The San Francisco call., 1898-06-09
DEATH BY
 FIRE AFTER
 A DEBAUCH John Archie Mcdonald Fatally Burned. HE HAD DRUNK TOO MUCH RODGERS JUMPED OUT OF A THIRD-sToRY WINDOW. Exciting and Destructive Fire Early Yesterday Morning in the
 Union Hotel,
 Potrero.
HE HAD DRUNK TOO MUCH
RODGERS JUMPED OUT OF 4
 THIRD-SToRY WINDOW.

The overturning of coal oil lamp by a drunken man in hotel at an early hour yesterday morning caused his death, the serious injury of another man and the loss of about $4000 worth of property.
 sergeant Conboy was passing the cor her Of Twentieth and Michigan streets, Potrero, about 2:3O o'clock yesterday morning when he noticed flames issuing rom the top story of the Union Hotel, 212-214 Michigan street. He met Police man Kelly and instructed him to turn in an alarm of fire. At the same time he was Joined by Policeman Felix Dough- erty, and together they ran to the hotel and blew their whistles and hammered on the front door to awake the occu- pants.
 < Then they battered in the front door, and aided by Kelly did splendid work in resculng the lodgers, about fifty in num- per, who were apparently bewiIdered by the smoke and being so unceremoniously awakened from their slumberS. William Rodgers, who. was aroused from his summers by the smoke in his bedroom. opened his window and jumped to the ground, distance of over 30 feet His window opened into a small space divid- Ing the hotel from the adjoining building. Conboy and Dougherty saw him lying on the ground, and being aIraid that he would be killed by falling debris they hurried to resuce him, but got confused III the labyrinth of passages. They fortu- Hdteiy came across one of the waitresses III the dining room, and she conducted them to where Rodgers was lying. They carried car. him to a place of safety, and he was later removed to the City and County Hospital, where it was found that he was suIerlng from Sprain of the hack burns or the chest and a lacerated wound sight -iiiii 4liS +o The firemen of engine 10 were the first 10 arrive. and Engineer McCluskey mounted the rear stairway. He saw a man on the top story staggering around III Dewlldered manner with his night some solpe on or bir ire With the assistance of who proved to be John Archie McDonald a laborer at the Union Iron Works. to caf,,ige the ground and he was sent to the Re head to feet, and died before 10 o'clock yesterday morning.
 McDonald was the cause of the fire It Tnssdps1y Tas pay G oay ,4 at the Union Iron Works ineavlly. About midnight the barkeeper in the hotel refused to give him any mare n9Gof. I lie, left the hotel and returned at the bar and Mcdonald was angry he he. cause the barkeeper favored lodgers R6Soqgers left and went to his bedroom and other drink, followed him. It seems thn+ Mcdonald, whose room was on the ton noor, opposite spp the one occupied by Rod
 
 around he staggered against the table o5 which the lamp was placed, overturning both lamp and table. He attempted to stamp out the flames, which immediatelv blazed up and, failing, staggered into the hallway with his nightshirt on fire. 1t was then that he was discovered by En- gineer McClusky.
 Mcdonald was man about 60 years of age He had been separated from his wife and family for some time and recent ly he was brought before the late Judge Campbell on charge of failure to pro vide The Judge ordered him to pay S2O per month, and it is said that when he heard of the Judges death he made use of language that was far from compliment tary and announced that he would pay alimony to his wife just when he felt in- clined He leaves a widow and six chil- dren, the two eldest boys being employed in the Union Iron Works
 The building was owned by Eliza Schultze and was occupied by w and J. B. Johnstone. The loss on the builo IS estimated at $25O0 and on contents s1500.