Los Angeles herald., 1890-11-04
A BAY CITY BLAZE.
A Big Fire Early Monday
Morning.
The Flames Happily Confined
to One Block.
The Grand and Burlington Hotels
Completely Gutted.
Many Business Firms Burned Out-The
State Board of Trade Exhibit
Ruined.
Associated Press Dispatches.

lore ) O'Clock this morning, fire was dis
covered under the Burlington house,
adjoining the Grand hotel, in the base
ment of store occupied by Hueter
Bros. & Co., dealers in paint and artists
supplies. The flames spread rapidly
through the basement Of the block
bounded by Market, Montgomery, San
some and Second streets, and then
spread to the first floor, occupied by the
Hall Safe and Lock company; Hill &
Goldman, druggists supplies SCI the board
of trade rooms, Pullman Palace Car COM
pany's Office, Great Northern railroad
ticket Office, and rooms of the Syndicate
Investment company. The smoke, in
the meantime, had aroused the inmates
of the Grand and Burlington hotels, and
the frightened 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 disas-
trous confagration was looked for. A
general alarm brought the entire fire
department to the scene. he front of
Hueter Bros. & Co.'S store blew out with
a loud explosion, and large volumes of
smoke poured out, almost overcoming
the firemen. Jacob Henderhill, mer-
chant, was overcome by the smoke in
the Grand hotel, and was carried out
unconscious. Cashier Weeks, of the
Grand, who is crippled, was almost
overcome when he was assisted by the
elevator boy. There were several other
narrow escapes.
By 5 O'Clock the flames had spread
along the eastern end of the block,
bursting from the roof and windows.
The wind was slight and the efforts of
the firemen to contine the fire
to the block occupied by the
Burlington and Grand hotels were
successful. About O'Clock the
roof of the Burlington hotel fell in,
carrying with it part of the roof of the
Grand. In short time the interior OF
the Burlington was a complete wreck,
and the front of the Grand on Market
street, together with the eastern end of
the adjoining Burlington, was also
ruined. The western end was saved.
The first floor Of the Burlington on Sec.
ond street was occupied by G. H. Hist,
millinery and novelties; G. p. Downing,
proprietary medicines; d. H. Wardell,
window shades and fixtures. These
were Quilted, as were also Hunter &
Co.'s rooms, the board of trade rooms
and the Burr Folding Bed company's
place of business on Market street. The
Southern Pacific, Central Pacific and
other ticket offices under the Grand, to-
gether with Fay's saloon, were damaged
by water.
The Grand hotel was opened in 1870
y II, e. ~ Il &E1
Tina was considered one of the finest
high, and had frontage of 200 feet on
Market street. Two years ago about
half the block was leased to other par
ties, and was called the Burlington
hotel. The total loss, including build
ings, stores, furniture and stocks, is es-
timated at million and half.
LATER-The interior Of the Grand
hotel is not damaged to the extent at
first believed, and it is now stated the
total loss will probably not exceed one
third of the first estimate. Mrs. Bur-
ington estimates the loss on her furni-
ture and fixtures at 1000; insurance,
$4,000. Heuter Bros 8 loss is SAC, 900.
E. H. Fardell, $4,000; fully insured.
The Grand hotels bar was badly dam
aged by smoke and water. The fine
collection of minerals and exhibits of
the state board of trade will be an en-
tire loss.
The individual losses cannot yet be
accurately determined, but Hill & Gold
man, dealers in druggists supplies, lose
about $2500; Hall Safe and Lock COM
pany. about $4,000; Ned Fair, proprietor
of the hotel bar, estimates his loss at
$4,000 or $4,000; Charles Lankheimer,
barber shop, $4,000, insurance $500; John
Danton, trunk manufacturer, $1,000, un-
insured; ex-Postmaster Bryan's drug
store, loss between $4,000 and $1,000, in
sured. Water in many Instances did as
much, if not more, damage than the
fire. The loss on the Burlington build
ing is between $50. 1000 and 100000.
The origin of the fire remains un-
known. District Engineer Sullivan be-
lieves the fire started among rubbish in
the cellar of the state board of trade
rooms. The officers of the board OF
trade, however, claim that it must-have
originated in an l. of the basement,
which extends to the rear of their
rooms, and in, which was stored varnish
and other combustible material belong
ing to Heuter & Co.
The only insurance on the one block
WulCu Was ulNlQCu III w CiC CWO SCCtlOHc
known respectively as the Grand
and the Burlington, was 5000
which was held by the owners
of the Burlington. J. p. Martin, agent
of the Sharon estate, which owns the
property said there was not dollar OF
insurance on the Grand. A wall which
separated the two hotels saved the
Grand to large extent, and the great
est damage was due to water. The
heaviest losers are the Burlington hotel
building and furniture, 100000; Grand
hotel, building and furniture, $75, 200
Hueter Bros, stock, $4,000; J. p. Dawn
ing, loss to stock, $4,000; Marwidel &
Co., 10000; Hirst & Co., stock, $40, 1000
The total loss is estimated at between a
quarter and half a million; insurance
light.
Silver Purchases.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 3.-The treasury
department has resumed the purchase
of silver The amount offered TODAY