Amador ledger., 1904-07-29
A FATAL FIRE
ON BROADWAY
Jackson's Narrow Escape.

JACKSON narrow Escape.
About eleven O'Clock Friday night
an alarm was sounded by shoutings on
the street, and afterward by the ring.
ing of the fire bell. A big glare toward
Broadway and in the heart OF town in
dicated the location of the fire. II
proved to be the dwelling house oi
John Fregulia, in the rear of his black
smith shop on Broadway. This sec
tion is the most thickly occupied with
frame dwellings of any portion
of the town. 1t has always been
regarded as dangerous fire trap, and
its proximity to the principal business
portion of town, with only frame build
ings intervening, added to the menace.
The flames had obtained complete mas
terry of the dwelling house before any
effort could be made to stay it's pro-
gress. The roof was completely wrap
ped in the fiery embrace. There were
seven inmates in the building, John
Fregulia, wife and two children, and
three employees. namely, Devoe Preth-
ero, Bartlett and Carlo Lagomarsino.
The fire is supposed to have started in
the room occupied by Lagomarsino
and Prethero, who slept on the second
story. Prethero went to bed soon after
o'clock, and when awakened by the
alarm had all he could do to get out,
running the gauntlet of the flames.
His room mate perished. Whether he
was awakened and tried to escape, or
whether he was suffocated as he slept
will never be known The fact that he
was burned to death was not known
until the flames were subdued, and in
quiries began to be made for Lago-
marsino. His cindered remains were
found among the debris
The fire apparatus was soon ou the
ground, although such was the head
way obtained before any stream could
be played, that serious fears began to
be entertained that sweeping con-
f1agration was inevitable. Fortunately
the night was still; not the slightest
breeze was stirring, and the flames
shot straight upward. This enabled
the firemen to do effective work in con-
fining the flames to the one building.
A breeze in any direction would have
seriously complicated the situation.
.s,,, L., 1o1
fighting as usual, handling the fire
hose with GOODNESS and judgment, and
to their excellent work, and the force
of volunteer aids. must be ascribed the
fact that the fire was confined within
narrow limits.
The losses were as follows:
Fregulia dwelling house and furui-
ture, also the rear portion of the Fre-
gulia blacksmith shop, about one-third
of the building, with a lot of wood
work, etc, stored in the cellar under
the dwelling house. The realty was
insured for $500 in the Fireman's Fund
of San Francisco. This is not over one
half of the value of the property.
There was no insurance on the furni-
ture or the stock. The loss is esti-
mated at $250O.
Mrs. Juka, who keeps boarding
house adjoining and in the rear of the
Fregulia dwelling, was also a loser.
The front of her residence took fire re-
peatedly. A hole was burned through
the roof. and the fire got inside between
the roof and ceiling. Heroic efforts
we're made to stif1e it with blankets.
Notwithstanding the great heat hole
was cut in the front above the porch,
and thereby a stream of water was
played upon the critical spot, and it
was saved, almost intact. She was in
sured for $500. which will fully cover
the loss. G. M Meek residence, also
the dwelling occupied by A. Goldner,
and owned by G. M. Meek, were both
scorched by the heat, but escaped un-
damaged. A. Goldner carried an il
surance of $500 on the furniture, which
was damaged somewhat by water and
removal,