The morning call., 1890-11-04
DESTROYED BY FIRE.
The Burlington Hotel a Mass of
Smoking Ruins.
A Similar Fate for the Grand Averted by
Strenuous Efforts-Losses by the Con.
fagration-Guests Escape.

The cOnflagration in the Grand Hotel
block ragged fiercely for nearly two hours
after THE CALL went to press yesterday
morning at Ais o'clock with full account
of the fire up to that time, and 1t continued
to burn until 1880 o'clock, at which hour 1t
was under control. The Burlington lodging
house adjoining was mere shell of walls,
charred and shaking from the effects of
the great heat and flames, and most of the
Grand Hotel was ruined by fire and water.
The seethng and furious flames, Which at
80 o'clock shot up through the light shaft
in the middle of the building, and then
threatened 10 vanQuiSh the struggling fire.
men, did not abate in fury until the cellar
was deluged with water, thus cutting off the
supply of fuel.
The immense stock of inflammable mate
rial stored in the basement burned like
finder in furnace, and baffled the efforts of
the Fire Department to quench what at first
was considered 'blind fire." So when
least fear was entertained the flames burst
forth and swept up the middle shaft, envel-
oping walls, floors and roof in their upward
fight.
A TOTAL LOSS.
The flames rapidly grew intensely hot and
then dense volumes OF smoke were emitted
from the cellar. Rooms were SOON sGifocat-
ing with choking odors. which, however. did
not prove disastrous, as was at one time
dreaded. The floors of the Burlington had
fallen one after another during the few
hours the fire lasted. then the partitions dis
appeared and that part OF the block was
total loss.
The Grand Hotel was only partially de-
str0yed, and will require no more than
general and extensive repairs to have most
of it fit for occupancy. The office was not
touched by fire, but water from the hose
pipes covered the floor and soaked every
thing near the tiles; and yet the hotel
nearly suffered the fate OF the Burlington.
The north and west portions of it were
Quilted by fire and water, and even as far as
the parlors over the office on the Mont
gomery- street side the insidious flames
worked their way, and the water spoiled
nearly everything which the flames did not
destroy.
TIMELY ESCAPES.
Many stories of the timely escape of
guests of both hotels were told yesterday.
There were 2G0 guests in the Grand alone;
but owing TO the precautions taken by the
Fire Patrol and hotel employees, all escaped
without injury, though, in most cases, with
out their property as well.
A bell-bOY of the Grand saved Alfred M.
Wickes. the cashier, who Is paralytic and
moves with great difficulty. The boy car
red him from his room on the third floor TO
the street.
Mr.. and Mrs. Osgood, who had been
married on Sunday in Haywards, were in
the Grand on their honeymoon. The bride
was aroused by the tramping of fremen in
the halls, ard when she heard cries of
'Tire!' resounding through the house be-
came almost hysterica1. She attempted to
| leap from window on the second floor in
her night Dress but her husband held her
back. She was completely Frustrated. and
| had to be carried to the Palace Hotel.
Edward Curtis. the politician, had a mar
| row escape from death by suff0cation. The
ceiling OF his room tell upon him and smoke
rushed into his room. lie had not reached
| the Office when his apartment was in flames.
THROUGH BLINDING SMOKE.
George W. Hopkins of the real estate firm
| of Carnall- FitZhugh- Hopkins Company was
asleep in back room resting soundy when
| bell-bov awakened HIM with LOUD knock
| ing on the door and shouts of fire. Throw
| ing on some clothes In ieverlsh haste he ran
| downstairs through the choking halls.
General JOhg L. Carey occupied a room
| on the second flor, and though he escaped
| in time he lost valuable library in the
| flames.
Senator Fred Cox of Sacramento wien
called could not open his door and 1t had to
| be kicked to pieces to let him out.
o. Rich, day clerk of the Grand, who with
| his wife lived on the third floor, was aroused
| by the alarm and escaped with the guests.
Everything he had was burned, as lie turned
danger.
j. S. Severance of the Southern Pacific
Company was alarmed in time and packed
up his traps, but ON his last trip downstairs
the roof fell i'll over his room.
THE LOSSES.
The total loss by the ire, as estimated by
Captain White of the Fire Patrol, is about
S350.000. Mrs. Buring, lessee Of the Bur-
lingtOn, lost about 500, COO in furniture and
carpets, insured for $4,000, while the house
itself was valued at $4,000 and insured for
$4,000.
The other losses were as follows: Grand
Hotel, building and furniture. SIS, 900; Heu-
ter Bros, loss TO stock, $4,000; o. L. Down
ing, loss TO stock, $4,000; Hurst & Co., loss
to stock, $1,000; Marwedel & Co., loss TO
stock, $1,000; Ned Fay, Grand Hotel bar.
$3.50; William Bryan, druggist, $500; Hill
& Goldman, $1,000; Hall Safe and Lock Com
pany, $1,000; Charles Laubenheimer, barber,
5000; W. j. Bryan. drugs $1,000. fully in
sured.
The Grand Hotel was built in 1869 Mt a
cost of S45O,000 by the Montgomery Real
Estate Association and opened in May,
1870, as hotel 1t was originally designed
for stores and offices. Two Years ago the
lease expired and the building, by the terms
of the lease, reverted to the owners Of the
ground. There was trouble between the two
owners about a renewal of the lease and
that part of the building owned by the
WOOdworth eople was partitioned off and
turned into the Burlington Hotel
AN EXHIBIT DESTROYED.
The State Board of Trade exhibition under
the Burlington was totally destroyed. 1t
was the accumulation of Calfornia's varied
and wonderful products, gathered In the
course Of years, and a most attractive dis
play.
The firemen escaped without any serious
accidents. Frank w. Keane of No. Hose
received a severe cut on his right hand.
-f
his left foot crushed. Michael Dougherty
of No. 8 Engine was struck by falling glass
and badly wounded OIL the eye. John Sulli-
van of No. Engine was severely shaken
by falling from the roof He was taken
home in the patrol wagon. The other men
were treated by Assistant Police Surgeons
A. T. O'Brien and Bunker.
THE STREETS CLEAR.
At 9:30 O'Clock yesterday morning the fire
was completely extinguished and the hose
pipes taken from the streets. Then the
cable-cars, which had been blocked all the
morning, began moving. When the fire was
cold CALL reporter passed through the
Grand Hotel corridors and halls. Charred
debris. fallen glass, plaster, torn carpets,
broken mirrors, papers, books, trunks, fur
niture, etc., all drenched with blackened
water, strewed the floors Walls and cell
ings were thoroughly soaked The claim
that the hotel was an indestructible building
was demonstrated to be false. From the
fourth floor it was plain to be seen how so
much damage had been done, for the entire
interior from this floor to the top had been
constructed Of 2X4 scantlings, and wood on
all sides was within easy reach OF the spread
ing flames. No sooner had the fire gained
good Roadway between the rafters than it
continued on its course, feeding upon the
light material composing the center floor,
State Board of Trade.
The office Of the State Board of Trade has
been temporarily located in Room %, ChrOn-
icle Building. until other and permanent
quarters can be secured. EVERYTHING be-