The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-08-15

Oakland's Fine Landmark
Destroyed.
IT'S BURNED TO THE GROUND
Loss Estimated at $4,000 With
Only $4,000 lnsurance-The
Origin Unknown.

Tubbs' Hotel, on Twelfth street, be-
tween Fourth and Fifth avenues, was
burned to the ground last night.
The building and furniture were valued
at $50, 900. The insurance Is something
over $4,000.
A general alarm of fire was rung in from
box 45 at $50 o'clock. The entire depart
ment turned out and vigorous fight was
instituted against the flames. but with
little success. The entire hotel building
was burned to the ground and the greater
part of the furniture was also lost.
There were twenty guests staying at the
house, but fortunately all escaped unin-
jured.
All efforts to fix the origin of the fire are
futile. as the flames broke out in the upper
part of the utheast tower in an un occu-
pied room. From this vantage point the
fire ran rapidly around the entire roof until
the upper part OF the building was circle
of blazing rafter+. The building occupied
an entire 800 foot block. It's side extension
was about 26O feet and its front 225 feet.
The hotel was leased by Paul Marony
was largely refurnished at an expense of
$4,000. Mr. Marony was living with his
family at the hotel
With the destruction Of the Tubbs Hotel
there disappears one OF the most note
worthy landmarks of Oakland 1t was
built in 1870 By Hiram Tubos of the Tubhs
Cordage Company of San Francisco. 1t
cost originally 500. eco, the building alone
being erected at an expense of $4,000.
At that time it was considered one Of the
most imposing structures in this part of
California. It's 200 rooms were filled with
travellers and mining men. When the
great mining booms Of the los were at
their height the Tubbs' was the favorite
rendezvous of spectators and mining
men.
Many "reminiscences were heard among
the prominent men who crowded about
last night and watched the big building
sink into ruins For some time it has not
teen a paying investment, and the few
guests who stayed there were fearful of
the very fate that overlook it last night.
Mr.. TuhbS. who owned the building at
the time of its destruction. was an eye
witness of the fire from his house. directly
across the avenue. He spoke very nerv-
ously when interviewed by CALL re-
porter, shifting his inevta Die cigar in his
mouth and recalling regretfully the good
old days Of gold whom his hotel had been
the scene of gayety and animation.
The entire insurance was carried by Mr..
Dingee of Oakland.
After its completion the hotel was
opened by Michael Tubbs. the father OF
Hiram Tubs. the owner. and man
named Palten, and in the years succeeding
it was run by various men. After TubbS
and Patten came kellogg. who was run
ming the house during the mem orable visit
of Grant to this coast.
In those days and the flush times of the
stock excitement the house was the scene
of many brilliant gatherings of notable
people, jim Keene of stock fame and Fill
more, the railroad man. and numerous
others being located beneath its roof.
Following the kellogg reign was that of
Lawlor, then came in rapid succession
Stevenson. who skipped out with his cham
bermaid to the north Then came Meri.
dtli Davis, a man who furnished many
good tories for the newspapers and COS
sips. who hieG him to Chicago.
The place had ceased paying long since.
but the beautiful grounds about the place
and the house itself were we'll kept Up and
it was decided ornament to East Oak
land, and was pointed to with pride by
residents in the neighborhood.
The owner. Hiram Tubbs, smooth faced
old gentleman, stood in his handsome resi-
dence opposite and looked longingly to-
Il thon H,,
lit up the skies for miles licked up the tow
ers of tho building and ate their way into
the ornamental woodwork that crumbled
before it fell to the ground in blazing fagots.
Twill you rebuild the house?' Mr..
Tubbs was asked by the reporter.
"Oh, no, no." said the old man as he
shook his mead.
Some small part of furniture on the
lower floor was saved. but that in the
upper part of the building is all lost. The
alarm was turned in by w. }. Melvin, a
druggist across the street. who saw first
tiny blaze licking its way out of the south
east tower near the very roof. and 1t is not
known exactly how it did start. 4 de-
fective flue was mentioned. but Mr.. Tubbs
shook his head.
When asked If he thought 1t was in
cendiary he said: II do not know; the
hues were in good condition through the
entire house, and we never had any trouble
from that SOURCE"
The flames as they shot upward lit up
the surrounding country all about, and the
crowds Of people flocking to the fire from
every conceivable point were enormous.
Every streetcar and vehicle obtainable
Was pressed into service. but still very
many had to walk.
At midnight the fire was still burning.
and the innumerable black chimneys of
the building reared high above all and
looked down on a mass Of embers. all that
is left of an historical landmark.