The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-11-24
The Baldwin Hotel and Theatre To-
tally Destroyed by Fire.
TWO Persisted IN The FLAMES
OfJhesr. A. J. White Lost His Life in
Heroic Attempt 20 Save Three
Wouncn from Dcath-Thc Build
ing Was n Fire Trap.

Of the building shortly Wter 8 CLOCK
this morning supposedly ma mo property
room OF the Baldwin Theatre totally de-
strovcd the immense structure. cntailing
"A financial loss OF nearly "A nnliion and a
half dollars. besides destroying property
that no amount OF money or science can
replace The loss OF lie so lar as re-
ported has been mlraculOusiy light. but
TWO deaths having occurred as far as
known.
Tho dcad-Captain j. i. White. San
Francisco. capitalist: Louis Myers, Skag-
way. Alaska. merchant Four were in
5urcd and eleven arc missing
DISASTROUS EFFECT.
The effects OF the fire are far-reaching,
almost every branch Of commercial trade
being affected. The GROUND floor Of the
hotel was divided into number Of large
stores. and few OF their occupants saved
anything worth mentioning. the majority
reporting total losses. Two of the hand
soonest stores In the city were Quilted and
their stocks destroyed The Baldwin
Theatre The fashionable amusement
place Of this city. was totally destroyed
with tho rest Of the building. and the
SECRET Service" Company. headed by
William Gillette. now playing an engage
mcnt az the theatre. lost all it's para
phcrnaiia and accoutroments. Many OF
the members Of the company lost most
Of their belongings. and trunks contain
ing the official papers OF tho company
were destroyed. The flames were con-
fined 20 The Baldwin structure but much
adjoining property was seriously dam
aged by water and smoke
ANOTHER THEATRE SUFFERS.
The Columbia Theatre building on
Powell street on the west side Of the
Baldwin building suffered considerably,
and the basement of the Columbia Thea
tre another fashionable playhouse. was
quilted and much valuable theatrical APP
paratus destroyed. The Gay COncy ISL
and Company will lose considerable.
There were upwards Of 300 guests I'm the
hotel whom the fire was discovered. and
the scenes which followed beggar dis
cripton. ~s
The wotchmen. bell-boys and other
hotel employees. worked nobly in arousng
sleeping residents The most sanguine
hopes are expressed that the loss Of life
will not Doe added 90. but the indications
are that the death roll must increase.
INSURANCE WAS LIGHT
When seen boy an Associated Press rep
rcsentativc -. J. Baldwin. proprietor and
owner Of the hotel. said Chat ne could
not figure up his losses for several days
yet. Nut said that the insurance was liTht
in comparison 10 the loss
Tho insurance on the building may
Teacl 10000. The insurance on the con-
tents of the buildings, so far as known.
A FIRE TRAP
FOR years the Baldwin has been re-
Gfrded by the Fire Department as the
most dangerous fire trap I'm san Fran
cisco. built of wood. six stories high
with narrow and tortuous Railways. it IS
wonder that half OF the people in the
hotel this morning escaped. They were
SOW 10 waken Many We're dazod and
srupihed by smoke when the police the
frcmen and hotel employees, hurrying
through the Railways. kicked open doors
nnd notified the people OF their great
danger
When they managed to reach the win
dows and fire escapes there were no lad-
ders Many attempted 10 jump from the
windows 90 the streets. but We're warned
not 20 do SO by the crowds below Then
the fremen got up their ladders and
commenced taking people TO the ground,
rescuing many I'm this manner.
EXPLOSION IN THEATRE
IN the interior of the hotel am explo-
Fion I'm the theatre caused that portion
Of the building TO cave In. This cxplo-
sion also cxtineuished the electric lights
throughout the building. Those in the
street below could see through riffs
81 the smoke along the attic cornices.
forms Of men and women crouching and
cllnging % the woodwork already be-
ginning 10 shoulder. Streams from
thirty engines were being poured upon
uhe blazing building from every point of
vantage. but without any apparent effect.
Explosion followed explosion.
A DRAMATIC DEATH.
The death of White was most dramatic.
Three women appeared on the cornice of
the NTH floor on the Market street side
OF the hotel The nremen could not reach
them. suddenly White came out of a
window carrying small rope. With
this he lowered the women into the arms
OF the nremen who were waiting at tho
windows Of the next floor. Then ne
started down the rope hand over hand.
Half way down the rope parted and the
5nan who had just saved three lives was
dashed 20 the pavement one hundred
feet below.
lucy BALDWINS ESCAPE
Lucky Baldwin had narrow es
cape from pershug i'm his fire trap.
Amid an the din he slept peacefully un-
an his room was broken into and ne was
dragged from bed. H. J. Kowatsky. a
weu-known attorney was also dragged
unconscious from bed. He will recover
The Baldwin Hotel has been known and
dreaded for years by fremen and insur-
nuco people as the worst kind Of "a fire
trap. IL has been stated often that there
wore no fire walls in IL except those en-
closing the theatre. and that no insur- |
nnce con- any would write "a risk ON the |
building except FOR a small amount. and |
a heavy premium.
The building Of the hotel began in 1879
md was finished in 1877. its total cost
Including ground and furniture. being |
10000 In the building was the Bald |
win Theatre. The street floor of tho im- !
mense building was occupied by the hotel |
ofiices. har-room and number OF stores. |
In the basement was an deliberately fitted |
cafe
Mr.. Baldwin stated to-day that he car |
ried $4,000 insurance but he could not |
Temembei IN what companies.
THEIR EFFECTS DESTROYED.
The Baldwin Theatre was completely |
demolisl al by the falling OF the fifth |
floor. The entire effects Of the Secret !
Service Company. which was filling IN
engagement 40 the theatre. We're de-
stfoyed great deal OF 5ewelry and
money belonging 20 members of the !
tomponr were lost In addition the con- |
tracts Nere burned. The Columbia |
Theatre and places Of business opposite |
he baldwin were damaged by water 10 |
NE extent of sl5c00
h. J. Baldwin is Frustrated and unable |
tel much about his affairs lie SAYS |
ie Will not be able 90 estimate his loss |
ur several days. n. W. Luke. manager |
the hotel. barely managed 10 get out |
Vth his wife and child lie SAYS there |
FerS SJ2 guests IN tho hotel
TfIAAINOnftgs..O