Los Angeles herald., 1891-06-22

cOmm00lOue eC0rerCOmS IN bn0 rear OF
their store, extending from the Corfu to
the restaurant. In these were stored a
large quantity of groceries, brooms, oil,
ETC., and almost the entire stock was
damaged so as to be useless, either by
water or the fire. One open barrel OF
oil became ignited and burned for long
time after the rest of the fire had been
extinguished, all efforts to put it out be-
ing deemed useless.
MRS. PAYNTER's STORY.
Mrs. Josephine Paynter is widow
with five children, who leased the second
floor OF the Solomon block and kept
dodgers. Some four or five years ago her
husband, who was one of the founders
of the Evening Express, and for many
years an employee of the HERALD, died,
and left her some little real estate,
which was heavily mortgaged. Mrs.
Paynter went to work and managed to
keep the interest paid on the mort
cages and at last accumulated about a
thousand dollars with which she pur-
chased furniture and commenced
taking dodgers. When the fire
occurred In the restaurant un-
derneath her rooms last Sunday
night, she was advised to insure her fur
niture, but she could not then afford it.,
and, in consequence, she now has moth
ing.
Il believe that the fire was an incen-
diary one," she said last evening to a
HERALD reporter. "When the fire
started in the restaurant under my
rooms last Sunday night, 1 could smell
kerosene very distinctly. don't see
how it could have commenced unless
some rascal started it. Yes, have lost
everything have in the world and must
commence all over"
Mrs. Paynter and her children were
taken to the receiving hospital in the
police station, and friends brought them
some clothing to exc out their rather
scanty appearance, for on awakening
they had only time to grab what clothes
they could find in an instant and make
their escape. Mrs. Paynter was very
brave and cool, considering the calam
ity which had befallen her. She is
delicate woman, and having large fam
lily to support, the affair offers good
opportunity to kind-hearted people to
show some practical Christianity.
A STRANGE COINCIDENCE.
There were openly expressed state
ments current this morning to the effect
that the fire was OF incendiary origin.
One week ago last night small blaze
was discovered, and soon extinguished,
in the front part of the restaurant in
pile of shelves. The starting of this
former fire was assigned to mice and
matches. Last night the blaze was first
seen at or near the kichen range.
Mrs. j. E. Paynter, proprietress of the
lodging house overhead, states that the
smell of kerosene oil was plainly dis
tinguishable about the building before
she retired, and that she spoke about it
at the time. and was nervous in going to
bed under the circumstances. r.
w. Hoff, who has been proprietor of the
restaurant for six months, carries a
good deal OF insurance, it is understood,
ON his stock.
SUNDAY A BAD DAY FOR FIRES.
1t is somewhat noteworthy fact that
the principal fires that have visited Los
Angeles in the last year or two have
happened on Sunday or Sunday
night. Those most readily re-
called are: Last nights occurrence;
the small blaze in the same
place just one week ago; the Seventh
street t-conhagratian.t two weeks ago the
destruction of Baron Rognait's villa
several weeks prior to the last named
fire; the blaze on Broadway near
Second, last fall, and the big brewery
and bottling house fire on East Second
street, in the more remote past. Be-
sides these, the records of the fire de-
partment show tnat Sunday has been
about as prolific of small blazes, if not
more SO, than any other day OF the
week. ssl
NOTES.
: Dennis Kearney turned in the alarm
from box 81.
Officer Bosqui had his hand badly cut
while attempting to save furniture.
The dodgers at the Corfu pulled out
their trunks and valises, and several
lost stray articles by the operation.
At 80 this morning the water was
pouring through the cable grocery store
and the loss is liable to be greater than
given above.
The engine from No. met with an
accident. Upon rushing out from the
engine house, one of the horses fell down
on the cable track and was seriously in.
jured.
In less than four minutes from the
time Of the discovery of the fire, two
engineers Of the Hollenb beck hotel fire
department were at their posts and had
eighty pounds of steam, and had hose
wetting down the roof Of the building.
1t was record to be proud OF.
There was an old man sleeping in the
rear of the restaurant. He was the
some old man who was pulled out last
Sunday night when the fire broke out
behind the counter. He disappeared
from view directly after the fire broke
out and could not afterwards be found
by the reporters who hunted for him.
The Solomon block is owned BY Mrs.
Solomon, who resides at San Francisco.
1t is reported to have cost 5000. Mr..
Lohman, son-in-law of Mrs. Solomon,
is the agent for the block in this city.
The insurance on the building amounts
to $4,000. These facts were developed
and were generally known on account of
the close call the building had last Sun
day.
A Ne ewspaper Detective.
PHILADELPHIA, June 21.-Max Free
man tha detactiva who was nurdar-