The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-10-25
PALACE ON FIRE.
A Hidden Blaze Causes
Trouble.
STARTS IN THE GRILL ROOM.
Timbers Burned Back of the
StuCCO.
FLAMES FOUGHT TWO HOURS.
Firemen's Axes, Smoke, Water and
Fire Cause Damage of Fifteen
Hundred Dollars.

The Fire Department battled with
blaze in the Palace Hotel for nearly two
hours last night before the flames could be
eXtinguished, and when the fire was
finally put out the hotel had sustained a
loss of nearly $500 from the effects Of the
flames, the blows of the fremen's axes
and the damage incident to water and
smoke.
Quite a crowd collected in the court and
the adjacent rooms when it became known
that the building was on fire. The more
timid of the guests FASTENED down stair
ways and elevators. though there was
nothing approaching panic. The en-
ployes on every floor assured the guests
that no danger need be feared.
At the outset S. NJ. Shortridge looked
over the balcony from an upper floor, and
withthat characteristic wave of his hand
plainly discernible through the smoke
which accompanies his arguments in court,
declared that Ii was nothing.
The fire started in the framework of the
grillroom, between the stucco and the
brick wall which separates that apart
menJ from the blliard-room. 1t was
probably due TO some impei lection in the
range connecting with the fiue. which
leads directly to the roof, though there are
some who assert that the electric wires
started the blaze.
1t was about 80 O'Clock when the cd or
Of smoke became TOO apparent to all In the
billiard-room, bar room and grilroOm TO
have any doubt that a fire was in progress.
A little investigation showed that the tim
bers back of the stucco had got beyond the
smoldering stage and were fairly ablaze.
Even then 1t was several minutes before
the city Fire Department was summoned,
as every one in authority seemed absent
from the hotel, and no one present ap-
peared to know just what to do.
By the time the fremen arrived the
smoke was binding in the court, and had
filled the halls and passageways on the
upper floors, entering many of the rooms
as well.
A hose was hastily carried from the
court to the grillroom. and the iremen
began their work. Ladders were placed
on the counter, and the axes made havoc
with the stucco and The tmbering. The
whole north wall of the grillToom, from
the door to the billiard-room TO the court,
was chopped and hacked. Chandeliers
came crashing down with the stucc0,
while curious crowd, which had quickly
gathered, watched the progress of the
wreckage. The first blows of the axes let
enough air into tie passages between the
stucco and the brick wall TO fan the sparks
into lively blaze. AS the hose played
upon one aperture tongues of fire would
leap out from anOtn6T vent maze Dy tie
tiremen's picks.
The fremen were at a great disadvan-
tage in fighting the hidden fire. A detach-
ment was sent to the story above, and thu
floor of one of the sleeping apartments, and
an entryway was ripped up and the hose
played from above on the blaze with no
marked success. It was only when the
whole stucco-face of the wall had been
pretty well battered away that any real
progress was made in checking the prog
ress of the fire.
Had the discovery of the fire came a
little later, when ii had progressed far
enough above to reach the open in the
rooms above. the experience of the Grand
Hotel of several years ago might have
been repeated and good portion OF the in
terror Of the Palace might have been de-
stroyed.
AS it was it was after 9 o'clock when the
firsmen left and the blaze was out. All
the interior woodwork along the brick
wall was found 10 be charred to a crisp.
The heavy oak holdings and cornices
will have TO be replaced as they are burnt
half through from within, and the repairs
will necessarily entail much labor
The grillrOom was picture of wreckaee,
broken glasses from the incaDdescent
lamps and broken chunks OF stucco were
lrod into the mosaic floor and the water
from the hose converted all into sticking
gritty paste.
The ceilings of both the billiard-room
and the griIlrOom are badly discoIored by
the smoke.
A similar fire occurred in the grillroom
some time ago, but was checked before it
reached the proportions of this one.