The record-union., 1892-10-12
DISASTROUS FIRE.
The Northwest Corner of Second and
J Streets in Ruins.
Narrow Escape of Lodgers From the
Roma Hotel-Other Buildings De-
stroyed-Gallant Fireman.

At l o'clock this morning a fire was
discovered in the dining-room of the
Roma Hotel, on the northwest corner Of
Second and streets.
William III. Govan and Frank Daroux
happened to pass the place on their way
nome when the flames broke out, and
rushing into the house aroused as many
OF the inmates as they could before the
heat and smoke drove them out.
Police Officer Ferral ran to Third and J
streets and turned in an alarm. There
was something the matter with the box,
and it was some time before he could get
the alarm sounded.
Meantime the flames spread rapidly
from that part of the building occupied
by the dining-room to the hotel proper.
Numbers Of citizens reached the scene,
and, tearing down an awning from
neighboring store, stretched it beneath
the small veranda on the east side Of the
hotel and caught dozens of dodgers as
they dropped from the second story of
the building. They had no time to dress
themselves, and were fortunate in escap-
ing with their lives.
When the department arrived few
moments later, ladders were thrown up
against the building, and about ten more
dodgers were taken out of the several
windows.
The fremen worked like Trojans.
They broke in through the windows
from the tops of the ladders, and despite
the suffocating smoke and heat, braved
through to the corridors, and dragged
dnzan in of ho
building.
Despite the heroic efforts of citizens
and firemen, however, it is believed that
several people persisted in the flames.
When the fire was at its hottest and the
firemen could no longer venture inside
screams could still be heard coming from
the interior Of the hotel.
Within fifteen minutes after the alarm
was turned in the entire hotel property,
despite the fact that it was of brick, was
virtually in ruins.
Chief Engineer Guthrie realizing this
fact-and that it was absolutely i'm
possible to get inside the building to
save any more lives should there be any
persons left in there-directed his men
to the adjoining buildings on the north
and on the west.
West of the hotel corner was the office
OF Sisson, Croker 81 Co., and this was
completely Quilted, although the desks
and other office property were moved out
before the flames reached the place.
Next to Sisson, Croker IL Co. on the
west was the plumbing establishment of
j. w. Guthrie on the ground floor and
clearinghouse above. These were also
badly burned, but the inmates of the
lodging-house all escaped fortunately.
w. II. Wood 81 Co.'s, next to Guthrie's.
was considerably scorched and damaged
by water, but otherwise escaped.
North of the hotel corner, next to the
diningroom, was the storehouse of Baker
& Hamilton. This building was soon in
flames, and baffled all efforts of the
fire laddies, as the place was securely
barricaded behind iron doors, and they
could not break their way in except from
the rear. They assaulted the latter place
and finally obtained an entrance, but it
was too late then to do anything but save
that portion of the store facing on J
street.
An unoccupied building, next to Baker
& Hamilton's on the north, on Second
street, next caught fire, and the interior
was rapidly consumed.
Hall, Luhrs q Co.'s splendid building
came next, but owing to a thick and un-
yielding brick wall the flames did not
get in and the building was saved.
The rear was well guarded in the alIey
back of the burning buildings by three
heavy streams, and thus a spread from
this quarter was prevented.
Sparks from the burning structure flew
in all directions, and the occupants of
neighboring buildings found it necessary
to use buckets and garden hose in lively
manner to prevent ignition. Now and
then the firemen found it necessary to
give these buildings a dousing to assist
the home guards.
Louis Caffaro, proprietor of the Roma
Hotel, loses about $4,000 by the fire;
Sisson, Croker & Co., about SIS, 500: Guth-
RE, s., 200, and Baker 81 Hamilton. S2O.-
600. 1t is believed that these amounts
only partially cover the loss on the prop
erty itself Most of the losers, however,
were moro or less protected by insurance.
George Smith, better known as "Big
Neck" did some heroic work during the
fire. 1t was he who procured the avn
ing, with which dozen or more persons
were caught from the second story of the
hotel. Afterward he assembled a ladder
put up by the fremen, and entered the
building, rousing the inmates, while the
smoke was so thick that it did not seem
that any living thing could breathe in it.
The fire department. never worked at
greater disadvantage, owing to the north
erly gale, the fierceness of the flames and
the density of the smoke, which the wind
swept down into the street. 1t was a
fierce battle bravely fought and the de-
partment won honors and commentator
without stint for the excellent manner
and the courage with which it managed
the fight. Fortunately the alley APP
proach on the west enabled the depart
ment to attack the conflagration in the
rear, as well as upon two other sides.
The buildings all being brick, enabled
the department to confine the fire to the
ouarter block between Hall & Luhr's
building and the corner of ] and Second
streets.
Twice, however, it seemed as if the
flames would cross Second street easterly
and southerly.
1t was narrow escape, for all the prop
erty lying between Second and Third
streets onJ.
The sparks flying and cinders at times