The herald., 1896-08-24
SATURDAY NIGHTS BIG FIRE
Details Of the ConiIagration at Colonel
Northam's Home
The Blaze Started ip the Attic and Worked
Oownward-The Building Totally De-
stroyed-Some Furniture Saved

Col. r. j. Northam, accompanied by
his wife and daughter Maud, arrived In
the city last evening from the ruins of
their home at La Mirada, which was
destroyed by fire on Saturday evening
Col. Northam was in the city when he
received telegram notifying him of the
disaster, but left on the first morning
train for the spot On arrival he found
that the message was all too true, and
that his beautiful and costly residence
had been burned to the ground, together
with the greater part of it's contents.
Saturday morning Col. Northam came
up to the city, and on the same train
by which he left Nine. Modjeska and
Count Bozenta came to pay call to
Mrs. Northam and daughter but only
stayed to lunch. going back to Anaheim
on the 2:30 train. Mrs. Northam and
daughter were still seated at the supper
table little after o'clock engaged in
game of casino, when they heard an
unusual noise and started to investigate
Mrs. Northam went out to the kitchen
ana. coming back. said she was sure
that she smelled smoke. At this Miss
Maud ran upstairs to see what was the
matter, but found nothing until she
opened door leading into the attic.
when volume of smoke poured forth.
which nearly strangled her.
She ran into the room and gathered
together few trinkets, CARRYING them
down stairs and telling hermother the
mouse was afire. Mrs. Northam ran to
the fire gong on the front porch and ran
the alarm, the servants quickly re-
spending, also several employees of An
drewMcNally, whose residence is near
by. The roof was by this time afire
and the sight of the blaze quickly
brought help from all directions. Nearly
everything on the lower floor was saved
from the fire except few pictures and
the carpets. There were two pianos on
this floor, one an instrument run by
electricity and very valuable. 1t took
thirteen men to carry this out, but It
was rescued in safety, together with an
ordinary style instrument, a small safe
which contained the family jewels and
plate, desks, sideboard and in fact
nearly everything of value
The fire started in the attic, presuma-
bly, from mice nibbling on matches.
Some time since workmen were engaged
in the attic fixing the electric wires and
probably left a bunch of matches lying
around, which became ignited in some
manner. The blaze could not have orr
ginated from cross electric wires, as
in that case the lights would have gone
reached the wires. AS the flames Sc
cured a stronger hold on the house
they communicated to the tank house
near by which contained two large
tanks which hold the water supply, the
ice or refrigerating machine, an electric
motor and dynamo and storage bat
terry, all expensive machinery, also
gas machine. When the tank house
caught fire an attempt was made to
save this apparatus but in trying to get
out the refrigerating machine the pipes
were broken and the released ammon-
iacal gas drove everybody from the
place and everything was a total loss.
The carriage house, situated some $50
feet from the residence. several times
seemed on the point of catching fire,
but by keping men on the roof sweeping
off the burning embers it was saved.
Mr.. Northam says that, even allowing
for the goods that were saved, his loss
will amount to fully $4,000, which is
fully covered by insurance. At present
he Is domiciled with his family in apart
ments in the Baker block in this city.
The place will be rebuilt at the earliest
possible momer1. and Mr.. Northam will
today begin figuring on the construction
OF his new residence.