The record-union., 1898-08-14
Three Blocks Of Valuable Property
Swept Away.
resulting in a Loss Of Five Hundred Tn ou-
sand Dollars.
Some Of the Buildings Destroyed
Were Packing Houses, Which
Will Throw Five Hundred Peo-
pie Out of Work-Firemen I'm
able to Cope With the Flames,
Owing to a High Wind Pre-
vailing.

Va1l1HE.
FRESNO, Aug. 13.-The most disas-
trous fire in the history of Fresno oc-
CURED tonight 1t swept the South
ern Pacific Railroad reservation from
Mariposa to Mono street, distance of
three blocks, and in a little more than
an hour 100000 worth of property
went up in smoke. Some of the build
ings burned We're packing houses, and
their destruction will throw about 500
people out of work.
The fire started in the immense ts-
tablishment of the Forsyth Seeded Raj
sin Company, between Mariposa and
Tulare streets. 1t was built two years
ago, and was largely added to last
year. 1t was the first seeded raisin 2s-
tablishment to be erected in the STATE.
1t was just as the 11:4O northbound
passenger train pulled out that flames
were seen issuing from the roof of the
building A minute later the whole
roof was on fire, and soon the entire
building was enveloped in flames.
short time before the department had
been called to q small fire on the cor
ner of O and MaripoSa streets, and 1t
was still at work there when the fire
broke out on the reservation. BY the
time the engines arrived at the reser-
walton the Forsyth packing house was
beyond saving, and the firemen gave
their attention to saving the Phoenix
Packing Company, on the south side
of Tulare street.
A very strong wind was blowing
from the north, however, and, work as
they would, the Phoenix soon caught
fire This, like the Forsyth place, was
a raisin seeding house, and was equip
ped with expensive machinery. IEe
flames became so fierce as to drive the
firemen back, and the fire soon assumed
such proportions as would have taxed
a metropolitan department.
Sparks from the Phoenix packing
house ignited the National Ice Com
pany's building, and, being small, 1t
was soon consumed. The company also
deals in fuel, coal and wood, and the
amount on hand went the way. OF the
building
The Farmers Warehouse, full OF
grain, was the next building to become
ignited, and the Einstein grain ware
house caught from that. In VAN the
firemen labored to save these buildings
They did their best, but the means aI
their disposal were inadequate.
Soon little flames were seen on the
roof Of the Hobbs & Parson Raisln
Packing Companys building, ana me
| spectators began to wonder Wnethe.
the raisin packing industry was 10 pc
completely wiped out. The firemen raj
| lied. however, and by desperate ellorts
| managed to save half of the building.
| though what stock was not destroyed
| by fire was ruined by water
+acf (
checked the progress of the flames ana
| prevented further dstruction.
| The railroad company also suffered
considerable loss, about twenty freight
| cars. some loaded and some empty, be
| ing consumed. Considerable damage
was done to trackage, and the section
house occupied by Yardmaster ]. Doyle
was burned TO the ground. The depot
hotel and the depot itself, which are
| opposite Forsyth's, were on fire several
| times. and were saved only by the most
! strenuous efforts Of the employees. The
| freight depot. a block further south,
| owes its escape to being slightly out
/ of the path of the shower Of sparks.
| There was also loss Of life. Night
| Watchman Harper slept in the tower of
! the orsythe packing house, and it is
! ever be found The fire spread SO rap
| idly that he could not have escaped.
| Three Cinnamon were so severely in
! iured that they are all expected to die
| one was injured by stepping on a live
wire. another fell from burning roof
while trying to catch a rope thrown to
| him by a fireman, and the thlrd was
1 run over by a hose wagon.
| &c a
| for Fresno While the market for Or
| binary raisins was not very good, the
| seeded raisin establishment had many
orders. and would have employed larger
| forces The fire occurring so late in
the season makes it impossible to re-
| build in time to handle this years crop,
hence a large market is closed to the
growers, and about 800 persons who
would have obtained employment will
| have to remain idle.
Many believe that the fire at For
syths was OF incendiary origin, but
nothing definite in support of this opin-
ion is advanced. Special Officer Ra-
pelij says the fire started from the out
side. near the ground, and was un-
doubtedly of incendiary origin. Others
/ declare that it started in the building.
The losses can be ascertained only
| approximately tonight. The loss OF
| the Forsyth Company is S100,OOO:
| Phoenix Packing Company pratt &
| Gartenlaub). $4,000; Farmers Ware
house. $4,000; Einstein, $4,000; Ma
tional Ice Company, $4,000; Hobbs &
Parsons. $4,000.
This includes merely buildings and
plants. The loss on stock and the loss
| Of tha Southern Pacific makes uD the
| remainder Of the S500.G00.
Later-At a late hour this morning
ii was rumored that Night Watchman
Harper had been seen after the fire.