The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1894-06-30
RECHERCHE ON FIRE.
The Former House of All Ma
tions" Damaged $4,000.
Costly Tapestries and Furniture
Burned Like finder.
Watchmen Have Lived in the House
Since the Police Closed 1t.

The Hotel Recherche, formerly known
as The House of All Nations" a mag
nificently appointed house. opened by
Nine. Emma Charles. and closed in a
very short time by the police was dam
aged to the extent of $4,000 by fire early
this morning.
The hotel consists OF four houses
numbered III to l23 West Thirty-second
street They are three-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. Schmittbergcr, 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, II Waterman for the
New York Cab Company, which Is
across the street from the hotel. saw a
pun of white smoke ascending from the
roof of the building. At the same time
U
He 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. SO Wharton turned In an
alarm.
basement of No. III. The house at 10
| West Thirty third street Is separate
| from No. III by a three-foot alleyway.
and the two houses are connected by
covered passageway.
When the iiremen arrived the flames
had extended through the passageway
to the basement and ground floor Of the
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.
the antique ak-finished halls and the
fantastically designed paper mache cell
labors of the fremen. the walls OF these
lower rooms were set with marble and
Mexican onyx, that becoming red hot
burst and flew around l in shower shoWers
white and gold enamelled furniture. the
bric-a. brac and the antique chandeliers
When Deputy Chief Purroy saw the
dangerous location of the fire, and Its
possible extent. he sent out second
alarm.
The fire-fighters worked with great
energy for an hour. and succeeded In
combining the flames to the rear OF
the house where they started.
y Fire ratFG t Me- NTH eap pnd
ments with tarpaulins:
1t is supposed that the fire was caused ,ssi
by the crossing OF the electric light
lions Of the house are of such deli.
cate nature that a mere spark was all
that was necessary to set them afire;
The watchmen say that Mrs. Charles
has not been near the hotel for weeks.
the sporting man. Waterman Davis
says that Mrs. Adams called and went
through the place a week ago. but
Some time ago the houses were en-
tirely rearranged. rented and renamed
/ the Hotel Recherche by Mrs. Emma
Charles It is SAID sad that the In, interior lor
s sss ,SSo ana the furniture COST ner
The previous reputat ton OF the house
was against II; and Capt sehmitt-
days of the Tenderloin were at an end
ordered the place to be closed.
The last days of the old house were
marked by adversely, Notwithstanding
.
AS soon as It was learned the police
had set their heavy hand upon II. the
! We're 5uasmeets for . nn PS gas n.taTes
for carpets, for lace and silk curtains
and half hundred other things.
A Sheriff's sale was advertised to
take place on Feb !, but Mrs. Charles
called on Sheriff Clancy the day before
with a certified check and satisfied most
of the judgments against her.
Nine. Charles was sued In the City
! Court to-day by Buchanan Brothers,
coal dealers, to recover 1921 40 for fuel
furnished between April q. 1892. and Jan.
II, 1894.
Edward McCarton attempted to serve
her with the summons and complaint at
her house. III West Thirty-second street.
on June 2. but was told by a woman
there that she wasn't in.
Judge Van Wyck granted an order OF
substituted service to-day, and process
server will probably tack 1t on the
madam's door.