Los Angeles herald., 1891-06-22
The Solomon Block Partially
Burned.
Several People Sustain Very
Severe Losses.
Lodgers Who Had to Flee In Very
Scanty Apparel.
dividua1 Losses Sustained = Mrs.
Paynter's Story-Tncidents
Iatrs and Notes.

The Pacific Slope dining parlors al
1873 South Spring street were visited by
fire for the second time within week al
few moments after IL O'Clock this
morning, and before the blaze had been
extinguished the entire Solomon block
was practically gutted, the Burdick
block scorched about the roof and the
inmates OF the Corfu were ready to flee
with terror The origin of the blaze is
most mysterious. Two HERALD report
ers passed the restaurant as the clock
struck midnight. A glance into the
rear of the place at that time revealed
nothing unusual, but four minutes later,
when the same men had barely reached
Franklin street, shout of ''fire" was
heard and flames were seen shooting up
ward from the frame roof OF the kitchen
behind the restaurant.
Running back to the fire, one of the
HERALD men passed into the Corfu and
the ether into the Solomon block,
knocking at each door as they passed
down the halls and waking the slumber-
ing occupants OF those buildings. The
scenes on the second floor of the Solo
mon block when the dazed dodgers be-
gan to realize what was the matter were
amusing. There were large number
of women ON this floor and all rushed
pell NELL out of their rooms, clothed
only in their night robes, shreking and
falling on one another's necks. As
many as could find shawls wrapped
themselves up and were taken to the
parlor OF the Hollenbeck, where they
were comfortably cared for, and to the
receiving hospital at the city Jail.
The men of the house, with the as
sistance of what few outsiders had
arrived on the scene, got out the furni-
ture in the rooms nearest the blaze and
stored it in the hall, but they were sub
sequently driven away and compelled to
leave all they had apparently rescued,
to burn.
THE FIRES PROGRESS.
The progress Of the fire was most
rapid. AS stated before, its origin was
in the kitchen and near the stove Of the
restaurant. This kitchen was in
wooden addition extending over the rear
thirty feet OF the lot. Passing into the
brick building, the flames soon burst
through the ceiling OF the first floor and
cracked merrily in the rooms so recent
ly occupied by the dodgers.
ENGINES AND WATER SLOW.
For some reason the engines were
slow to arrive. 1t was fully ten min
utes after the alarm was turned inAbeA-
fore the first stream was got on to the
fire, and even after the engines had ar
rived at their stations there was long,
tedious wait for steam. Men about the
building stated that fully twenty min
utes elapsed between the turning in OF
the alarm and the arrival of the engine.
Whatever the exact time may have been
it was certainly long wait.
LOSSES ON THE FIRST FLOOR.
The Pacific Slope restaurant at 140.
South Spring street was completely
gutted. The fire broke out in the rear
of this place and burnt the inside out.
Very little OF the contents was saved.
The loss will not exceed $1,000, which is
fully insured, one policy for $500 being
in the Southern California company.
The store adjoining is occupied by
number Of firms. The Gurney Cab COM
pany have their offices there. There is
also a lapidary store run by Mr..
Mescher, the ticket Office of Chicago
and Rock Island agency and
the printing establishment OF
Sutton. Fred Smith and several other
volunteers got nearly everything out of
value. The entire loss OF the occupants
of this store will be less than $500. e
The Gable grocery story of Anderson
Il Chanslor which adjoins was badly
burnt in the rear and consider able OF
the stock was either burnt or damaged.
They carried stock of about $4,000,
and their loss at a rough estimate is liza
BILE to foot up $4,000. The insurance
will cover the loss.
Jerren's tailor store on the one aide
and Laux drug store on the other, were
not damaged even by the water.
The Rock Island road office, of which
+. w. Thompson is the agent and e. j.
Morris passenger agent, was damaged to
the extent of $1,000.
LOSSES ON THE SECOND FLOOR,
The upstairs of the Solomon block was
rented by Mrs. Paynter. Among the
occupants, in addition to the Paynter
family, were: w. M. Short, the artist
Doree, the engraver; Robinson, the
California employment agent; DR..
Charles w. Bryson; Harris & Dukeman,
the jewellers. and Miss Lulu Clark and
her aunt, Miss l.. Holderly.
The front rooms occupied by Harris &
Dukeman were visited by the flames,
and at this writing it is thought that all
the jewelry and material not in
the fire safe is destroyed. Mr..
Harris was seen by HERALD
reporter while the flames were rushing
out the Windows. "We had a stock of
about ten thousand dollars. The dia-
monds and other valuables are locked
up in the safe. We carried an insurance
OF $500 on the goods not locked up in
the safe."
w. M. Short had number of valu-
able pictures in his studio. one being
valued at $500. His loss will probably
aggregate $4,000 and is partially insured.
DIR. Charles w. Bryson occupied two
rooms. Very little was saved. His
valuable library was destroyed, in addi-
tion to variety of instruments. The
property was not insured. His loss will
be in the neighborhood of $4,000.
Miss Lulu CLARK and her aunt, Mrs.
Holderly, saved their trunks, but the
piano belonging to Miss Clark was dam
aged. This will be great loss to the
young lady, as she was music teacher
by profession and was dependent
on the piano for her liveli-
hood. The piano might have
been saved, but it was thought that the
fire would not reach the room. p.
Al 49, \ ~