The Topeka state journal., 1902-11-20
Ferry Slips and Depot of South
ern Pacific Burned
At the End of the Alameda Mole
Opposite Frisco.
ENGINES COULDN'T GO.
Only Fire Tugs Could Approach
the Flames.
Loss About 100000 and Pos
sibly Some Lives.

San Francisco, Nov 20-The South
ern Pacific depot and ferry slips at the
end of the Alameda mole, which ex-
tends far into the bay from the eastern
shore. We're totally destroyed by fire
early this morning. A large number of
passenger coaches were also burned, and
1t is said that several lives have been
lost
The fire broke out from some unknown
cause soon after the ferry boat Oak
land had reached the slip on her last
trip from this city 1t was about l
O'Clock, and the kitchen crew of the
steamer had retired to their lodgings in
a small structure near the end of the
pier Suddenly the flames burst out.
quickly spreading through the depot, a
big building of wood and glass. The
upper works of the Oakland caught fire
and her captain was forced to cut loose
and leave her men behind. They may
have escaped, but have not yet been
heard from
The burning slips were inaccessible
for fire engines from the Alameda shore,
but two fire boats were dispa tched to
the scene from this city and succeeded
in combining the flames to the end of the
mole. Nothing else could be done. how
ever and everything on the broad eX-
tension of the pier was soon totally de-
stroyed. The loss may exceed 100000,
but cannot yet be closely estimated.
The depot was the terminal for trains
to Santa Cruz and also for the trains
for Oakland and Alameda. The depot
was constructed on hlled-in ground.
studded by piles, and was used as an
approach for the Oakland and Alameda
trains
The cars in use on the line are of the
most approved pattern During last
year the Southern Pacific expended
many thousands of dollars in repairing
the approaches to the mole and the
wharf proper.
The ferry buildings proper covered
several acres, and contained the we'll
fitted offices Of the railroad operatives
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
Oakland, Cal, Nov 20.-E'ire destroyed
the ferry building at the Alameda mole
early this morning and nine men who
were asleep in the bunk house narrow
~ escaped with their lives Victor Deli
asanta of Alameda who was a cher
employed on a pile driver, is missing
and the pile driver was burned. 1t is
feared that he was asleep and 9erished
either in the flames or by drowning.
The fire started on the north side OF
the building and two hours later it had
burned to the water. A portion of the
floor. held uD evidently by the network
of tracks, still remains and upon these
work of the passenger coaches which
were destroyed. OF the AZ coaches that
were lost 16 were broad gauge and 81
narrow gauge
1t is estimated that the loss, includ-
Ing coaches and building. will amount
to $500 900. This is the estimate made by
superintendent Worthington of the
coast division. of which the narrow
gauge system is a part.
The building was erected by the late
James G. Fair in 1883 and cost original
~ S5OO00. Three years later it passed
into the hands of the Southern Pacific
company with the entire road and since
then many improvements have been
made. Within the last six months the
company has built another slip and ad-
ded improvements to the extent of $75,-
600.
The origin of the blaze is a mystery.
superintendent Worthington said the
matter would be thoroughly investiga-
ted. He admitted that a coal oil lamp
was left burning on the north side OF
the building near where the flames were
first seen. It is the theory of the en-
ployes of the road that this lamp ex-
ploded thereby causing the disastrous
confagration.
A theory that the blaze was of incen-
diary origin is not considered seriously
by the railroad officials
Train Dispatcher Walker estimates
the loss at from s450.00 to $500 OOO Re
sides the slips and buildings, eight broad
gauge passenger coaches and 25 narrow
gauge coaches were burned. The ferry
steamer Encinal. which was moored tc
the mole, was toweG to place of safety
The number of men missing is ten.
a