The evening world., 1894-06-30
RECHERCHE ON FIRE.
The Former House Of All Ma
tions" Damaged $4,000.
Costly Tapestries and Furniture
Burned Like finder.
wntchmen Have Lived in the House
Since the Police Closed II.

The Hotel Recherche. formerly known
as THE House of All Nations" a mag
nificcntly appointed house. opened by
| Nine. Emma Charles. and closed In a
very short time by the police. was dam
aged to the extent OF $1,000 by fire early
this morning
The hotel consists OF four houses
numbered liz to i23 West Thirty-sccond
street. They are threc-story brick build
ings. Besides these. there are three
other three-story buildings in the rear
OF No. III. that extend back to Thirty
third street.
Since the house was closed, three
months ago. by Capt, Schmittberger. IT
is said to have been unoccupied. Will
lam Davis and Charles Guy, private
watchmen. have been alone In the place
watching the beautiful paintings. the
marvellous mirrors. the wondrous bed
steads and all the other gorgeous trap
pings.
Just after 3 o'clock this morning
Thomas Wharton. n Waterman for the
New York Cab Company, which is
across the street from the hotel. saw
pun OF white smoke ascending from the
roof OF the building. At the same time
he caught the odor of burning cloth:
lie ran across the street and hammered
on the door of No. ll9 and aroused
Davis, who was asleep there.
Both men tried. but could not locate
the fire, although the house was filled
with smoke. 50 Wharton turned in an
alarm.
The ,iremen located the flames in the
basement OF No. III The house at no
from No III by "A three-foot allsyway.
and the two houses are connected by
covered passageway.
When the fremen arrived the flames
had extended through the passaseway
to the basement AMI ground floor OF the
rear house.
There was considerable trouble In get
ting line of hose strung. for since the
house has been closed the furniture and
fittings OF the front house have been
packed together and covered with can
vas. They occupied nearly all the space
In the front rooms
BY the time the first hose was In
working order the flames had gained
considerable Roadway in the basement.
fantastically designed paper-mache cell
ings burning like finder. To add to the
labors of the tiremen. the walls OF these
lower rooms were set with marble and
Mexican onyx, that becoming red hot
burst and flew around In showers.
The upper stories were flooded. and the
white and gold enameilei furniture, the
bric-a bra and the antique chandeliers
melted like wax.
When Deputy Chief Purroy saw the
dangerous location of the fire. and its
possible extent. he sent out Il second
alarm.
The nre-nghters worked with great
energy for an hour. and succeeded In
combining the flames to the rear OF
the house where they started:
Fire Patrol No. 9, with Capt. Raffer-
ty, covered the furniture and orna-
ments with tarpaulins.
1t is supposed that the fire was caused
wires In the basement. The decora-
lions OF the house are OF SUCH dell,
cate nature that mere spark was all
that was necessary to set them afiree;
of the buildings We're not Quilted.
The watchmen say that Mrs. Charles
has not been near the hotel for weeks.
the houses nre ownsI by Al Ada nY
says that Mrs. Adams called and went
through the place a week ago. but
since then no one has been near II.
Some time ago the houses were en-
tirely rearranged, refittcd and renamed
the Hotel Recherche by Mrs. Emma
Charles. 1t Is said that the interior
decorations and the furniture cost her
SEQ, 900.
The previous reputation OF the house
was against it.. and Capt. Sshmitt-
berber. considering that the Bohemian
ordered the place to be closed.
The last days OF the old house were
| marked by adversely, Notwithstanding
| Its elegance.
| As soon az II was learned the police
had set their heavy hand upon 1t. the
| judgments began to pour in. There
were judgments for unpaid gas fixtures,
| for carpets. for lace and silk curtains
and half n hundred other things.
| A Sheriff's sale was advertised TO
take place on Feb. l. but Mrs. Charles
called on Sheriff Clancy the day before
with n certified check and satisfied all
| the judgments against her.