Chinatown Fire Brought Out the Worse in Some People Monday, July 15, 2002 By Bill Coate J.B. Williams was a real Madera pioneer. He arrived on the local scene in 1890 and lived here until his death in 1968 at the age of 100. On March 4, 1968, he was honored in a centennial birthday celebration at the First Baptist Church. Williams was the last living charter member of the congregation. At that 100th birthday party, Williams had a lot of local history to share. He told of helping to move the First Baptist Church from Borden to Madera in 1891. He recalled that Madera at that time was home to 29 saloons, 2 churches, and 1 wine cellar. Williams also remembered that 1891 was the year of the disastrous Chinatown fire, a conflagration so terrible in its human tragedy that it moved him to record the event. What follows is J.B. Williams' account of the Chinatown fire of 1891. It is presented here unedited. "Chinatown was situated west of Madera and consisted of about fifty houses, the largest not being over 16 by 18 feet. On Saturday night, October 25, 1891, at 10 o'clock, as I was sitting at the table reading a magazine, I heard someone shouting, 'Do you see the fire? A house is on fire!' I quickly ran out of the house and saw the flames of the burning buildings. I knew at once that the fire must be either in Chippiee town or Chinatown. When I reached the street, I was joined by two friends. We all started to run toward the fire at a high rate of speed. One of my friends was taken with what he called a stitch in his side. That stopped his running. The other being a little fat, could not run very far. I was then left alone in the race and arrived first at the fire. I stood a little way back from the fire, shading my face with my kerchief because the heat was intense. Looking at the flames as they shot skyward, they seemed eager to devour everything that came within their reach. They were hurried on in their course of destruction by the wind which blew in fitful gusts. In a very short length of time, both sides of the street were in flames. The Chinamen were hurrying to and fro, bearing all sorts of household goods to a safe distance from the fire. Everyone seemed bent on securing as much of his own property as he could, caring nothing for anyone else (a feeling that is prevalent in the world at this age). Moving my position of observation, I went around and got between the row of buildings and had an opportunity of seeing everything that was going on. I saw acts being done there that aroused my deepest sympathy for the Chinaman. I saw men who claim to be honest citizens of the United States plundering and carrying off everything of value that they could lay their hands on under the pretense of taking it to a safe distance. The distance was generally very far. No one seemed very anxious to subdue the flames; at least no effort was put forth to that effect. I believe one third of the buildings could have been saved if the right thing had been done at the right time. The stores and restaurants were boldly entered by men with no other object in view that that of plunder. I saw men with boxes of cigars, pairs of socks, etc. The barrels of liquor from the restaurants received special attention from the same noble (?) young men who thought it would be a great shame to leave such precious stuff to be devoured by the hungry flames, when there were so many around who needed it. But, there were men there, actuated by principles of right and justice, who did all in their power to help those in distress." Although most of Madera's Chinatown burned that night, within a few short months, it was rebuilt, including the Joss House, the Chinese place of worship on Central Avenue. Inside, a beautiful embroidered cloth was placed on the altar, and it contained the names of most of the Chinese residents who rescued Chinatown from oblivion. Today that Joss House altar cloth hangs in the Madera County Courthouse Museum as a testament to the indomitable spirit that motivated Madera's pioneer Chinese community. The Madera County Courthouse Museum is open to the public each Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 4 P.M. ref:  http://www.maderatribune.com/valleylife/278301566793426.shtml