The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-11-24
San FransIsep HOstsIry'' EntlrsIy
DESTROYED W FIrtEsrIy Yes.
tsrdsy Msrnlne.
TWO PERIsHEO N FLAMES
Asssgsr White Lost HIs Life Aftsr
HsrOIcaily RescbIas sThfes wonss
Loss Estimated $4,000. .OOo. e

BAN FRANcIsco. Nov. ss-At s:as this
morning the BALDWIN hotei cnusht aro
ana was entirely DESTROYED. There wsre
800 people, guests ana employees. IN tis
hotel when the fire broke out. and GER
tainly two, probably many moro Of these
people. lost their lives. Manager A. =.
White was ono Of the victims, but before
he gave w his NE the gallant fellow
saved the lives OF three women.
The fire IS SAID to have started in tho
kitchen. located in the basement It
worked its way up through a nue to the
sixth iIOor. and before the nryt alarm was
sent IN tho flames had gained grcat had
way. Tho first alarm was followed By
others in rapid succession, until fye calls
had been sent IN. summoning every piece
Of apparatus at the command Of the de-
partment.
For years the Baldwin has been regard
ed as tho most dangerous nrstrap In san
FranciSco. Butt OF wood. six stories high,
with narrow and tortuOus Railways, It Is
a wonder half Of the people IN the hotel
escaped. They were slow 10 awaken.
Many were dazed and stupened BY smoke
when the police. hremen and hotel en-
ployes. huFTying through the Railways,
kicked open the doors and notified the
people Of the great danger. When they
managed to reach the windows and nre-
escapes there were no ladders. Many az
tempted TO jump from the windows 20 the
streets, but were warned not to do 50 by
the eruwd below. Then the nremen got
up ladders and commenced taking people
TO the ground rescuing many.
In the interior OF the hotel an explosion
in the theater caused that portion Of the
building TO cave IN. This explosion also
extlnguished the electric AghGs through-
out the building. There were many peo-
pie in the upper halls and corridors az
thae time. and hremen and policemen
were trying to lead them to the Market
and Powell-street windows The entire
top floor was then a blazing mass
Streams from % engines were being
poured upon the blazing building. but
w'ichOut apparent effect. Explosion fol-
lowed explosion. The roof OF the building
collapsed, taking with It back into the
building a number Of those who had been
clinging for life to the attic gables.
The death Of White was most dramatic.
Three women appeared on eo-nice OF
the ifth floor on the Market-street side
OF the hotel. The firemen could not reach
them with ladders and they stood help
less. screaming with terror. Suddenly
White came out Of a window, carrying q
small rope. With this he lowered the
women into the arms Of the tiremsa who
were waiting az the windows OF the next
story. Then White started down the rope
hand over hand. When he was half way
down the rope parted, and the man who
had Just saved three lives was dashed 10
DEATH on the pavement. 100 feet below
Lucky" Baldwin had narrow escape
from perlshing Amid all the din he
slept peacefully until his room was broken
into. and he was dragged from his bed.
The building OF the Baldwin hotel began
in 1873 and was finished in 1877. ITS total
cost, including the ground and furniture,
being $3,OOO,OOo In the building was the
Baldwin theater. The street floor OF tho
immense structure was occupied by the
hotel Offices. the barroom and numer-
GUS stores. In the basement was an
elaboTately fitted cafe
e. J. Baldwin stated this morning that
he carried 100000 insurance. The Baldwin
theater was completely demolished. The
stage effects OF the Secret Service com
pany, which was filling an engagement
at the theater. were destroyed.
While the roof was in flames a man was
seen endeavoring to escape from an
upper window, attired only In his night
shirt To those below ON the street he
seemed to fall backwards into the raging
flames, as he suddenly disappeared. His
identity is unknown.
Those connected with the hotel are con-
vinced that several Of their employees have
perished In the flames