The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-07-26
A VERY COSTLY FIRE
THE ELEGANT RESIDENCE OF E.
T. EARL DESTROYED
Cause Of the Fire Unknown-Some
Rumors Of an Neutrality-suspicious.
taneous Combustion Idea

Fire destroyed the elegant new residence
of E. T. Earl, president of the Earl Fruit
company, yesterday morning, involving a
| loss of about $4,000, practically covered
by insurance. The house Is on the north
east corner Of Carondelet avenue and Will
shire boulevard, and was unoccupied, as
the workmen were engaged In finishing the
place, in order TO have 1t completed for
the early return of the Earl family, who
are now at Sacramento.
About $40 yesterday morning Officer
Broadhead was standing on the corner of
Burlington avenue and Eighth street, talk
ing with Special Patrolman Foster. when
they heard a couple of pistol shots. which
apparently been fired In the vicinity of
Union avenue and Orange street. The men
ran east, up the hill to the corner of
Seventh and Beacon streets, and these dis
covered the fire in the Earl house to the
west The officers hurried to the corner
of Alvarado and Seventh streets, and
turned in an alarm of fire from box 147
They then went to the building. The fire
appeared to be in the east and north por-
ton of the house, and was blazing fiorcely
when they arrived. The most peculiar
feature about the blaze was the blue color
of the flames, and this caused them to
think that perhaps kerosene had been used
to ignite the building 1t was over two
miles to the nearest engine house. at Ninth
and Main streets. but the engines arrived
In comparatively short time, and. with the
aid of the chemicals, the work of trying
to save the house began. The fire had
gained too great a Roadway, however, and
It was not subdued until after o'clock
| TIL, int rin Of
ruined, as the decorating, plumbing, inlaid
floors. plate glass and other expensive fin
ishings were either destroyed outright by
the flames or ruined by the smoke and
water.
How the fire started has not yet been de-
termined, although there have been strong
hints of its being of incendlary origin.
The fire had been burning for some time
previous to the discovery and arrival Of
the officers, and Brodhead had no oppor-
tunity to make much Of an investigation
for the reason that the flames were in the
two sections Of the house, and any traces
OF kerosene or gasoline if such fluid had
been used, had been obliterated. The
workmen had been engaged Sunday, and
cans of paint and oil were left inside the
house. It was suggested that spontaneous
might have started the blaze. The fire ap-
reared to have originated about the center
Of the house and swept upward. the nu-
merous chimneys acting as fiues. The
only incident was an accident to Chief
Moore. who fell through the burned floor,
sustaining some cuts and bruises on his
head
John Hanlon was the carpenter and
hricklayIng contractor, while Charles e.
Marshall was the floor contractor, and
Charles Ellsperman the painter. There
were also other portions of the work sub
let All of the contractors We're slightly
concerned in the building but the princi-
nal loss will fall upon Mr. Earl j. c.
Chase, manager for Mr.. Earl said that he
thought all of the contractors had covered
their liability and there would be but slight
los. except to the insurance companies.