The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-11-04
HOTELS SWEPT BY FIRE.
CHESTS SNATCH THEIR VALU-
ABLES AND FLEE.

several Narrow Escapes From Death
IN the Flames or Under Falling Walls.
The Burned Buildings the Grand an d
burlington Hostelries at San Fran
cisco.
SAN Francisco, Nov. s. Fire was di s.
covered at o'clock this morning in Heuter
Bros. & Co.'s, paint shop under the Grand
hotel The flames spread rapidly through
m, the basement OF the block bounded by
Sarket. New Montgomery, Stevenson and
saco1d streets, aud then spread to the first
floor. occupied by the Hall Safe and Lock
Company, Hill & Goldman, dealers in
druggists supply: the board Of trade rooms,
the Pullman Palace Car Company's Office,
the Great Northern railroad ticket Office
and the rooms of the Syndicate Investment
Com panpany.
THE HOTEL GUESTS AROUSED.
The smoke, in the meantime, had aroused
the inmates of the Grand and Burlington
hotels. and the frightened people rushed to
the sidewalk with what valuables they could
A general alarm brought the remainder
Of the fire department to the scene.
The front of Heuter Bros store blew out
with loud explosion, aud a large volume
Of smoke poured out, almost overcoming
the firemen.
Jac Underhill, wine merchant, was
overcome by smoke in the Grand hotel, and
was carried out unconscious
A CASHIERS CLOSE CALL.
Cashier Weeks of the Grand, VIII is Grip
pied was almost overcome, when he was
assisted out by the elevator boy. There
we're several other narrow escapes.
By 5 o'clock the flames had spread along
the eastern end of the bio k. bursting from
the roof and windows. The wind was light
aud the efforts of the firemen to conf le the
fire within the block occupied by the Bur
lington and Grand hotels were unsuccess-
full.
About o'clock the roof of the Burling-
ton fell In, carrying with it part of that of
the Grand. Ia a short time the interior OF
the Burlington was complete wreck and
the front of the Grand, on Market street, t.
gether with the eastern ed, adjoining the
Burlington, was also a ruin. The
western end was saved.
OCCUPANTS OF TIE STORES.
The first floor of the Burlington, on
Second street, was occupied by G. II. Hirst,
dealer In millinery and novelties; c. P.
Downing, a dealer in medioines; p. H.
Wardwell. dealer in window shades and
uAlugs 1neso were RuUteu. as were also
Heuter & Co.'s, the board of trade rooms
and Burr Folding Bed Company's place of
business On Market street. The Southern
Pacific. Central Pacific and other ticket
offices under the Grand hotel, and the Fish
saloon were damaged by water.
FINE BUILDING.
The Grand hotel was opened in 1870, and
at the time was considered one of the finest
hotels in the world 1t wa' ur stories
high and mad frontage of 800 feet on Mar
ket street. Two years ago about half of the
block was leased to other parties, and
was called the Burlington hotel
The total loss. including the buildings,
stores, furniture and stock, is estimated at
Sl,5OO,O0O. The fire is believed to have
been due to spontaneous combustion of IN
hammable material in Heuter Bros. & Co. IS
premises.
The interior of the Grand is not damaged
10 the extent at first believed. Mrs. Burl-
lngton estimates the loss on her furniture
and fixtures at 500, 1000. Her insurance is
$4,000 Heuter Bros. loss is $4,000.