The San Francisco call., 1906-04-09
LOSSES IN BERKELEY FIRE
ESTIMATED TO Be SMALL
Business Places in the
Heart of Town
Sufferers.
Department Prevents
Spread of the
Flames.

BERKELEY, April .s,-Drawn curtains
hide the ruined interiors of the. stores in
the Wright building. which was partially
destroyed by fire this morning. and the
merchants who suffered most have ap-
parentIy decided to defer until tomorrow
the taking of an inventory of their losses.
Estimates of the damage are therefore a
matter of mere speculation
The loss Of A. T. Wright, owner Of the
building, is probably 5000, as it is be-
lieved that at least this much will be re-
QUired to put in shape the second story,
which was practically ruined by the
flames. The lower floor was injured: by
dripping water, but unharHned by, the
fire., Chief Kennyss men saving all the
stores from harm by flames.
The Wright structure issa cheap frame
building, put up twenty years ago by,
Thomas Hahn. a pioneer butcher of
Berkeley, who at the time was Town
Treasurer. 1t has been landmark ia
the college town for all these years sand
despite its ramshaclkle character there
were housed in its lower, floor, because
OF Its choice location, some of the best
known esta ablishments OF Berkeley.
The fire gutted the lodging house con-
Quoted by Mrs. Paolo Salisbury on the
second story. 1t is believed to have orig
mated in Pollock's- photograph studio,
which has been in disorder for several
days, while workmen were removing, its
contents across the street The flames
were discovered by Night Watchman
George Thompson shortly after o'clock
this morning and ragged for an hour. The
wind was low and this circumstance
helped THE firemen in the work of con-
fining the blaze to the story of the build
ing in which It started.
The stores below were damaged byi
dripping water. Mason & McDuff1e, reaf
estate men, who occupy the corner, say,
their loss is nominal, covered by $500.
Others were not. so fortunate. F. E..
Sadler, a stationer. adjoining Mason &
McDEfie, estimates his loss at several
thousand dollars, although he has not
carefully examined the condition of his
stock Needham Brothers, stationers and.
photographers, saved their most valuable
stock H. Gimbal. the grocer, was in
jured- to the extent of several thousand
dollars. Jones. a haberdasher, removed
most OF his stock TO the Funk block.
across the street. goseph Rubens, a bar.
ber. believes that most Of has chairs and.
mirrors will nave TO be replaced at an
outlay of at least $500. Bowman's drug
store was damaged somewhat but the
manager made no attempt to estimate
the amount today.
The dodgers were all awakened in time
to make their escape, none being injured
during the fire. All their belongings. were
lost.
The police arrested Archie McGreer and
Dover Tucker during the fire for disor-
Derby conduct in an automobile, which
the two men insisted upon bringing UP
inside the fire lines. McGreer. was re-
leased on his own recogniZance, but
Tucker was locked. up for the night.
A second fire alarm was turned in while
the department was at work on the
Wright block H. Windrom's house. an
unoccupied cottage at 7S0 Charming way,
had caught fire. It was slightly dam
aged. Tramps are believed to have start
ed the blaze there.