The San Francisco call., 1897-07-07
fires ON THE
WATER FRONT
The Harbor Commissioners
Blame Wharfrats and
Thieves.
Washington-Street Pier Was in
a Blaze Yesterday
Afternoon.
All the Fires on the Front Since the
Mail-Dock Blaze Started Under
the Flooring.

The Harbor Commissioners are worried
over the fires that have recently made
havoc on the water front. Fire alter fire
has occurred on the various wharves, but
all have been pat out without much
trouble except in the case OF the Folsom
street blaze. On that occaso the State
was loser to the extent OF at least
$50 0OO, but on other occasions the damage
was slight.
Yesterday the bulkhead of Washington
stree wharf was in blaze. and had it not
been for the eIertions of the men on the
wharf another conflagration might have
resulted. The fire on Washing on stree t
wharf broke out in exactly the same part
of the structure as did that which de-
stroyed Folsom street pier, and the flames
spread under the flooring. J. Newford.
collector for the Harbor Com mission; J.
Hayes, sergeant of the State Harbor Police;
and J. Hurley, boatman, at once started
10 fight 1t, and but for them the chances
are the structure would have gone by the
board.
The fire had gathered way and the crew
on the T. G. Walker was preparing to move
The We sci to place of safety while Cap
tain Leale had the Caroline already under
way. At that moment Newlord ordered
sweepers and they at once began tearing
up the wbarves, or rather the bulkheads
between the wharves. In this way the
sea: of the fire was reached and stream
of water was turned on. In spite of the
efforts of Newford and his assistants, how
ever the flames spread under the wharf
and it was then that Hurl v came to the
rescue. He secured bucket and rowing
under the wharf extinguished every new
outbreak. Time and again it looked as
though the whole structure must go, but
the eXertions of the men who were not
working tor money or glory won the day
and the fire was put out.
Since the incipient fires at the Mail dock
Main street, Oregon Improvement Co. s
dock, the Folsom-street contiagration and
now the fire at the ''fruit wharf" the
State authorities have come to the conclu-
sion that gang of dope ti"nds infest the
under part of the wharves. Since the
time of the Scott & McCord fire last year
every fire on the water front has started
from underneath in the case Of the
Folsom-street blaze last week the entire
wharf was on fire underneath before tho
flames showed above the flooring Yes
terday the fire at Washington street was
all among the piles and not score of
people knew tnat conhagration was
raging under their feet.
Collector Newford took the whole thing
as matter OF course and acted with great
judgment. No alarm was turned in and
IN half an hour ell danger was past. All
that now remains to prove to the casual
observer that the wharf was on fire is the
half-dozen planks that were torn up in
order 10 give the amateur firemen
chance to get the State hose into boat in
order to play on the fire.
Commissioners Colnon, Chad bourne and
Harvey are Of the opinion that sneak
thieves who make their home under the
wharves have been the cause of all the
damage, and a systematic search OF the
waller front will be made to-day.