The herald., 1897-09-17
The Residence of Ira o.
Smith Destroyed
THELoss AMOUNTS TO $4,000
MATHEWS PAINT STORE IN
GREAT DANGER
A Fireman Injured at the Adams
Street Fire-Officer Fowle's Find
on Main Street

The firebug is at work. Ample evil
dence was secured last night and this
morning of the nefarious crime of in
cendiarism as far apart as 636 West
Adams street and 23O South Main street
What the motive in either case could
have been other than unadulterated
deviltry has not yet been brought to
light. About eighteen thousand
dollars went up in smoke out on
Adams street between II p. m. and /
a. m. and nothing remains of Ira o.
Smiths handsome residence and effects
beyond gutted walls. The fortunate
passing by and prompt action Of Officer
Fowler prevented a probably still more
disastrous fire in the heart of the city.
Ira o. Smiths handsome residence at
636 West Adams street has been unoc-
cupied during the summer save for one
servant. Mr.. and Mrs. Smith returned
from Long Beach on Wednesday. The
family retired early last night, and the
first intimation they had that the house
was burning was when the maid rushed
up stairs and into Mr.. and Mrs. Smiths
room at II o'clock screaming Fire!
fret"
The house was already full of smoke,
and it seemed as If the whole basement
in the rear ard on the east
side was on fire. There was no time to
think of saving any property and Mr..
and Mrs. Smith hurried down the stairs,
and after cropping about in the smoke,
eventually found their way out at the
front door. clad only in their might
clothes. Already the flames had at
tanned great headway and were licking
their way up around the caves in several
places.
Mr.. Smith hurried to the rear Of the
building where there was a garden hose
and attempted to couple this to small
hydrant. He then discovered that the
coupling where it joins the hydrant had
been cut off.
BY this time Police Officer Loomis had
nearest telephone box and turned in an
alarm. The fire was burning so fierce
ly that it was not thought safe to VEN
ture inside the house or make any at
tempt to save any of the property The
officer on his return could plainly de-
tect the smell of kerosene, and was also
able to see that the fire had been started
in several different places.
A few minutes after the fire was dis
covered the flames reached a small room
where a lot of guns and ammunition
were stored. There were 1000 loaded
shotgun cartridges in the room, and they
began to explode, spreading consterna-
ton among the crowd which had by
this time collected around the burning
building.
Three companies from the fire de-
partment were soon on hand, and be-
gan playing their streams upon the
fire. Chief Moore directed the opera
tions Of the men, who worked like Tro
JAMS Captain I. ]. Mcdonald of chem.
Iical engine No. was seriously hurt by
falling from the roof of one of the
porches, injuring his neck and spine.
The flames lit up the skies for sew
eral miles and large crowd collected.
Mr. and Mrs. Smith were taken to Major
Bonebrake's residence, at 2619 Figueroa
street.
They were seen there early this morn
ing by reporter. Mrs. Smith was almost
overcome by the shock. Speaking Of the
fire, Mr.. Smith said: ''There is no ques-
tion that the house was set on fire by
some one who intended to burn us out,
but l am at a loss to know whom to sus
pect. l didn't think that had an enemy
in the world. We hardly know how to
estimate our loss. No money value can
ever repay us for what we have lost in
valuable collections made by ourselves
in Europe and in this country. I also
priced my library beyond any monetary
value. The original contract price OF the
house was $4,000. The furniture cost
more and every bit of it has been de-
stroyed. My loss is at least $4,000.
Mrs. Smith and l escaped with our
lives in our nightgowns, and are thank
full to have got out at all. The house was
insured several years ago, and l don't re-
member what was the amount, although
l am sure that it was small. We never
paid much attention to insurance, as we
were so secluded that we hardly ever
thought of fire. .
The building was left standing, though
the whole interior was gutted by the
flames, and what is left of the structure
is practically worthless.
At about the fire started it Is reported
that a man was seen running from the
rear Of the house and along the street to
Adams street, where he turned off. 1t
was dark and no description of the man
| could be secured.