The herald., 1896-08-23
BURNED TO THE GROUND
Col. R. j. Northam's Residence q Prey
to the Flames
Completely Consumed, Together With Its
Contents-Notified by Telegraph Late
Last Evening-Loss and Insurance

Col. r. ]. Northam last evening re-
ceived telegram in this city from his
wife. dated August 90 at La Mirada, his
palatial home near the border line of
Orange county, which read as follows:
Notify Col Northam Immediately
that his residence burned to the ground.
MRS. r. j. NORTHAM."
When the message was handed to Col.
Northam he took the matter coolly, read
it over calmly, and without apparent
excitement handed it to several by
ISLANDERS to peruse. This was his first
intimation of the disaster, and of the
particulars he knew nothing. He left
La Mirada on the 11:07 train yesterday
morning for this city, on which Count
Bozenta and Nine. Modjeska at the same
time arrived to pay visit to Mrs.
Northam and her daughter. Since that
time he had not heard from his home
until the telegram was handed him. He
was at loss to account for the fire, as
every precaution had been taken to
guard against accidents of that nature.
Col. Northams home at La Mirada
was one of the most sumptuous in
Southern California and was built re-
RdTuleSS Ol GApeuSS. He ItSlucHcS Coil-
tanned about fifteen rooms, each finished
in the finest manner. There were billiard
rooms and bowling alleys, private wine
cellars and a well-stOcked sideboard:
light for the premises was furnished
by two systems, gas and incandescer1t,
the plants for furnishing the same being
a part of the property. An ice machine
was located in the cellar which cooled
a huge refrigerating plant There was
an automatic electric piano and also one
of the ordinary variety, besides other
conveniences and luxuries innumerable.
The stables, which are widely separat-
ed from the residence and were not
burned, contain some of the finest Speci-
mems of horsefesh in this section. AS a
protection against fire, Mr.. Northam
had lines of hose all over the house
ready coupled, and, as the place had its
own complete system of waterworks, by
turning valve a stream could be di-
rected on any given spot in a few mo-
ments. There We're also hand grenadeS
and Babcock eXtinguishers in conven-
lent places, and Col. Northam is in
clined to believe that the blaze must
have been incerdiary, as he could not
see how it otherwise could have caught.
On the front porch was q huge gong
an alarm on which would bring six men,
who are employed about the premises, on
a run to extinguish fire or quell dis
turbance made by tramps. There were
two tanks near the house, which were
always kept full of water, raised by
gasoline engine or windmill, and how the
place could have burned was mystery
to him. .m si.a.f
Asked to place valuation on his prop
erty, Col. Northam said that he could not
replace the house and furniture short
of $4,000, which sum did not include any
of the bric-a-brac and other articles
which could not by any possibility be
replaced The amount of insurance
he did not know, but it would not nearly
cover his loss. Until he looked over his
policies he would be unable to tell the
exact amount. He was not worrying
over his loss; what will come must come
and he looked at the matter philosophi-
cally. On the first train this morning
he will go down to see what damage has
been done.
La Mirada, the site of Mr.. Northam's
home, is some nineteen miles from this
city on the railroad, and but few miles
this side of the border line of Orange
county. 1t lies between Santa Fe springs
and Northam station. The colonel is
noted for his hospitality, and his once
beautiful home, now in ashes, has been
by many conceded to be the finest of its
kind in this section of the state, or, in
deed, of the union.