The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1906-05-03

rapidly that it was practically impos-
sible to save anything in it's way It
reached the Grand Opera House on
Mission street ana in moment had
burned through the roof.
The Metropolitan Opera Company
from New York had just opened its
season there and all the expensive
scenery and Costumes were soon re-
duced to ashes.
CALL BUILDING GOES.
From the opera house the fire leaped
from building to building quickly level
ing them. The Call editorial and me-
chanical departments were totally de-
stroyed in a few minutes and the flames
leaped across Stevenson street toward
the fine fifteen-story stone and iron
Claus Spreckels Building, which, with
its lofty dome, is the most notable edi-
flee in San Francisco Two small wood
en- buildings furnished fuel to ignite
the splendid pile.
Thousands of people watched the hun
cry tongues Of flame licking the stone
walls. At first no impression was
made, but suddenly there was a crack
ing Of glass and an entrance was effect
ed. The interior furnishings on the
fourth floor were the first to go. Then
as though by magic, smoke issue dfrom
the top of the dome.
This was followed by a most spec
tacular illumination. The round win
dows of the dome showed like so many
full moons; they burst and gave vent
to long, waving streams of flame The
great structure, which had withstood
the forces of the earth appeared DOOM
ed to fall prey to fire. After a while,
however the light grew less intense and
the flames, finding nothing more to
consume, gradually went out, leaving
the building standing, but completely
Quilted
The Palace Hotel, which was con-
stantly threatened, was the scene of
much excitement, the guests leaving in
haste, many with only the clothing
they wore, escaped. Finding that
the hotel, being surrounded on all sides
by streets, was likely to remain i'm
mune, many returned and made ar
engagements for the removal of their
belongings, though little could be taken
away owing to the utter absence of
transportation facilities.
The Parrot Building in which were
located the chambers of the state su-
preme court, the lower floor being de-
voted to an immense department store
was ruined though it's massive walls
were not all destroyed A little further
down Market street the academy of
sciences, the Flood building and the
History building burned like so much
finder. Sparks carried across the wide
street ignited the Phelan building and
the army headquarters of the Depart
ment of California were burned.
RIALTO IS BURNED.
Still nearing the bay the waters of
which did the firemen good service
along the docks the fire took the Rialto
building, a handsome sky scraper and
converted scores of solid business
blocks into smouldering piles of bricks.
Banks and commercial houses, sup
posed to be fireproof, though mt of
modern build, burned quickly and the
roar of the flames could be heard even
in the hills, which We're out of the dan
ger zone. Here many thousands of
people cOngregated and witnessed the
awful scene. Great masses of flame
rose high in the heavens or rushed
down some narrow street joining mid
way, making a horizontal chimney Of
the former passage ways.
The dense smoke that arose from
the entire business district spread out
like an immense funnel and could have
been seen for miles out at sea. Occa-
sionally as some drug house or place
stored with chemicals was reached
most fantastic effects were produced
by the colored flames and smoke which
rolled out against the darker back
ground
All efforts to prevent the fire from
reaching the Palace and Grand Hotels
We're unsuccessful and both were COM
pletely destroyed, together with all
their contents.
All of San Francisco's best play
buses, including the Majestic, Column
bia, Orpheum and Grand Opera House,
are a mass of ruins. The earthquake
demolished them for all practical pur-
poses, and the fire completed the work
of destruction. The handsome Rialto
and Casserly Building swere burned to
the ground las was everything in that
district.
The scene at the Mechanics Pavilion
during the early hours Of the morning
and up to noon, when all the injured
and dead were removed because of the
threatened destruction of the building
by fire, was one of indescribable sad
ness.
SEARCH FOR RELATIVES.
Sisters, brothers wives and sweet
hearts searched for some missing dear
one. Thousands of persons hurriedly
went through the building inspecting
the cots on which the sufferers lay, in
the hope that they would find some
loved one that was missing The dead
were placed in one portion of the build
ing, and the remainder was devoted tC
hospital purposes. After the fire forced
the nurses and physicians to desert the
building the eager crowds followed