The San Francisco call., 1898-12-05
Tben tbe Flames Sweep the Home Life uDd Postal Telegraph
 Buildings.
Already the Ddmoge Is at Least Million Dol lars, but No Loss of Life Has BeeD
 Reported.
Special Dispatch to The Call

the massive block of buildings Broadway Nos. 253 25o and included between Murray and Warren streets, million dollars worth of property destroyed The fire began the tvesory brick building occupied by the mems furnish ing firm of Rogers Peet Co.,, the southwest of Broadway and Warren street. Adjoining the RogersPeet building and south of the magnificent white building of the Home Life Insurance Company and to this the building of the Postal Telegraph Company erected a a of millions only few years ago.
 Within few minutes after the discovery of the fire the RogersPeet building roaring furnace, and alarm had been turned in which brought than of engines to the scene but when the flames had through wall of the Home Life and roaring high above Thousands of people had gathered the and the binding glare of the flames lit the lower part of the city Even in the downPour the great crowds of people grew and the police called out from many stations and kept the people blocks Great showers sparks carried in all directions by the gale that blew sixty miles hour. It was picturesque flre
 The Home Life Insurance building occupied by that company and by large number of prominent in various lines Every effort made the valuable papers stored of the offices, but many of these lost The offices of the Rapid Transit Commission the ninth floor of this building and believed that all the plans schemes of work with which the commission have been working this many have been destroyed In the Postal building we'll many losses of private and when the flames reached the operating of this structure which they did within three hours of the outbreak, solitary operators who remained their posts compelled flee for their lives leaving messages the keys.
 The fire burned even more fercey in the Home Life build ing owing great height of this structure and cedby short time the upper half of this magnificent building in flames.
 The the streets able to throw their heavy only the lower part of the structure and the remen though they worked with great bravery and untng energy the binding smoke and heat could do little the face fierce sweep of flames and gale only question when the Postal building, far the upper were concerned, went the way of the others. The estimate of the losses by Chief Bonner after midnight million dollars with probability of still further loss should the fire continue make anything like rapid progress At he believed he had the fire within reasonable limits. At o'clock however 1t still burning hecey in front an although observable the thousands of people, burning still fercey extending lower down in the
 An roughly estimates the losses at about as follows:
 Rogers, Peet Co., building, stock losses to other tenants, $35oooo.
 Home Life Insurance Company, building and losses to other tenants, $5ooooo.
 The Postal Telegraph Company building and losses ten ants $Ioo,ooo.
 Losses to surrounding buildings S5o,ooo. Chief Bonner thought that this estimate the basis of million dollar oss about correct was possible o make. The RogerPeet building the property of the Hoffman estate of the historic buildings of Broadway It was erected thirty-fve years ago.
  of building occupied
  policemen standing
 
 
 
 
 Co. building. bringing after engine h