The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-01-22
THE BIG FIRE
OF SATURDAY
How Chinatown Vert
UP in Smoke.
ALMOST A CLEAN SWEEP
The Account Of the ConAagration as
Given in Sundays Great
Street Extra.

For the purpose of giving our sub
scribers the account of the fire which
appeared in yesterdays street extra.
we incorporate all the essential parts
of 1t in today's Advertiser. This
crowds our columns somewhat, but
there Is no lack of fresh news, the
events of Sunday being covered by our
reporters with their customary precis-
ion.
1t was intended by the Board OF
Health that that portion OF Block -,
between Kaumakapili Church and Nu-
uanu street and mauka from Bereta-
mia, should be given TO the flames, as
has been done with several other
plague spots. The Fire Department
proceeded as usual to carry out the
instructions of the Board. Chief Hunt,
with the entire Fire Department forces,
and four engines, got to work at about
o'clock yesterday morning A fair
northeast wind was blowing across the
| city at the time, and, realizing the
danger from a break away should the
wind rise, one engine (No. II was plac-
ed at the intersection of Maunakea ana
| Beretania streets while the others OBJ
| tanned connection With the water mains
along Beretania street. II was intend
/ ed that the fire should eat its way back
| against the wind toward Kukui street
and with this object in view a two
story frame structure back of the
| church was selected as the best situat-
ed for the application Of the torch.
Fire Breaks Away.
All went well for about an hour.
when the wind began to rise and
changed about two points eastward e..
This combination carried the blazing
embers upon the dry roofs of the close
ly packed buildings in the vicinity and
in a very short space of time the
Joss-house, Eva of the church, and
many other buildings near by were
blazing. So high we're the embers car
ried that many lodged right on the
top OF the Waikiki spire Of the church
Iand set fire thereto.
n 1t was found impossible to force the
| water to a hight sufficient to extinguish
the flames, which gradually worked
ltheir way downward, although at the
risk Of bursting the hose, one stream
was forced by engine No. in an at
tempt to save the steeple. but even
, this expedient failed. A gallant fire.
: man entered the church, and, climbing
, as far as possible up the ladders, com.
pleted his Journey up the bare rafters
} on the middle of the spire. Arriving
3 as far as the flames would permit. he
cut his way through the roof and ap'
peared to a thousand observers at the
: opening, framed in fame. The heroi'
effort was, however, unavailing, and
,, he was forced to retreat
/ Kaumakapih Doomed.
The spire was shortly afterward /;
mass OF flame, blazing beams Eel
: through to the church interior. anC
the Waikiki corner OF the church wa
: soon ablaze. IL the meantime tn
: flames had communicated TO the build
: lings Immediately Eva OF the church
Z the roof OF the building used as tn
' Headquarters OF the Chinatown quar-
g antine station became ignited severa
e times and was as often extinguished
but the beginning OF the end was Il
sight. The fire now became too no
e for the men TO approach near enougl
= to be OF use; the water pressure grad
Z ually decreased. and almost IN a mo
ment the fire was out OF control
y The flames roared and licked roun
= the shacks on Beretania street On bot
4 sides OF the church, which by this tim
: was on fire from end 20 end. with th
= flames from the second steep.e ehoO
n ing far into the air through the dens
5 smoke. The chimes fell with a muffle
clang and crash from the high brio
o towers. The flames worEed on ur
p ch,cke1. The entire Beretania stre'
2 frontage was now a mass OF fire.
}. Loss Of No. ! Engine.
E; The engineer and foreman o No.
= Engine on Maunakea street stuck
u their old fav0rite till everything w
i bIistering 70 the -yuch. Their nerois
L caused the ruin OF their engine. To- q
.e buildings on all sides suddenly bur
De into fame. sweeping across the sire
!: and enve'OpIng the engine itstt IT
two men IN charge used every effort
80 drag their pet out Of danger. but "a