The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-08-15
FED TO the FLAMES
FRESNO PACKING HOUSES 90 UP
IN SMOKE
TONS OF RAIsINs ROASTED
Saturdays Fire Causes an Aggregate
Loss Of Nearly Half Million
Of Dollars
Associated Press Special Wire


FRESNO, Aug. H-The confagration
that devastated a large area In the pack
ing house district in Fresno at midnight
yesterday was not gotten under control
until daybreak this morning. The aggre-
gate loss is now variously estimated from
a conservative standpoint at from $500 900
to $4,000. The buildings together with
their contents destroyed were the Forsyth
Seeded Raisin Packing company's estab-
lishment, the Phoenix packing house, the
Union ice works (partly destroyed. the
National Ice company's establishment, the
Farmers warehouse, the Einstein ware
house, Hobbs & Parsons (partly destroyed),
the residence Of JohnDD oyle.'yardmaster.
In addition to the buildings enumerated.
the Southern Pacific's loss will be consid-
cradle. Several strings Of freight cars
standing along the side OF the packing
houses and the warehouses were a mass
of flames before the force Of railroad men
could haul them away. The freight depot
of the Southern Pacific was on fire several
times, but large force Of railroad men
were stationed there and managed to
save 1t.
Gartenlaub & Pratt OF the Phoenix Pack
ing and Seeding Raisin company state that
their loss will be $4,000, approximately.
This plant was partially covered by In
surance and the stock alone was valued at
so 900. Norsytfl's loss Is placed at $125, 900;
insured for $4,000.
M. w. Muller Of the Farmers warehouse
estimates his loss at $1,000. The grain wal
all insured.
The loss to the Einstein warehouse will
foot UP to about $4,000
It Is impossible to estimate the loss to TIE
Ice company, but It will be heavy.
The loss Of Hobb & Parsons will be be-
tween $500 and 5000. They succeeded In
saving part Of their warehouse.
The Southern Pacifics loss will be large
but no figures have been given out TWEEN
ty or thirty cars were burned, some Of
them being loaded with grain and raisins
A large number Of ties were also destroyed
and the track was burned IN a number OF
places. A number of th1rd-class sleepers
were also reduced to ashes.
Only the low, compact structure Of the
Hobbs-Parsons warehouse and the fire
proof structure Of the Burfeigh building
prevented the fire from sweeping the en-.
tire line Of packing houses on both sides OF
the track.
The loss Of the two packing houses OF
the district is severe blow to Fresno. II
will be the means Of throwing hundreds of
needy men and women out OF employment,
at the only time when they usually find tfNa
class OF work in abundance. The loss of
nearly sixty carloads Of raisins in the va
rious warehouses and packing establish.
ments will not harm the raisin business In
this section In the least. The canning crop
will be packed and seeded NV the peynatn
ing plants.
No action has been taken thus far to.
ward rebuilding in the burned district,
A Canadian Blaze
SHERBROOKE, Que, Aug. 1.-THE
works of the Jencks Machine company, the
largest industry of the kind tn, Canada
were destroyed by fire, supposed to have
started in the Rand Drill company's plant
The estimated loss is $225,o0o. Probably
covered by insurance.