The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1894-12-27
THE CLIFr noysE GONE.
Famous San Francisco Hoseelry Falls q
Prey 90 the FaMuaes.

Famous Sam Francisco H0seelry Falle q
Frey 20 the FLAMES.
i SAN Francisco, Dec 27.-The two
tottering chimneys, the carved lion
that stood guard at the stairway de.
scending to the lower floor, charred
timber and ashes are all that remain
OF the Cliff House. owned by Mayor.
elect Sutro. The remainder is remi.
niscent, for the Cliff House is q thing
OF the past.
A million dollar structure of steel
and stone will be erected i'm its stead.
Fire destroyed everything except q few
souvenirs, the mirrors and easily move.
able furniture. the silverware, choice
vintages and liquors and part of the
bar fixtures.
The fire was a hidden one between
ceilings and walls. II started from a
defective fiue. and when the flames
found vent, there was rush and a
roar OF fire that conld not be controlled.
Seals Sought Tsefage.
A sharp steady breeze from the
nor theast drove the flames and smoke
directly across the seal rocks. AS the
wind increased. the flames spread
oceanward in horizontal direction,
and sparks fell continuously ON the
breakers The seals hastily betook
themselves from the rocks and sought
refuge in the sea.
sutro's Rpgni6eent baths, the finest
10 !he World, adjoin the Cliff House,
and It was feared they too would be
demolished. Fortunately the wind
was in the opposite direction, and the
baths were saved.
- ann sorry, of course, that the
building Is burned, said Adolph Sutro.
"lt had become one OF the landmarks
OF the Pacific coast, and many prom.
inent people have been entertained
there. !"
Presidents Liked the Place.
Three OF Americas presidents have
watched the seals sport on the rocks,
and each Of them spent many hours ON |
the balconies that have disappeared
with the flames
Grant was the first of the trio. and
after him came Hayes, who thought his
visit not complete without watching |
the moods of the Pacific from the |
house. The next was Harrison. and he |
became SO enamored with the place
that ne spent many hours ON the bal.
comics.
Besides these celebrities, there have
been . number of titled people from
Europe, among them the MARQUIS Of /
Lorne, who. when he visited San Fran.
cisco, was governor general of Canada.
Each carried away many mementoes OF
the place. and they have frequently re-
ferred TO it In their letters and public
Now that it is gone and its de-
struction viii probably hasten the
erection OF the proposed hotel on Point
Looos. just when the work viii be.
gin, IL il impossible to tell. The hotel
scheme has not been fully matured.
1t had been my intention to bnild
the hotel further out ON the point. and
few hundred feet nearer the Golden
Gate, but now it may go on the site of
the old Ciiff House. It will depend
upon the size OF the building.
A hotel OF very large proportions
,ould not very well be built ON the ID.
safion OF the house just burned. but
here is room for good sized building
hat will answer all purposes. A fea,
'ure OF the new house win be an ele.
vator which viii take the visitors from
he walk ON the beach mp to the top of
he cliff and save the climb mn the
'teep grade. =