Huntsville gazette., 1890-11-08
HOTELS IN RUINS.

burning OF the Burlington House and
Grand Hotel in San Francisco, Together
with Number of Large Business Es-
Establishments in the Same Block, In
yolving Heavy Loss Several Narrow
Escapes from Death in the Flames.
SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 4.-Shortly be-
fore three o'clock yesterday morning
fire was discovered under the Burling-
ton House, adjoining the Grand Hotel,
in the basement of the store occupied
by Heuter Bros & Co, dealers in paint
and artist supplies. The flames spread
rapidly throughout the basement of the
block bounded by Market, New Mont
gomery, Stevenson and Second streets,
and then spread to the first floor, occu-
pied by the Hall Safe and Lock Com
pany; Hill & Goldman, druggists sup
plies; Board of Trade rooms; Pullman
Palace Car Company's office; Great
Northern Railroad ticket office, and
the rooms Of the Syndicate Investment
Company.
The smoke in the meantime had
aroused the inmates of the Grand and
the Burlington hotels, and the fright
ened guests rushed to the sidewalk with
what valuables they could carry. The
fire soon shot up through the freight
elevator in the rear of the Grand Hotel,
and a disastrous confiagration was
looked for. A general alarm brought
the remainder of the fire department to
the scene. The front of Heuter Bros.
& Co.'S store blew out with loud ex-
r1n 1or If a1yn
poured out almost overcoming the fire.
men.
Jacob Underhill, wine merchant,
was overcome by the smoke in the
Grand Hotel and was carried out un-
console as.
Cashier Weeks, of the Grand, who is
crippled. was almost overcome when he
was assisted out by the elevator boy,
There were several other narrow
escapes
BY five o'clock the flames had spread
along the eastern end Of the block,
bursting from the roof and windows.
The wind was light, and the efforts OF
the firemen to confine the fire within
the block occupied by the Burlington
and Grand were successful.
About six o'clock the roof of the
Burlington Hotel fell in, carrying part
of that of the Grand Hotel. In short
time the whole interior of the Burling-
ton was complete wreck, and the
front of the Grand on Market street.
together with the eastern end, adjoin
ing the Burlington, was also a ruin
The western end was saved. The first
floor of the Burlington on Second street
was occupied by C. II. Hirst, millinery
and novelties; c. p. Downing, proprie-
tary medicines, and E. Ii. Wardwell,
stores were Quilted, as were also Heuter
& Co.'S, the Board of Trade rooms
and the Burr Folding Bed Company s
place of business on Market street;
the Southern Pacific, the Central Pa
cific and other ticket offices under the
Grand Hotel. which together with
Fay's saloon, were damaged by water.
The total loss is estimated at $780,
900.
The fire is believed to have been due
to spontaneous combus ton of inflamma-
BILE material in Heuter 81 Co.'S, place OF
business.
The Grand Hotel was opened in 1870,
and at the time was considered one o1
the finest hotels in the world. 1t was
four stories high, and had frontage OF
200 feet on Market street. Two years
ago about half of the block was leased
to other parties and was called the
Burlington Hotel.
The interior of the Grand Hotel is
not damaged to the extent at first be-
lieved, and it is now stated that the to-
tai loss will probably not exceed one
third Of the first estimate. Mrs. Burling
ton estimates the loss on her furniture
and fixtures at $40, 900; insurance. S10,.
OOO Heuter Bros loss is $4,000 The
Grand Hotel bar is badly damaged by
smoke and water. The fine collections
of minerals and exhibits of the State
Board of Trade is believed 10 be an en-
tire loss.