Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-08-15
FRESNO SMITTEN,
Much Property and Four Lives
Lost in Fire.
Ra'sn Factories and Grain Warehouses
Presumably Destroyed by |ncendiary.
strong Wind Helps Flames to Devour Many
Buildings Southern Pacific Damaged.

Fresno, Cal, Aug. 14.-The most dis
asterous fire on the history of Fresno
occurred last night. 1t swept the
Southern Pacific Railroad reservation
from Mariposa street to Mono street
Instance OF three blocks and in little
more than an hour 100000 worth of
property went up in smoke. Some of
.he buildings burned We're packing
houses ana their destruction will throw
ABOUT 900 people cut of work.
Inc lire started in the immense estab-
iishment of the Forsythe Seeded Raj
SIN Co, between Mariposa and Tulare
streets. IT was built two wears ago.
ana was largely added to, last wear.
ii was Just as the 114O PASSENGER train
pulled out that flames were seen is
suing from the roof of the building
ana minute later the whole roof was
on tire and soon the entire building
was enveloped in flames.
snort time before the department
had been called to small fire on the
corner OF y and Mariposa streets and
II was still al work there when the fire
broke out on the reservation. BY the
tlme the engines arrived at the rescr-
walton the Forsythe Packing house was
beyond saving and the firemen gave
their attention to saving the Phoenix
Co.'s building on the south side of Tu-
lare street
a very strong wind was blowing
from the north and work as they
would, the Phoenix caught fire This
also was rasin seeding house and
was equipped with expensive machin-
pts and = t,.
tons that would have taxed a metro
politan department..
Sparks from the Phoenix house ig-
nited the National Ice Co.'S building
and being small it was soon consumed.
The company also deals in fuel. coal
and wood, and the amount on had
went the way of the building. The
Farmers Warehouse falH of grain
was the next building ignited and the
EinStein grain ware house caught from
that.
The Robbs and Parsons Raisin
Packing house caught next, but the
tfremen saved half the building. though
the stock which was not destroyed by
fire was ruined by water. BY the
greatest eXertions the firemen checked
the progress of the flames and prevent
ed further destruction.
The railroad company also suffered
considerable loss, about 20 of their
cars. some loaded and some empty, be
ing consumed. Considerable damage
was done to the tracks and the sec
ton house was burned. The Depot
Hotel and the depot itself, which is OPP
posite Forsythe's We're also on fire sev-
MI DplIr n ha
most strenuous efforts of the en-
ployes. The freight depot, a block fur
| Their south. owes it's escape to being
slightly out of the path of the shower
| of sparks.
Night Waterman Harper slept in the
| tower Of the Forsythe Packing house
and it is not likely that any trace of
him will be found. The fire spread so
| rapidly that he could not have escap-
| ed. Three Chinese were 50 severely
| injured that all are expected to die.
| One was injured by stepping on live
wire. another fell from a burning roof
while trying to catch a rope thrown to
| him by Il fireman and the third was
run over 10y hose wagon.
The fire is little short of calamity
| for Fresno. While the market for or
| binary raisins was not very good the
seeded raisins establishments had
many orders and would have employ
| ed larger forces
| The fire occurring so late in the sea-
son. makes it impossible to rebuild III
| time TO handle this years crop Hence
| a large market is closed to the growers
| and about 800 persons who would nave
obtaind employment will have to re-
main idle.
Many believe the fire a. ForsXthe
was of incendiary origin. The loss can
be ascertained only approximately at
present.
The loss of the Forsythe Co. is Sloo,
900; Phoenix Packing Co., S'o'ooo'
Farmers Warehouse. $25,0oo; Eih-
STEMS. $4,000; National Ice Co., slo,-
600: Hobbs &, Parsons, S1ooooo. rms
includes merely building and plants
The loss on stock and the loss OF the
Southern Pacific make up the remain
de of the s500.000