The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-24
FATAL HOTEL FIRE IN FRISCO.
n,IDWIN HOTEL AND THEATER a
MAMMOTH FIRE TRAP.

Morning While 800 People Were
AsIeep in the BuiIding-TvVO Men
known to Have Lost Their Lives,
one After He Had Rescued Three
women From the Fifth story Cor
nice-'LucISy" Baldwin barely
Escapes.
San Francisco, Nov 23-The Baldwin
Hotel for almost thirty years one of the
principal landmarks of San Francisco, is
ne more.
fire which broke out in the east end
of the building shortly after O'Clock this
morning. supposedly in the property room
of the Baldwin Theater, totally destroyed
the immense structure, entailing a fnan-
cial loss of nearly a million and a hair
dollars, besides destroying property that
no amount of money or science can re-
place.
The loss of life, so far as reported, has
been miraculously light, but two deaths
having occurred as far as known.
DEAD:
CAPT. J. L. WHITE, San Francisco,
capitalist
LEWIS MYERS, skaguay, Alaska, mer-
chant
Four we're injured and eleven are miss
ing
The financial losses are far-reaching, al
most every branch of commercial trade be-
Ing directly affected
The ground floor of the hotel was divid-
ed into number of large stores, and few
of their occupants saved anything worth
mentioning, the majority reporting total
losses.
Two of the hendsonest cafes in the city
were gutted and their stocks destroyed.
The Baldwin Theater, the fashionable
amusement place of this city, was totally
destroyed with the rest of the building,
and the Secret Service" company, head
ed by William Gillette, now playing an en-
gagement at the theater. lost all its para
Ihernalla and accoutrements. Many of
the members of the company lost most of
their belongings and trunks containing the
official papers of the company were de-
stroyed.
The flames were confined to the Baldwin
structure, but much adjoining property
was seriously damaged by water and
smoke
The Columbia theater building on Powell
street on the west side of the Baldwin
building suffered considerably, and the
basement of the Columbia theater an
other fashionable playhouse was Quilted
and much valuable theaterical apparatus
destroyed. The Gay Coney Island Com
pany will lose considerable.
There were upwards of 300 guests in the
note when the fire was discovered and
the scenes which followed beggar descrip-
uon The watchmen, bell boys and other
Motel employees worked noby in arousing
sleeping guests
The most sauguine hopes are expressed
taat the loss of life win not be added
TO- but the indications are that the death
roll must increase
When seen by an Associated Press rep
resentatve, e. J. Baldwin, proprietor and
owner Of the hotel, said that he could
uot hgure up his losses for several days
Ie'' out said that the insurance was light
III comparison to the loss. The insur-
r gnce on the building may reach 500, ,O0O
lne insurance on the contents of the
pudding, so far as known, amounts to ST.
San Francisco, Nov. 23-At S:25 this
morning the Baldwin Hotel caught fire,
ana u has heen entirely destroyed.
Ihere were 300 people, guests and en-
Poyes' in the hotel when the fire broke
ou' ana two of these people are thought
nave lost their lives
A. ] White
a'e the victims. Before White gave up
''S iiie he saved the lives of three wo-
men.
Inc fire is said to have started in the
nDehen' located in the basement on the
Lis street side.
Inc fire worked its way up through the
Nue TO the sixth floor, and before the fire
p'9rm was sent in the fire gained great
headway
vi years the Baldwin has been regard
Gu Oy the fire department as the most
'"serous fire trap in San Francisco
Dul'' OF wood, six stories high, with mar
~" and tortuous Railways, 1t is a wonder
'''' half of the people in the hotel this
morning escaped. They were slow to wax
' Many were dazed and stupeied by
sl'oN'' when the police, the fremen and
,',e' employees, hurrying through the
,'''"ays kicked open doors and notified
.s peopie of their great danger. When
''S managed to reach the windows and
' escapes there were no ladders Many
'"fnpted to jump from the windows to
streets, but were warned not to do
ny the crowds below. Then the fire
4's" got up their ladders, and commenced
ming people to the ground, rescuing
"''"y IN this manner
nm -lu explosion in the theater caused that
e, Ioh OF the building to cave in. This
ItloSlon also extinguished the electric
rs throughout the building.
p nose IN the street below could see
VI, 00sh the riffs OF smoke along the at
eorn!ces forms of men and women
u+9,-lA'ng and climbing to the woodwork.
.eh was already beginning to shoulder.