The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1911-09-18
Of
SLEEPERS
HURT
Both Legs Broken by Plunging
rs Feet to Escape Dense
Smoke
ONE MAN KILLED AND
ANOTHER is MISSING
Aviator Aids in Rescue Work
While Awaiting Time to
Start Flight
II OLFAX, Sept 17-One man is
dead, another hovers between
life and death with both legs

|a dead, another hovers between
~ life and death with both legs
broken as consequence of his
heroism, and third is missing, as a
resultsof fire, probably of incendiary
origin. that broke out here at 3 o'clock
this morning on the third floor of the
Mountainview hotel
Considerable part of the town was
destroyed before the fire burned itself
out against the brick walls of the
Newman grocery. The loss is about
$4,000.
The blaze was conquered finally
by brigade OF volunteers composed
of practically the entire population.
Prominent in the front ranks was
Robert G. Fowler, the aviator, who
is preparing to fly over the high
Sierra tomorrow on the third leg
of his transcontinentaI aeroplane trip.
Hero of Fire Injured
The Southern Pacific FIRE train.
after a record run from Blue Canyon.
"a miles away, in % minutes, aided
greatly in subduing the flames.
John Wesley Dugger lost his life
in the confagration and Henry
Hurst may be fatally injured
Hurst was the hero of the fire.
He was in front of the building when
the blaze broke out. He noticed the
smoke pouring from the windows, and
without thought of personal risk
rushed into the burning structure and
aroused those sleeping on the second
and third floors.
BY knocking on each door, and when
the inmates failed to respond. break
ing down the barrier and pulling the
sleeper from his bed, Hurst succeeded
in getting every one from the build
ing with the exception of Dugger.
Flames Attack Rescuer
Believing that all were out of
danger, Hurst startec for the stairs.
only to find them enveloped in flames
and the corridor dense with smoke.
He ran to the front of the building
and, hesitating moment, plunged to
the sidewalk, % feet below. Bruised
and bleeding, he was picked up by the
assembled crowd. A physician was
summoned and an examination showed
that both of Hurst's legs had been
broken and that he might be injured
internally. He was rushed to Auburn
and is at hospital there.
Another man whose name is not
known on account of the fact that the
hotel register is burned. is missing.
From the hotel the blaze spread to
an adjoining saloon, then to a meat
market owned by Dan Russell.
Firemen Forced to Retreat
BY the time the fire brigade arrived
these buildings were mass of flames
Before the water could be turned on
the blaze became too hot for the fire.
men ana they were forced to retreat.
leaving the hose behind them.
Famed by slight wind, the flames
vaulted the street and spread to a
bakery, then consumed a vacant store
and finally halted before a brick wall
of grocery.
BY the time the flames crossed the
street the apparatus from Blue Canyon
had arrived and, thus reinforced. the
local department succeeded in getting
the fire under control.
Fowler was awakened by his mother
in his room at the hotel soon after the
fire broke out. Quickly donning his
clothes, he rushed to the scene and there
was no one who fought more bravely
than he IN his shirtsleeves he was
here and there, directing the almost
hopeless work of the fire lighters, lend
ing hand where necessary and setting
an example that was followed by each
- tho 6reraes,