The herald., 1895-04-15
The Hotel Raymond Consumed
by Flames
STARTED BY DEFECTIVE FLUE
The Loss Will Amount to Nearly Half a
Million
Very Fortunately Nobody Was Hurt and
Host of the Guests Saved Their Personal
Effects-Some Exciting Scenes
During the Progress Of the
Great Blaze

The RAYMOND Hotel was turned into
pile of smoking ruins yesterday after
noon. Shortly after S o'clock the building
took fire at tho southwest corner of the
roof and within an hour there was
nothing left of the big building but the
brick chimneys. They were so cracked
and warped by the heat that the high
wind threatened to overturn them every
minute.
There was never the slightest hope OF
saving the hotel after che flames were
discovered. Had hundred engines been
on the spot and had the whole
Pacific Ocean been squirted at the
big bonfire the water would hard
" have quenched it. The wind
and the flames were out for II frolic, and
hand in hand they romped over and along
the roof, darting up the towers, cree ping
in the windows, eating up the dry WOO
of the walls as though it had been satu-
rated with Kerosene. There was some
attempt made to check the flames. but
that was soon given over as useless.
Feeble streams from the hotel hydrants
were directed against the burning walls.
but the water was turned into steam be-
fore it hit the flames. A few scattering
scorching blaze. A Babcock extnguisher
or two were put into operation and some
body suggested that bucket brigade
be formed. The department from Pasa-
dena was summoned, and made quick
time to the hotel. But the couplers
would not fit the hydrants, and the en-
gines were absolutely worthless for that
reason. Then the chemical engine was
charged and emptied, but the suffocating
gas might just as well have been saved.
1t did not take anybody more than about
a minute to make up his mind that
time used in efforts to extinguish the fire
was but wastedst and then everybody
turned in and tried to save something,
The Raymond was located on bluff a
mile or two from Pasadena. and was en-
trely separate from any other building.
The western wind had beautiful chance
to sweep it, and the flames were carried
like flash from the starting point.
Nobody's life was lost and nobody was
hurt which was little short of miraculous.
There were about 12O guests staying at
the hotel. and perhaps as many servants.
men and women. Considerable property
was saved, but a great deal had to be
abandoned.
1t was perhaps half-past three when
number of guests in order to get away
from the disagreeable wind that was
blowing gustily in from the west, carry
ing in it's artas bushels of dust and dirt,
had gone inside. They were lounging
about the Offices ana parlor, and amusing
themselves in various ways, when a small
boy, with red face and frigh tened eyes,
ran in and up to the clerks desk.
'Say, mister" he painted to Cashier
Bean. "do you know the hotel is burning
down.
Mr.. Bean did not know it and he did
not quite believe it even after he was told.
The boys message created somewhat of
panic among the guests who overheard
it, and General Wentworth, the manager.
ran hurriedly up.
What's that you say?" he demanded
and without waiting for an answer darted
out OF the door to see for himself. He
had hoped that the lad was only playing
trick of some sort, but the news was
true. The red sheets of flame streaked
with the white smoke quickly told him
that, and told it more emphatically every
second.
Then for moment there was confu-
clerks, men and women, began to shout
fire at the top of their voices Some of
them stood there and yelled at the flames
like King Canute did at the sea, as
though they would stop at the sound of
their voices
Then as was natural came the efforts to
check the blaze, but they were soon
abandoned. Somebody suggested that it
Il l,a III,
something. and notify those who were in
their rooms and who knew nothing of the
conhagration. At once messengers were
sent all through the halls shouting and
knocking at doors.
One man was sitting IN his room writ
ing letter. A porter poked his head in
the door. 1.-The hotels OH fire." he
shouted.
What?" said the man.
THE hotels burning down." repeated
the porter excitedly.
You don't say SO, 3" said the man and
he went on writing his letter.
IF you don't go down you'll be burned
too, yelled the porter.
Are you in earnest?" queried the in
credulous writer.
''Of course / am. Hurry or you won't
be able to get out"
Just then a tongue Of flames darted
past the window where the man was sit
ting. That was evidence enough for him.
Dropping everything he rushed outside
to take look at the flames. Then it oc.
cAn'ed to him that he had saved none of
his effects, ana he started back but it
was too late.
After the first excitement there was
very little confusion. Everybody knew
that the whole hotel was going to be
burned. and to be burned mighty fast.
Those who were on the top floor had