The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-04-15

Los Angeles. Cal. April 1.-THE
hotel Raymond at Pasadena. ten miles
from Los Angeles, was totally des-
troyed by fire at $50 this afternoon.
Not a stick of the famous resort is
left.
The hotel was crowded with tourists.
but they all escaped with their lives
although wardrobes and other possess
sions were entirely consumed. The
cause of the fire is not yet known.
The Raymond was one of the most
famous health resorts in the United
States
In less than an hour from the time
the fire was first discovered in the
cupola at the southwest corner of the
building. the huge wooden structure
was level with the ground, and the
only thing left standing to mark the
spot was the tall brick chimney of the
furnace
The fire was discovered at 3:20 by
boy on the outside. who saw a cloud of
smoke issuing from the windows of
the cupola on the fourth story. The
alarm was at once given, but the
flames burst forth before a drop of
water could be brought. and the strong
WIND. almost gale. which had been
blowing all day, carried the flames at
an alarming rate. There was no hope |
tor the building from the start.
Saved But Little.
There were about $50 guests in the |
hotel, 100 of whom were members OF |
the Car Accountants association, |
whose special train stood at Raymond |
station. The guests acted in an order |
~ manner. and soma succeeded in
saving a few personal effects, though |
most of them lost everything in the
building.
No one was injured seriously. but in
trying to save something a few were
burnt about the face and hands and
one guest was well shaken up in
jumping from the roof of the veranda.
The electric fire alarm was sounded in
each room as soon as the fire was dis
covered. and in less than ten minutes
every person had left except a few
men-servants who tried to save the
trunks. The hotel was supplied with
hire apparatus. but no one remained
to work it as the heat was too intense.
The hotel Raymond was built in 1884
by Walter Raymond. of the firm of
Raymond & Whitcomb excursion COM
pany. which has hotels in New Eng
land and Colorado also. The great
building stood on an eminence over
looking the San Gabriel valley.
The cost of the building was almost
O half million dollars and the furni-
tuTe cost $4,000. The building and
furniture were insured for 100000 in
Boston. New York and San Francisco
companies.
Cause a Mystery.
Colonel w. E. Wentworth, the resi-
dent manager of the hotel. was in the
office Of the hotel when the alarm was
turned in He cried like a, child as the
flames from the huge structure went
skyward. but later he was concerned
only for the comfort of the guests and
the army Of servants employed about
the place. Many Of the guests and
most of the servants went at once to ,
the Green hotel in Pasadena. where /,
quarters were secured for them.
The servants were mostly imported
from Boston and other New England
points. They lost the greater part of
their effects and are left destitute. I
Colonel Wentworth said they will be {
cared for and returned to their homes I
n the east.
There is a mystery about the origin !,
If the fire. though the accepted theory
S a defective fiue. The building was J
lighted throughout with electricity
rom plant in the basement.
Tonight, great crowd Of curiously
Inclined sightseers are gathered around
he smoldering pile. which represents Z
Ill that is left of what was probably
i 100000 worth Of property at noon. 4
May Be Rebuilt. =
The general impression is that the Q
otal hotel will be rebuilt at once. 1t n
vas an important factor in the Ray .
Excursion company's c
Jig enterprise and was opened each s
winter under the management of t
,olonel Wentworth while Wentworth
iall in the New Hampshire hills,
amous summer resort under the com
anys management was closed. The r
anne servents were used in each hotel.