The San Francisco call., 1898-12-07
The Massive Structure Saved by the Timely Appearance
 of WatChman Wilkins.

great ocean House PaV1nOn, at the foot of the hill leading to the Cliff House, was found on fire at an early hour yesterday morning, and every indication points to the fact that it was fired by an ex-employe of Henry Doscher, the proprietor. The building covers a great area, and, being built of the most infiammable material. would prove easy prey to the fire king if that consuming element once secured the mastery. Whittlings of wood and rags saturated with coal oil show how desperate was the incendiary. Revenge is supposed to have actuated the man to destroy property and endanger many lives.
 Shortly after 4 o'clock yesterday morning W. T. Wilkins, night watch man at the Cliff House, was making his customary rounds of the great building. He had been through the stables, the kitchen and other portions of the establishment, and stepped out on the main veranda. A ne did so his attention was attracted by a great blaze to the southward. One glance was sufficient to show him that the Ocean House Pavilion was in flames. Without a moments hesitation he started off at top speed for the scene of the conhagration. Although MT. Doscher, the proprietor, was sleeping in the adjoining building, the Seal Rock House, neither he nor his wife nor ser wants had beens awakened by the cracking timbers. MT. Wilkins was the first on the spot.
 His first thought was for the persons asleep in the pavilion and adjoining houses, and he made a great outcry to awaken them. Startled out of their sleep, they appeared on the scene in all stages of heshabille.
 It was but the work of a moment to organize an amateur fire department, as It was readily seen that before an alarm could be turned in for the near est engine in Richmond District the building would be but mass of smok- ing ruins. A bucket brigade was first organized, but this did not prove effec- tive. Billy" Geishen, bartender of the Seal Rock House, bethought himself of a stout garden hose and soon had this attached to a nearby standpipe. The fire had been started at the corner of the building, on the main road, near the terminus of the Park and Ocean Railway, and the flames were mount ing up high. MT. Wilkins and Mr. Geishen took the hose and practically fought their way through the flames that were bursting out from under the building. Once under there they di- rected the water on the seat of the trouble and soon had it under control The smoke and heat were stifling. and several times they were nearly over come. It was nearly daylight when the fire was finally extinguished, and then the cause was investigated. The work of the dastardly incendiary was evident on every hand. In addition to the heavy fumes of coal oil, with which the atmosphere seemed charged, there was a hint of pitch pine about.
 The investigators soon found more material evidence of the work of the incendiary. First to attract their at tention was a heap of wood shavings which some one had apparently whittled out on the spot from some pieces of soft wood. Mixed with these was lot of old rags, all redolent of the odor of coal oil The would-be incen- diary had planned his vicious deed well, and it was only the clements which saved the great building from total destruction. Not a breath of air was stirring to fan the flames started with such malicious intent. Had they secured any headway no power avail able would have stopped them until they had laid waste the building and those adjoining it. The match had been cunningly applied, at the corner where the flames would have had a full sweep of the great structure, and where they would have left nothing but a few burning embers to mark the havoc they had wrought. The building, which is partly insured, is the property ~ of A. P. Hotaling & Co.,, and is leased by MT. Doscher. He has a small amount of insurance on his property in the pavilion.
 MT. Doscher is convinced that he can place his hand on the man who applied the torch to his property. He was in a highly nervous state yesterday after his experiences of the early morning hours, saying: 'I am satisfied I have an enemy who has determined to take des- perate chances to break me up in busi- ness. The man l have in mind was recently discharged by me. and when he left he swore he would do some t:--ng desperate to injure me. I thought his threats were merely idle words. but I soon saw he intended to carry them into effect. The first evidence of his enmity was shown on Sunday when the pet bear which l have had for a long time was found dead in its house. It had been poisoned during the night l am not going to take any more chances and have employed a watch man, who has instructions to dealharsh- ly with any suspicious characters he may see prowling about the place."
 Mir. Doscher was so much disturbed by the exciting scenes through which he had passed that so soon as he could place his business affairs in order he went away to the country, where he could rest in seclusion and auietness.
 w. T. Wilkins, night watchman at the Cliff House, was the hero of the