The San Francisco call., 1908-03-25

have been the origin of the flames
which practically totally destroyed the
two establishments.
From the shed the flames spread rap
idly TO the adjoining structures, and
the work of the firemen saved hundreds
of thousands of dollars.
More than half a dozen alarms were
turned in Simultaneously. No sooner
had the first alarm sounded than the.
flames from the oils in the shed reached
out and ignited other equally infiam-
mable materials. Several small eXplo-
sions followed and one of these was
so forcible that part of the side of the
hotel was blown in. 1t was the latter
incident which gave the first warning
to the quests of the hotel.
Pandemonium then reigned for the
few minutes previous TO the arrival OF
he firemen. Hundreds of guests with
what few valuables they could hastily
collect in sheets and baskets, filled the
Railways and swarmed on the fire es-
capes.
On arriving at the scene the fireS
men at once realized the danger which
confronted the guests Making their
way to the third floor of the hotel
Firemen William Wilson of chemical
No. 3, Maurice Cunningham and James
Ledderer hurried down one of the
many Railways and obtaining a six
inch plank stretched it across the light
well of the apartment house from the
different windows Hurrying across
this narrow bridge the firemen broke
in the windows and urged the occu-
pants to vacate Immediately, as the
flames were spreading rapidly from
the burning furniture Store. The act
of these three firemen was one of the
bravest deeds that has ever been re-
corded in the history of smaller fires
in San Francisco. In carrying out
their work of warning the three men
were overcome by smoke and gases.
They were found by their companions
a few minutes later and hurried to
the central emergency hospital.
PECULIAR FEATURE
A peculiar feature of the blaze was
caused by the crossing of electric wires
in apartment No. "a of the hotel On
the arrival of the first firemen the an
nunciator from apartment No. "a was
ringing loudly. Believing that the oc-
cupants OF the rooms were in special
danger, Firemen Phil Brady and Ed
Long made their way to the apartment
Finding the door locked, they broke it
down. The rooms were vacated and
filed with smoke, but in trying to dis
cover the cause of the continual ring
ire OF the annunciator the firemen
came in contact with crossed wires and
were rendered almost unconscious
Fireman James Feeney was on the roof
of the Mission Quitting company, and
fell when the latter caved in and sus-
tanned severe injuries TO his feet and
burns on other parts of his body. He
likewise was removed to the central
emergency hospital.
The Hotel Marian was recently pur-
chased by Andrew Davis, vice president
of the Emporium company, and was
opened to the public about three
months ago. While the greater part of
the structure escaped the flames
water completed the damage.
Until two weeks ago the premises of
the Mission Quitting company were oc-
cupied by the Breuner furniture COM
pany, the latter having sold their in
terests to the former
Oher officers who did much to assist
the guests of the Hotel Marian were
Patrolmen James Ridden, William
Moltke. ]. ]. Casey, Joe Clancy and
Pete Hammond.
The Hotel Marian was conducted bv
Mr.. and Mrs. Charles r. Belvin. who
had a lease on the property from
Davis.