Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-09-05
THE BELLEVUE BURNED.
~IONTGOSERY's PRETTY HOTEL
TOTALLY DESTROYED.

The Loss $4,000 wan $500 Insur-
ance-Tho Fire Discovered in the An
mex and the Entire building In Flame ;
Before the Occupants Could be Arous-
ed-NOne of the Furniture Saved-The
Origin of the Fire Unknown.
The we'll known Bellevue hotel at Mont
gomery, on the salts, was entirely de-
stroyed by ire between and 4 o'clock
yesterday morning.
The flames were first discovered by
Jacob Lutz, who, until day or two ago,
has had charge OF the hotel. He and the
members OF lungs band. who were stay
ing in the house had sat up late. A Mr.
I.utz was about TO get in bed his attention
was arrested by flash OF light through
TIE window, and looking down he saw
the ire burning rapidly in the lower
part OF the building. Hastily dressing
he ran 10 the room where the mem bers OF
the band were sleeping, and mad 70 break
omen the door before he could arouse them.
The hotel had been closed during the day,
and DAY Waterman named Murray was
employed TO stay about. lie says that ne
went 10 bed at 1880 p. M, and everything
was all right then.
musicians were in the storeroom adloin-
ing the Kitchen. One OF them stopped
down tor something and as he raised up
hit the lamp and Knocked 1t over. Some
few things caught fire, but the lamp vas
thrown out Of the door and the blaze eX-
tingulshed. 1t is believed that the ire
started in the same room, but how Is
mystery. Before going to bed
the Waterman inspected the building,
gfe nf
awakened by the cracking and roaring OF
the fiames. Springng from bed he rushed
TO a window and saw that the whole
building would be on fire in Few mo-
ments Running back to his room he
snatched up his clothes and hurried out
half dressed.
BY that time the other ccupants-Lutz
and the seven musicians-Aad all escaped,
although one or two members Of the band
were scorched. The fire spread 50 rap
Idly and burned so tiercely that it was too
late to save the building or much OF the
furniture. The interior OF the motel was
very infammAble, and chairs, mating,
mattresses, bedding, and other furniture
were quickly eaten up.
The sparks scattered in every direction,
and fell in showers upon the dancing pa
vilion, the stables and Deighb0ring build
ings, but luckily the roofs we're very wet
and did not ignite. A few articles, badly
damaged, were carried TO place of safety.
The Waterman SAYS that everyone was 50
excited that he could get but little assist
ancc.
Only few blackened posts and the
crumbling walls were standing at day.
light. What had been the bailding was
a pile of smOulderlng ruins. The
property destroyed was valued at
$4,000. The furniture alone cost about
60 Dn0 apd VIVA In for q 400 The
building was insured for $1,000, both pol
icies being held bv Messrs. Haines and
Daniel. The house was originally dwell
Ing. The hotel and the ground on which
IL stood and also the furniture belonged TO
the City and Suburban Railway COmpa-
nv. In 1928 the main building, the
walls OF which were of concrete. was en-
larged and reftted and the wooden annex
aud kitchen were erected. There were in
all twenty-five rooms in the house. The
main building which was double had
front Of so feet and the extension
front was about so feet in length.
The hotel proper was about 80 feet deep
and two stories and halt high. The
furniture was nearly new. This was the
third season. 1t opened in the middle OF
May and was only closed this week tenn
porarily while the company was looking
about for some one to take Mr.. Lutz's
place. On Thursday he moved his per-
sonal effects into the city and sent his
father and family in also. His loss, If
any, will be very small.
Jung, the leader OF the band, in his hur-
ried escape forgot 1853 and his gold watch,
which were under his pillow. The Gre
mated watch was found in the ruins dur
ing the afternoon, but the money was de-
strOyed.
Although the hotel was beautifully
located and was an attractive and
popular resort, it is not certain that the
company will rebuild.