Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-01-25
ATTEMPTED ARSON.
Fire KindIed under the Now u
8. Hotel.

Fire KindIed Under the new u.
s. Hotel.
About O'Clock last night some person
walking along Requepa street began to
shout fire, and Watchman Lynch, of the
Courthouse, ran to the spot. He looked
into a saloon known as the Bank Ex-
change, which occupies cellar under
the New United States Hotel along Re-
quena street and saw fire which ap-
peared to be spreading rapidly over
everything behind the bar. Running to
the box at the corner of Los Angeles and
Requena streets to turn in an alarm, he
found Officer Mckenzie had already done
that. In a short time the depart
ment was on hand and in five minutes
after that the cellar was literally flooded
with water. 1t was but the work OF mo.
ments to subdue the flames which were
rapidly getting their fiery fangs we'll set
upon the floor of the lower story of the
hotel. The place is kept by Robert
Levin and Isadore Oppenheimer. When
the fire was discovered the premises
were vacant and all means of
access barred by locked doors. The
door had to be broken in and Detective
Mccarthy, who was on the scene, sus-
pecting something from the strong odors
of coal oil, proceeded to make a close
examination of the bar. Opening
one of the drawers under the till, he was
astonished to see lighted candle burn
ing, attached to which was long strip
of towel saturated with kerosene, and
this ended in mass of hay surmounted
by matches. Opening the other
drawer he found similar revelation
and further evidence of the attempt at
arson was given by a coal-oil can and q
copper dipper which laid on the floor. The
dipper emitted the strong odor of oil and
a glance around showed that the incen-
diary had filed it with kerosene and
then dashed its contents on the ceiling,
walls and floor. Detective Mccarthy
kept his discovery to himself and at once
dispatched a messenger to Levine's
house with instructions to tell that in
dividual that his place was on fire and to
come down at once. Fifteen minutes or
SO passed and then the rumble of hack
was heard and from it Levine alighted.
you've had a fire here" said Nc.
Carthy, as the two went down into the
saloon together, and in response Levine
said, "I wonder how it happened" The
detective piled him with number oi
questions, to which Levine replied thai
the place was insured for $1,000, but, he
added quickly, ''that is only about one.
third of what it is worth.'
"Who locked up here tonight ?" asked
the officer.
"I did," was the reply, and a moment
later Mccarthy informed the ashen.
faced proprietor that he was under arrest
He did not ask what for, but surrendered
meekly gun he had in his pocket, and
was escorted to the City Prison. On
being searched two gold watches
and an unusually large number
of pocket-books and papers were found
on his person. 1t was not until he was
about to be removed to the tanks that he
asked, "What am arrested for?"
"For arson," replied Mccarthy, and the
prisoners underlip fell as he was led away
within the iron doors. The feeling on
the streets ran very high when the news
of the discovery was noised abroad, foI
had the incendiary's efforts beer
successful the lives of many
men, women and children would
have been lost, for the rooms OF
the hotel above the scene of the
confagration were all occupied ant
nearly all of the guests had retired TO
the night.