The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1902-08-04
FIRE IN CHINATOWN
FIRE DEPARTMENT DOES GOOD
WORK.
Frame Buildings Close To Oahu Lum-
Der Company's Yard Burn Down-No
Cause Assigned.

A block of frame buildings on King
street close to the offices of the Oahu
Lumber Company, which front on the
makai side of King, a little way be-
yond the junction of King and Bereta-
MIA streets, was destroyed by fire at an
early hour this morning. The Fire De-
partment responded quickly to the call
AIS succeeded in limiting the fire to a
comparatively small area, averting Sc
rious probabilities in view of the close
proximity of the Oahu Lumber Com
pany's yard and other inhammable
material.
The alarm was turned in by Patrol
man Willis from fire alarm SO. At one
twenty Chief Thurston sent out the
Chemical and No. l from the Central
Station supplementing them by a gem
eral call. No. from Palama arrived
on the scene at almost the same time
as the central station engines and with
the other two all got to work.
The building facing the street was a
two-story frame and was practically
gone when the engines arrived. Chief
Thurston states that he could have saw
ed much damage had the fire alarm
been turned in five minutes sooner. AS
it was the flames were burning fiercely
at the rear of the already doomed
building, the front warehouse of the
Oceanic Gas and Electric Company
was catching and the block between
the fire and the Oahu Lumber Com
pany's offices was in imminent peril.
A narrow alleyway alone divided these
two across which a bridge of fire play
ed between the two roofs. A way was
cut through the front building and the
hose carried to the rear. Strong efforts
were also directed towards keeping the
flames from leaping the alleyway
These proved successful until the
frame walls fell outward.
The great danger in these fires, as
stated by Chief Thurston, is the build
er's habit. of leaving an air space be-
tween the false roofing and the CORFU
CATER iron roofs, along which the
flames rush and which is particularly
hard to get at.
brisk breeze which fortunately died
down later was blowing. and there was
great danger of the lumber yard catch
ing. By 3 o'clock, however the fire
was controlled and by the last engine
returned to its station. The first build
ing TO catch, the Cross block, is entire
ly destroyed. This is owned by the
foreman of the Oahu Lumber Company
and is insured to some extent. Down
stairs were a grocery store, a small
restaurant and shoemaker's stores. Up
stairs lived Cinnamon, including the
shoemakers. These latter were known
! to be opium smokers, and may have
| started the blaze. In the rear was the
restaurant kitchen, still partially
standing and which does not appear to
have been the center of the confiaSra-
tion.
| At the back of the Cross building
stands a residence, one story, of n Chi
nese stOrekeeper and his family, we'll
furnished. The porch and front of this
| house are badly scOrched and burnt,
but the interior furnishings unhurt, eX-
cept by water.
Between the Cross building and the
oahu Lumber offices the building own
ed by the Oahu Lumber Company, is
badly burned upstairs. This is insured
| for $500 with Bishop q Company, par
| TALLY in the Firemen's Fund and partly
in the London and Liverpool and Globe.
| Some of the wall paper stock of the
| Oahu Lumber Company is damaged TO
! the extent 1t is claimed of 81 500 to
| 81 600 This is covered in the general
! Insurance of the Oahu Lumber Com
pauy's premises, distributed among a
| dozen companies to the extent of S20,-
900.
Most of the stock of the Oceanic Gas
and Electric Company had been remov-
ed to the Magoon building and the pol
! icy held on the King street warehouses
was cancelled last Friday. But small
| damage has been done 10 these prem
| ises.
Three of the stores were insured with
c. j. Hutchins' agency for $1,000 each
! CONTINUED on page fiveJ