Los Angeles daily herald., 1875-05-22
A SERIES OF FIRES.
The Incendiary at WOrE-Severai Fires
Kindied Yesterday MOrntng-Grea
Success of the Fire Department..

In yesterday mornings HERALD w
give brief account of the fire II
Dotter & Bradley's furniture store, OF
the East side of Main street, opposite
Temple Block. Since that report We
have examined the store and find thu
stock and fixtures In two stories anC
the basement almost total wreck
The fire is supposed to be the work o.
an incendiary, originating under the
stairs near the back door, where paints
oils and other com bustibles were
stored. A short time before the
alarm was given, man was observed
to hurry out of the rear alley and run
down Requena street, where he disap-
| peared. His work was only done toe
we'll, as in few moments the elegant
carpets and luxurious furniture with
which the establishment was filled
was wrapped in flames and left a heap
of ashes and charred timber. Unfor-
tunately the firm had just received on
Thursday bill of new furniture
amounting to $4,000, and only port
of this was saved, much damaged.
The total loss is estimated at $22, 900,
with an insurance as follows: Liver
| pool and London and Globe, $4,000;
Hartford Fire, 1000; North America,
$4,000.
Besides this loss, DR.. French, who
occupied an office in the second story,
had his furniture damaged badly by
smoke and water.
Mrs. Bilderdeck, an employe of Dot
ter Il Bradley, also had room on the
second floor and suffered loss of $500
from water, smoke and removal.
The offices of Drs. Stairway and
Ross, the Good Templars' Hall and
Caswell & Ellis store, adjoining, were
only slightly damaged.
ATTEMPT AT ROBBERY.
During the excitement of the fire an
unknown person effected an entrance
into the premises of the late J. T. Lam
franco and succeeded in gaining pos
session of an iron box containing
money and jewelry; but in making
his escape was met on the stairs by
one of the Miss Lanfrancos, who en-
deavored to stop him. The ruffian
knocked the young lady down, but
was forced to drop the box of treasure,
which was recovered by the proper
owners, the robber making good his
escape.
THE SECOND FIRE.
About three o'clock fire broke out
in the brick stable Of Mr.. VIM. NJ
Stoddard, in the rear of the lot at the
Northeast corner of Franklin and
Fort streets. When Mr.. Stoddard
awoke, his stable was mass of flames
inside and his two horses We're al
ready dead. The solid brick walls
and tin roof of the stable completely
enclosed the flames and prevented its
spread to adjoining buildings, giving
the fire department a chance to do
good service. This is supposed to be
the work of an incendiary, as Mrs.
Smith,, a lady boarder of Stoddard's,
saw a man try the gate of her lodging
house and heard another walk on the
porch shortly before the fire broke
out. MIR. Stoddard's horses were val
liable animals, and were not insured.
On the premises Of Mr.. r. +. jack
son the woodshed was burned and
other damages sustained.
THE THIRD FIRE.
While this fire was in progress a fire
was discovered in the Fire Depart
ment stable by two men who went
back for coal. A bale of hay had
been fired, but their opportune arrival
and prompt action prevented serious
conf1agration.
FIRE BRIGADE NEEDED.
This series Of fires will suggest at
once to our readers the existence of an
organized system of incendiarism land
the necessity of the formation of a fire
brigade of volunteers, whose duty it
shall be to protect property at fires
and detect the cold blooded villains
who are engaged in the dastardiy
work of firing property for plunder.
Our fire department. does its duty, but
too much is expected of it, and out
siders should organize to assist them.
AS matter of justice to our brave
tire-boys we are asked to publish the
following
CARD FROM GOV. D0WNEY.
EDITOR HERALD: You will please
announce through your issue of this
morning the sense of deep gratitude /
feel toward the foreman and members
of our fire company tor their efforts to
save the property, of which am part
owner, from destruction last night.
Their promptness in being on the
ground, their cool and deliberate ac-
tion in making headway against the
flames, are worthy of the highest COM
mendation. l am satisfied, when we
take into consideration the means at
their disposal, that the conduct of our
company will bear Il fair comparison
with any company in the United
States. l recognize fully their SER
vices to myself, and am sure the pub
lie feel grateful to them, as through
them a great disaster has been con-
fined to very narrow limits.
JOHN G. DOwNEY.