Los Angeles herald., 1891-06-01
GONE TO BLAZES.
Seventy Thousand Dollars
Ely Up in Smoke.
The Particulars of Yesterdays
Exciting Fire.
Flame and Wind Defeated by Mans
Skill and Pluck.
Scenes and Incidents-The Buildings De-
stroyed-Points About the Insur-
ance-A Diagram of the Lo-
cation-Notes.

Two men ran out of the Norton lodg-
ing house, on the corner of Seventh and
Hill streets, yesterday afternoon at
about half-past 8 O'Clock. Right after
them came three women, little column
of smoke showed itself in the rear, and
in five minutes the roar of flames and
the cracking on burning wood was heard,
and it was evident the building Was
doomed.
1t burned like tinder, and it was i'm
mediately seen that there was danger TO
surrounding houses. On the south on
Hill street was two-story frame dwell
ing occupied by Mr.. and Mrs. J. Rein
art, of Milwaukee. The family had
only occupied the house for about a.
month, and were at Santa Monica, but
the neighbors got the contents pretty
well out before the roof began to smoke.
Two streams Of water were brought
into action here, and after hard fight
the fire was subdued after having de-
stroyed the second story.
Meanwhile the Norton block had
fallen in, and the next house to the east,
occupied by M. Mancho, gentleman
connected with the Mexican consulate,
caught fire, and in few minutes
caved in.
The Unity church, on the corner of
Broadway and Seventh street, so far
had suffered no damage. Many fears
had been expressed for it, and when it
was first seen that the fire department
could not confine the fire to the Norton
block, it had been evident to close OBJ
servers that this beautiful edifce was
doomed. The roof began to smoke, and
the west side was soon dotted by little
tongues Of fame, which rapidly COM
bined together, and with roar and a
swirl OF smoke and sparks the hand
some church was enveloped in great
sheet of fire, which consumed it entirely.
On the north side of Seventh street,
near the corner of Hill, was two-story
frame dwelling, in the lower part of
which was bakery, and lodgings up
stairs. This was set fire several times
by the heavy wind carrying great masses
OF flame across the street, but was finally
saved.
Just east of the bakery, and extend
ing to the corner of Broadway, was the
Lankershim Flats. Several times this
caught, and at last the flames got we'll
started in the center of the roof A
fruitless attempt was made for some
time to reach this by hose from the
ground in the rear, but the flames kept
gaining, and it looked as if the building
was doomed. At last the hook and
ladder truck, was wheeled to the rear,
the ladder raised, and hose carried to.
the roof. In short time the building
was saved.
The firemen on the whole did excel
lent work and were ably seconded by
members of the Seventh regiment, the
police and citizens. The fire was the
most extensive that ever occurred here,
and more people are losers than at any
previous conhagration.
There was not as much wildness of
effort as is usually seen at fires among
those laboring to save goods. Residents
of the Lankershim fats and of the neigh
boring houses on Hill and Seventh
streets, got their belongings out in good
order, assisted by the police and mill
tary. The latter did guard duty during
the afternoon, forming Gordon about
the articles OF furniture piled up in va
cant lots.
THE FIRE IN DETAIL.
The alarm was turned in by William
Stoermer. Smoke was first seen issuing
from the Norton building on the Hill
street side. In a few minutes the whole
building was ablaze, and the people
watched the rapid progress made by
the fire in amazement. The residents
of the neighborhood became alarmed,
and well might they be, las it certainly
looked as If several blocks would sue
cumb to the fire, as strong wind was
blowing at the time. The Norton build
ing was in ashes before the department
could get a stream on the building.
The mountain of roaring fame spread
down Seventh and up Hill street. Then
began great battle between the fire
and water. The thousands of people
watched the rapid strides being made
by the fire with alarm, and it was
providential thing that there happened
to be vacant lot opposite the Norton
block, and another one near the church,
otherwise yesterdays fire would have
caused incalculable damage.
The Abbott residence on Hill street
south of the Norton was destroyed in
very few minutes, but the progress OF
the fire was stopped on Hill street after
reaching the next building, home of Mr..
Reinart. This building was partially
destroyed.
In the meantime the flames extended
down Seventh street, destroying frame
cottage and the Unity. church at the
corner Of Seventh and Broadway. Dur
ing this time the Lanskershim building
had a very narrow escape from destruc-
tion. Chief Moore directed all his ener-
gies to saving the Lankershim block, ,and
streams were played on the building
from the front and rear. Notwithstand-
ing this it looked as ifthe building was
destined to go up in Esmoke, as at one
time flames rushed out from the cupola
in the center of the roof.
The firemen renewed their efforts and
the result Vas the saving OF the build
ing, but it was damaged considerably.
At 5 o'clock the fire was under control,