The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-05-05
Pan of Grease Starts 100000
Fire in Row of Wooden ShaCkS

One OF the most spectacular down
town Ares in many months broke out
shortly after 10 o'clock last night
through the sudden combustion OF a
pan OF grease in the kitchen OF Borlinfs
restaurant in Geary street near Market.
made its way with explosive violence
through the triangular block Of fliTnsy
frame structures bounded by Geary.
Market street and Grant avenue and
caused damage aggregating s20o. Gee.
Fighting the flames at q fearful dis
advantage because Of the peculiar con-
struction OF the masSed wooden. one
story buildings. the fremen did not
gain control for more than two hours
IN the path OF the IRE We're s y. Woods
clothing house. dry goods and furnish
ing stores, restaurants. drug stores and
3ewelry shops Some were gutted COM
pletely. and where the stock was not
destroyed b. FIRE water inflicted great
loss
The fire was repiete with dramatic
features. n Grant avenue near Market
was the storage room OF the Union
transfer company. containing go trunks
taken there earlier in the evening from
incoming eastern trains Most OF them
belonged 10 the feet visitors, and the
average value q the contents OF each
was al least $3.50. AS the fire Jared
into the rear OF the place Manager ".
3. O'Kane called his force OF baggage
snaShers and in q twinkling 10 men
were rumbIfng trunks into the street at
= feverish rate.
EVERY TRUNK SAVED
Smoke filed the rooms and once OF
twice the men were driven out by an
outburst OF FIRE Twenty minutes later
the last trunk was safe OF the street
Not one was lest While the daring
work was IN progress the sidewalks
were lined with many OF the very
people 70 whom the baggage belonged
Some made frantic Efforts 70 assist in
saving their property, but were forced
back BY the police
Here, too. occurred q thrilling res
cue. when Robert Lee, one OF the men
working 70 save the trunks. went too
Tar into the heat OF the flames. In an
instant he had crumpled Up under the
smoke and heat and fell 10 the floor.
4 P. BARRON. George Flaherty and
George Connors ran back together and
dragged him out Lee was badly but
not seriously burned
Nearly au the buildings IN the en-
tire block were constructed alike. with
high ceilings from the ground hoor,
and above that ventilsting spaces be-
tween the roof This popularity caused
narrow escapes. Roaring through this
Enclosure with every recurring
6raught time and again when q blaze
was all but exttnguished II would be
caught I'd 20 break out in a new and
unexpected quarter
FLAMES FILL STREET
Once & draUght sent fame haring
hslt way across Geary street and in
one fiery breath ruined the real es-
tate once Of Edwards. Silver & Clover
on two other occasions Il exploded
through into Grant avenue. once 10 the
ofEce OF the Art metal construction COM
psny. again into that OF James Stuart
contractor. Stuart is a wealthy cap
itslist o. New York city.
Owing 20 its central location. and
the lines OF hose that were strung 70
al available hydrsnts and cisternS.
nearly the whole city for q time was
cut OF from streetczr service All
lines in Market were tied UP. as well
Is these IN Third and kearny. All
Gesry street for half an hour was flied
with pail OF sitting, low hanging
smoke and the cable was stopped
Thousands Of people hurried from all
sections Of the town 70 witness the
confagration-
WATCHMAS SEES FLAMES
Il was few minutes after 10 o'clock
thai Special Oncer Montgomery Hustled