its hose and return to its
station, although some property own
ers demonstrated He felt that it should
be in position to protect the eastern
portion of the city in case a fire should
break out there, and it was well that
he did so. Scarcely half an hour af-
terward alarms were turned in from
boxes 62, SO and "a simultaneously.
Again the firemen We're confused. but
they soon found out, however, that a
small dwelling house owned and occu-
pied by W. H. Jennings in the alley
between Twenty and Twenty
fifth. f and G streets, was on fire. The
building was consumed. jennings loss
is $500. with a partial insurance. The
fire came from his starting a fire with
kerosene, the can exploding.
The fremen had hard work to save
two large new dwellings that are nearly
finished. adjoining Jennings house. L
was a. close call Tor them. and had not
Chief Engineer Guthrie sent Engine No.
3 back to its station as he did. or had
the second fire started half an hour
earlier. much greater loss would have
ensued.
The turning in of the alarm from
three boxes at once at each of the
fires emphasizes the earnest appeal of
Chief Guthrie for a better fire alarm
system. under which no such confusion
could occur The first fire also dem
onstrated what a valuable aid a chem
icai engine would have been. as it could
easily have been moved from point 10
point when the residences were threat
ened. As It was. thirteen of the sur
rounding cottages were more or less
scorched.
A detail Of six men was left by Chief
Guthrie TO watch the burning hay az