The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-08-06
Fred Beaver, the Insurance
Man, Had Narrow Escape
From Death.
IN OVERTURNED LAMP THE CAUSE.
Heroic Efforts We're Made to Bx-
tinguish the Hungry Flames, but
All Was in Vain.

Where but few hours ago stood one oil
the most popular hu2tsmen's rendezvous
in Cahfornia-the Table Mountain House
is now blackened and smoking waste.
This lofty resort which was located on
the peak of the mountain after which ii
was named, about twelve miles due north
west of Cazadero, was burned 10 the
ground Wednesday night, and that sew
eral lives were not sacrificed in the disas-
ter is attributed to the sparing hand OF
Providence by those who escaped.
Supper was over, the hunters, who ha p
pened TO be guests of the place al the time,
we're smoking and exchanging stories OF
their several experiences of the day; the
kitchen and diniug-room had been cared
away and made ready for the morning,
and it would not have been a great while
sre all would have retired for the night.
Mrs. Fred Ingram, the estimable house
keeper OF the establishment, had but one
more little duty to perform before she
gould call her days work done, and the
fultillment OF that task came near beng
her last act in life. She had to put out
the lamps in the dining-room. One of
these was a large swinging Rochester Of
the kind that are so much in vogue at all
country resorts; and in order 10 reach 1t
Mrs. Ingram was compelled to mount
chair. In attempting to do this the lady
bumped her head against the lamp and
threw it out OF its supporting frame.
With a crash it went to the floor, and in
second the burning kerosene was running
IN fiery rivu!ets about the room, igniting
the carpet. furniture, curtains and every
thing with which 1t came in contact.
Mrs Ingram dreamed for he p. and it
was but moment before the i've gentle
men guests, the lady's husband, Mr.. In
gram, and Mr.. Stemple, the proprietor of
the hotel, had rushed into the dining
room and were doing every thing in their
power to smother the hungry flames.
But, despite their promptness and heroic
efforts they could not even retard the
fire, much less less eXtinguish il. Caught
and carried bv an unfortunate draught
the fire swept up the staircase lead ng to
the two upper floors, and in a winkliUg
the entire structure was converted into a
roaring and seethlng mass.
1t was EoW a case of the fire-fghters
looking out for their lives rather than the
safety of property. The warning to re-
treat was given by Mr.. Stemple, and
every body made a dash for the outside.
The place had become so choKed with
smoke and so sitting with heat that es-
cape was anything brit an easy feat.
Fred Beaver of this City, general agent
panv, became blinded and partly suffoca-
ted by the smoke and before he succeeded
in gro ping his way to the exit portion
OF his clothes was burned off and his mus
tache and eyebrows were singed TO the
flesh.
Mr.. Ingram, who made de $perate dash
into the burning building with the hope
of saving some of MS and mis- wifes effects,
also had "a narrow escape from being
burned TO death. Like Nj. B aver he was
partly overcome by the smoke aud heat,
ami when rescued was found TO have been
severely burned about the face and hands,
while his clothes were literally burned
off his body.
When all were safely out OF the roaring
and cracking structure, there was moth
ing for the refugees to do but to watc
from safe distance the rapid and re-.
morseless work OF destruction. The only
supply OF water on the mountain ca me
from a small pump that yielded but little,
and besides was so close to the burning
hotel that no one dared approach it.
With what little bedd ing that had been
rescued from the doomed structure, and
after nothing but a pile Of glowing en-
bers were left to mark the spot where
hundreds of hunters had dressed their
game, the little party of outcasts made
itself as comfortable as was possible un-
der the circumstances for the night be-
meath the trees.
The guests, as well as the hotel people,
lost nearly all of their effects. John q.
Edwards the well-known publisher of the
Coast Review, lost $500 watch, suit OF
clothes and quite a large sum OF money.
He and Mr.. Beaver were on hunting
trip together. Both gentlemen are be-
wailing the fact that the fire deprived
them of two fine big bucks they had slain
Wednesday morning, and had left in a
cool place beneath the hotel water-tank.
They con der themselves fortunate, how
ever, in having saved their guns, both OF
which are quite valuable The other
guests OF the mountain resort, besides
Messrs. Beaver and Edwards, were DIR.
townsend, Mr.. Day and MIR. Hall, all OF
this City.
II have seen a few fires in my time, but
| never saw anything burn so rapidly as
did this one" said Mr.. Edwards upon his
arrival last evening. alt seemed to M
that it was scarcely ten minutes after Mrs.
Ingram called to US that the building was
lying at our feet, a SIN oidering mass oi
ruins. 1t was a miracle that the lady
ever escaped alive. Had she been stand
ing upon the floor instead of upon that
chair when the lamp fell there is no cues.
ton but that her clothing would have
ignited and she would have suffered a
frightful death. Poor Stemple is to be
pitled. He is a prince of good fellows,
and more hospitable host never lived.
:. IL L