The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1898-11-30
HOTEL BURNED.
Miraculous Escape of Guests From
an Awful Death.
A. J. WHITE PROVES HERO.
Saved the Lives of Three Women
Before He Gave Up His Own.
His Death Was Most
Dramatic.
Dramatic.

Wednesday morning the BALDWIN
hotel at San Francisco caught fire and
was entirely destroyed. There were
300 people, guests and employees, in the
hotel when the fir. broke out and two
Of these peonle are bought to have lost
their lives. \. j. White and man
named Meyer are the victims. The
fire is said to have starSsd in the kltch-
en-, located in the bas> ment on the Eli
lis street side. The FIRE worked its
way up through the fue to the sixth
floor and before the FIRE alarm was sent
in the FIRE had gained great headway.
For years the Baldwin has been re-
garded by the fire department as the
most dangerous fire trap in San Fran
cisco. Built of wood, six stories high,
with narrow and tortuous Railways, 1t
is wonder that half of the people IN
the hotel escaped. They we're slow to
waken. Many were dazed and stupe-
fed by the smoke when the police, the
6ramen and hotel employees, hnrylng
through the Railways, kicked open
doors and notified the people OF
their great danger. When they man
aged to reach the windows and fire es-
capes there were no ladders. Many at
tempted TO jump from the windows to
the streets, but were warned not to DO
so by the crowds below. The hremen
got their ladders and commenced
taking people to the grouno, resculng
many in this manner. In tle interior
of the hotel an explosion in the theatre
caused that portion Of the building to
cave in. This explosion also e1tin-
guished the electric lights througho"'
the building.
Those in the street below could see
through the riffs in the smoke s;ong
the attic cornices, forms Of men and
women crouching and climbing to the
woodwork, which was already begin
ming to shoulder. Streams from thirty
engines were being poured upon the
blazing building from every point Of
vantage, but without any apparent ef-
feet. Explosion followed explosion.
The death of White was most dra-
matte. Three women appeared on the
cornice of the fifth floor on the Market
street side Of the hotel. The fremen
could not reach them. White came
out Of window carrying small rope.
With this he lowered the women into
the arms Of the frenen, who were wait
ing at the windows of the next floor.
Then he started down the rope hand
over hand. Half way down the rope
parted and the man who had just saved
three lives was dashed to the pavement
100 feet below.
"Lucky Baldwin" had a narrow es-
cape from perishing in his fire trap.
Amid all the din he slept peacefully
until his room was broken into and he
was dragged from his bed. q. l.
KoEalsky, well known attorney, was
also dragged unconscious from bed.
He will recover.
The Baldwin hotel has been known
and dreaded for years by hremen and
insurance people as the worst kind OF
fire trap. 1t has been stated often
that there were no fire walls in it ex-
eept those enclosing the theatre and
that no insurance companies would
write risk on the building except for
a small amount and heavy premium.
The building Of the hotel began IN
1873 and was finished in. 1877. its total
cost including ground and furniture be-
ing So, 900, 900. In the building was
the Baldwin theatre. The street floor
Of the immense building were occupied
by the hotel Office, bar room and num-
Der of stores. In the basement was an
eiaborately fitted cafe.
E. J. Baldwin stated today that he
carried 500, 0O0'insurance, but he could
not remember in what company.
The Baldwin theatre was completely
demolished by the falling Of the fifth
floor. The entire effects of the "Se
cret Service" company, which was fill
ing an engagement at thattheatre, were
destroyed.
A great deal of jewelry and money
belonging to members Of the company
were lost. In addition the contracts
were burned. The Columbia theatre and
places of business opposite the Bald
win were damaged by water to the ex-
tent Of $4,000. E. J. Baldwin is
prostrated and unable to tell much
about his affairs. He says he will not
be able to estimate his loss 70. several
days. H. W. Luke, manager Of the
hotel, barely managed to g It out with
his wife and child. He says here were
3O2 guests in the hotel.
Bold Postofice Robbery.