The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-02-09
DRIVEN OUT BY FIERCE FLAMES,
Thrilling Escape of the Inmates
of a Hotel.
Stairways Blocked by Smoke and
Fire.
Desperate Daring of = Man In Shot
Tower-LsspIng Through Fire
to Salty.

were driven from their Dede Dy nre IN
the Royal hotel on Adams street at 5
o'clock this morning. All OF them mar
rowly escaped death. and all Of them
suffered intensely from the cold. The
Royal hotel lie four-story brick build
ing. The fire was discovered BY Mrs.
Brown, the housekeeper. She was
awakened BY the sound OF breaking
glsss, and found her room full OF smoke,
and opening her door saw the room be-
yond in flames. She Immediately
aroused the other occupants Of the hotel,
and all rushed to escape, not stopping
for clothes or any other possessions.
Only one narrow stairway led from
the hotel to the street. Escape by that
route was cut off BY the fire. The
flames roared up the dry wooden stair
way to the second floor, aud were eating
their way rapidly through every floor OF
the building. The only port of egress
left to the occupants Was the fire escape
down the front OF the building. In set-
ting ont OF the building all were more
or less injured.
Mrs. J. H. Wilson was the first one
out, and she fell part way down the fire
escape and was badly cut and bruised.
All the others were carried out by fire.
men, and several of them were severely
injured. Maggie Bryan and Maggie
Daniels were the worst hurt They
were on the top floor, and all their hair
was burned off and their hands were
cut In fighting their way through win.
dows.
| IN A SHOT TOWER.
| NEw YORK, Feb. ga FIRE started
last night in the shot tower OF latham
Bros. 225 feet above tho street. and
Frederick Erickson. who found himself
made prisoner at that height by the
flames. had thrilling escape. Frank
Foy, superintendent Of the shot room.
was with Erickson in the tower. Foy
descended the circular stairway while
Erickson went up to the top floor for
something. As he reached the head OF
the topmost stairway an explosion ooc.
Cured at one OF the lower floors and a
ErickHon's descent by the stairway and
he ran to a window, but started back
appalled,. It meant instant death to
Jump 10 the roof OF the main building,
90 he once more faced the fire. Steady.
ing himself for u moment he sprang
through the flames to the landing below
him. He was unhurt and at once
leaped to the next floor. A second
time he landed safely.
On the next landing the flames were
thick but the desperate man never fal.
tered for moment. Below the next
floor he saw safety, and once more
leaped for life. He landed in mass oil
fame, through which he rushed madly
and sprang down the stairway with his
clothes afire. Help was waiting fol
him, and Superintendent Foy and sew
eral other workmsn soon had his burn
ing garments torn from him.
Erickson was then carried down the
ten flights of stairs to the street level.
The men were passed ON the way by a
procession Of fremen, who elm bed the
ascent dragging with them line of
hose that had to be heightened at every
landing. The fremen finally reached
the landing beneath the fire and a
strong stream Of water was soon playing
on the flames. 1t was found that the
FIRE was caused by the explosion of an
oil furnace in which the lead for shot
ia melted.
The only way the firemen could fight
the flames WAS from the interior Of the
| tOWoIS no lIOm tu0 nix hu~
joining building would not have been
effective. 1. Ia said that Erickson
condition 10 serious. The loss to the
property will only amount to couple Of
thousand dollars.
THROUGH FIvE-sroRY BUILDING.
New YORK, Feb. Sire started short
ly alter l O'Clock this morning in the
fve-story building on the sonth west cor.
ner of Ganoavoort and West streets,
occupied by the Stevens brass foundry
and other business frma. The fire began
on the top floor and burned down to the
third. Immediately adjoining the fac
tory is the Manhattan lodging house. in
which SO men were sleeping. They
were awakened by the patrolman, and
all got out without difficulty. The loss
10 about $50, 1000.
BANGOR. Me-, Feb. 8.-Ths highest
tide ever known here flooded ware
houses along tine river this morning,
Stacking the lime and started fire
which trestens the business section Of
the city.
CMoINNATI, Feb. S,--The Japan de-
partment Of the American Oak Lsathe I
company's extensive works is burning.
The loss is likely to be very large.