The San Francisco call., 1908-05-23
CIGARETTE CAUSES
DISASTROUS FIRE
Deckhand's CareIesSnesS En-
dangers Dozen Lives and Re-
suits in $4,000 Loss
Sixteen Establishments in Sac
ramentO and Lower Market
Street Burned

Because James Byrnes, deckhand on
e Stockton steamboat, went TO bed I'm
the Harbor lodging house at eS Ssera-
nento street at $50 o'clock last night
with 4 lighted cigarette in his mouth
= IRE was started which nearly cost
him and 2 dozen other dodgers their
lives. burned out IS firms and res
taurants in Sacramento and lower Mar
l.et streets and caused a loss estimated
at SO, ,000
The cigarette set FIRE to the bed
covers and the fimsy frame structure
sgnited with Fash. Policeman George
ottsOm Of the harbor station ran IN
and hauled the half suffocated Byrnes
20 safety and with Detective Sergeant l
William Proll. hurried several partly
intoxicated roOmers TO the street ana
fhen turned in an alarm at Market
and East streets. Almost at the same
moment TWO Morse patroimen, NIiharl
Dathe and William Reid, turned IN
alarms and fire apparatus started from
3 dozen houses. Secra mento street was
80 torn ND that the engines could not
get within 200 feet Of the blaze.
In five minutes the Harbor hotel was
seething in fire and the flames had
sumped swiftly 10 the De Laval dairy
supply company next door. the Morton
special delivery company and row OF
frame restaurants and saloons in the
direction Of the water front and was
working backwards toward the Market
street front
I'TREWEN ARE sCORCHED
While employees in the restaurant of
Mrs Mary Stamna al No 47 were try
ing 10 save dishes and tables. Eliza
Harrison. a waitress. created excite
menr bY fainting. She was rescued by
Detective Proll 4 few seconds later
Captain COnrOy and five men OF engine
8, who had rushed inside TO attack
the Ere from the rear were compelled
70 run for their lives when sudden
1-a1x. fr,-A -ssa-
and shot fame in their faces. They
reached the street with hair scorche ed
and faces blistered. In the meantime
employees OF the Morton special delivery
company were struggling with nearly
400 trunks which were inside. The
fire drove them off before more than a
third had been tumbled outside.
The crowds which had gathered in
Market street We're thrown into panic
by 4 terrific explosion OF gasoline on
the roof OF the Wakelee drug store i'm
mediately after clerks had carried out
barrel OF alcohol instantly the
flames shot 80 feet in the air and spread
furiously to The buildings in Market
street The drug sore. the Ferry jew
elry company; Kitchner & Schmulian,
haberGashers. LundstrOms hat store,
the sa ioon Of Dorsey & Ipswich and
=. IT. SPANS cigar store began TO
bum inside. Next on the east was
sand dollars in its vaults, and the
nremen made determined stand TO
save this structure. The building was
Of brick in front and rear. but had
only wooden walls on the sides. and
ga 2 twinkling the California saloon
occupying half the structure, was on
frc. After half an hour of hard work
the bank was out of danger, though ii
was not until 10 o'clock that the fire
was entirely under control
While the Harbor lodging house
D was burning most fiercely Antonio
Salvio frantically told hremen and
police that he had left $500 in an over
coat upstairs. When hremen tried tc
get inside, however, ne declared that
he had never had so much money in
his life. The would be joker was ar
rested.
PLACED AT DISADVANTAGES
The fremen were placed at a great
disadvantage in lighting the fire in
Sacramento street. for the whole thor
oughfare had been torn Up. and car
track raised six feet IN the center OF
the highway kept the engines out.
]. Healy Of engine was severely
cut on the hand by falling glass. and
his injuries were dressed by DR.
Reuben c. Hill at the harbor emerg-
ency hospital
Smoke and water caused much dam
age TO the stocks of the firms in Mar
ket street. Following were the firms
burned out, with estimates OF the loss
Dorsey L lpswitch. ssloos. ee market. SO. 600
Inndstroms hat store. "a Market $4,000
hitchner & Schmulian. mems furnishings. 81.
500; Ferry jewelry company. J. Cooper. 90 Mar
ket. $50 600 stock locked in vault snd saved
other loss 5000; wakelee drug company *
Market. $4,000 damage 20 drugs. kodsks and
photographs; office North Pacific Coast amehil
company. 81 900: California saloon. James r
Mollenbauer owner. - Market. $4,000 Sea
board bank damaged by water; HarDor lodCins
house. 63 Sacramento. $2O. oGC: De Laval csir,
supply company, 50 Sacramento. az 600; Mort0
special delivery company IS Sacramento, SI5,
000: ovens coffee house, 81. 600: Bredhcff &
Grimbey. Pacific oyster company, Julius T
Hirsch. - Sacramento combined loss $40 600
restaurant Of Mrs Mary Stnmm. At Sacramento
s, 600; Sunbeam saloon. 46 Sacramento. 81 600