The record-union., 1898-09-19
YESTERDAY MORNINGS FIRES
TWO THAT WE'RE EVIDENTLY
INCENDIARY.
A Japanese Shocking1y Burned-A
Hard Night for the
Eiremen.

0IlOTlly before y ClOCh yC5ASAo
morning, and while the t1remen were
still employed in extinguishing the
flames at the Booth fire on Front street,
another fire was discovered in the base
ment of a small house on L street, be-
tween Second and Third. When found
the fire was burning in a hair mattress
and other rubbish, and was undoupted-
ly the work of an incendiary. 1t was
extinguished without difficulty. NO
damage was done.
AND YET ANOTHER.
About 5 o'clock, and while the fire
men were thinking about resting from
their arduous labors a third alarm was
turned in from box s.
This time 1t was a dilapidated frame
building at the rear of 3OS1a l. street
that was attacked. The flames spread
with startling rapidity, and in few
minutes the structure was past saving.
The house was occupied by a Japan
ese named Rida Kadido. his wife and
infant. They slept soundly until the
flames had a good start. Then the
woman awoke and seiZing her babe
made her escape and did not show UP
until the fire had been extinguished,
thereby giving rise to the report that
the flames.
Kadido was not 40 successful He
slept on until the flames attacked the
bed on which he was lying, and even
caught his hair and clothing. He was
horribly burned about the head, face,
hands and body, and barely escaped
with his life He was treated at the
Receiving Hospital, where he still lies
in a precarious condition. His face is
one continuous blister, and he is in
great agony. The physicians in charge
give no unqualified opinion respecting
his ultimate recovery.
Special Officer Almos and officer Bal
ley are entitled to the credit Of having
saved the life of the japanese. They
ran through one of the adjoining
cribs" climbed over a fence and en-
tered the burning house just in time to
save him, as his bed was on fire. The
Jap, crazed with pain and fear, sought
to elude the officers, but they cornered
him and took him out by main force.
A hack stood in tlSa street, and the
officers had the occupants alight in
order that the injured Jap could be
hurried to the Receiving Hospital.
Chief Engineer Guthrie said yester-
day that he had every reason to be-
lieve the place had been set on fire pur-
posely. He found in a vacant room a
pail with a quantity of oiled rags in it,
and there was every indication Of its
having been placed there by an incen-
diary. A window had been pried open
in order to set the pail inside.
HARD WORK FOR FIREMEN.
AT noon yesterday, the Fire Depart
ment still had q stream playing on the
smoldering ruins Of the big Booth build
ing on Front street, between J and K.
Though the flames were exiting guished,
the mass of debris which had fallen in
from the two upper stories was still on
fire, but there was no longer any dan
ger of the fire spreading.
As viewed in the light of day, the loss
to the Fuller Company can be better
understood. Rank upon rank Of rolls
of wallpaper covered the main floor Of
the building, that in the front part be-
ing wet, scorched, scared and black
ened by smoke, but otherwise intact.
The upper floors were also filled high
with combustibles, and there the fire
had ragged fiercest, gaining force from
the draft created by its own flames.
The ruin is complete, and that the
flames did not spread to the adjoining
buildings on either side was due to the
thickness Of the Prevails and to the
strenuous efforts of the Fire Depart
ment
Speaking of the Booth fire Chief
Guthrie stated that, while there was a
little delay at first in getting water, the
supply later on was adequate. He had
every man in the department at work,
using $500 feet of hose, with eight
streams.
At the Golden Rule Bazar fire in
San Francisco a year ago, which was
of much the same nature, there were
eighteen engines employed, aided by a
water tower, while he had but three at
his command. If he had had a chem
ical engine, he said, the fire could prob
ably have been smothered before it had
got above the basement, or at least
might have been confined to the first
floor.
Referring to the absence Of batter
ingram the Chief said a big ladder,
like the one employed at the Booth fire,
is the best, as more men could handle
It.
AS to the origin of the Booth fire.
General Tozer Of the Fuller Company,
said he could not account for it. 1t
could have been started by an incen-
diary, or the hay in the stable may
have become over-heated, or it might
have been caused by a defective cleo
tric wire 49,
An hour before the fire broke out one
of the teamsters visited the stable and
everything was then all right. Be
yond that nothing is known The sew
en- horses burned were all large, valua-
BILE animals.