The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-07-18
NAVY MEN WIN
IN FIGHT WITH
STUBBORN FIRE
Sailors, Marines, Apprentices
and Officers Save Home of
Lighthouse Keepers
Battle Is Carried On for an Hour
High Up on Shoulder of
Goat Island

High up on the southernmost shoulder
OF Goat island sailors. marines. appren-
tiees and navy officers yesterday after
noon fought for an hour against a stub
corn IRE. which badly damaged and
threatened to completely destroy the
home OF the Yerba Buena lighthouse
keepers, while thousands OF transbay
passengers witnessed the spectacle
from the decks OF passing ferry boats.
Il look only the strident screech Of
the navy tug Vfgilant's whistle sound
ing the blasts OF the fire signal AT a
Clock IN the afternoon to convert the
enGre force Of men on the island into a
quick acting and determined fire fight
lng brigade. Barracks. camp training
sEips and parade grounds were deserted
almost instantly, while up the steep.
narrow path TO the lighthouse station
s"srmeo hundreds OF willing voiun
teers.
NAVY MEN ARE VALIANT
Lieutenant Commander E. H. EberIe,
eonmendant Of the training station
TOOK personal charge of the IRE fighters
Nho II was through the efforts of the
- men that the property loss was
kept 70 comparatively low figure and
mat a considerable part OF the personal
household goods OF the lighthouse keen
erE was saved. The roof of the houee
ana several OF the rooms OF the upper
story were destroyed. but the Iovs-
moor and its contents were uniniured
eAOept oy water The structure can be
-ep-ireo sno the government loss will
not amount 70 more than $1,000.
The origin Of the fire is n,vst.-,,
put u Is supposed 10 have started from
q oefecuve hue. II was first discox-
ered oE John F. Kofod. assistant light
heuse keeper, who, with his wife and
daughter, Mrs. w. H Tanning. Occur
Pies the upper floor Of the house Kofod
was sitting in the kitchen directly
under where the flames firstg broke
Trough the roof. when he was startled
oy the cracking OF burning timbers
He rushed 10 a nearby window and dis
covered that the flames had attacked
the roof and caves directly above him.
kofoo called 10 his wife and daughter.
who were in the front of the house
ana also gave the alarm to Chief
Lighthouse Keeper Herbert Luff. who
was with his wife and baby daughter
in the lower rooms.
WHISTLE SOUNDS ALARM
At the same time that Kofod discov-
cred the IRE. the flames were seen by
Captain Lockyer Of the navy tug vigil
liant which was approaching the island
Wnart on its o'clock trip from the
city. Captain Leckyer sounded the
alarm on his whistle and shouted iirec-
lions 10 the men on shore who were
unable 10 see the burning house be-
cause OF the steep side Of the island
bluffs intervening. Almost instantly
the rush for the fire began. All work
stopped and ever man on the island
rushed for the steep trail TO the light
house.
The Vigilant made its landing at
the wharf and returned Immediately
10 the base OF the bluffs below the
lighthouse A three inch fire hose was
attached TO the tugs engines and
dragged up the cliffs by the sailors.
Two other lines Of inch and half hose
drawing their water supply from the
reservoir at the top. OF the island, were
manned by navy apprentices. marines
and men from the buoy station.
HOLD FLAMES IN CHECK
The volunteer fremen swarmed over
the burning house and fought the
flames by hand while their companions
manipulated the three lines of hose
and the fight was worthy of anv
trained department. Third Class EIec-
trician Perkins distinguished himself
by making his way into the midst of
the flames in the attic and operating a
IRE eXtinguisher before the hose lines
could be attached. Keeper Lime of
the buoy station also mounted the roof
and did much to hold the flames in
check. Others worked to remove fur
niture and valusbles from the house
and succeeded in saving most of the
household goods.
Marine Clerk Bench was slightly in
Jured by being caught under a fall
Ing section OF the roof Apprentice
Joboyn was working on the roof at
the time il caved in, but was not Sc
verely hurt Bench suffered bad
bruises and minor cuts and burns.
The FIRE was brought under control
only after a hard fight, and was not
completely eXtinguished for nearly an
hour.