davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-11-24
A MARTYR TO HIS
SEI.F-SACRIFlCE
j. L. White Met His Death in
a Noble EndeaNOr to
Save IiveSs

j. L. White, who was killed in the ter
rible calamity, died the death of a hero.
He was man of noble character and bril-
liant qualities of mind. He had everything
to live for, but he did not hesitate to do
all in his power to save three women at
ethe imminent danger of his own life, and
in the carrying out of his heroic impulse
an unfortunate accident pul an end to
happy career. Monuments are erected for
less brave deeds than his, hut the men,
ory of his generous action will live long
in the memory of San Fraaciscans.
Miss Kate Richardson. who with her
friend had lowered themselves by a rope
which they had attached I bedpost in
their room on the top floor. had reached
the fifth story while the cui3ola was burn
ing fiercely They were on the ledge of
the window facing the apartment of j. l..
White. Miss Richardson lad displayed
remarkable courage in the terrible ordeal.
and it was she who CONCEIVED the plan to
lower herself and Miss Johsson by means
of the rope. There were Geveral gentle
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-11-24

men and a lady with Mr.. White in the
room, and the lady, whose name could not
be ascertained, made pitiful entreaties to
be saved. 1t was then that Whites hero
ism was evinced. With no thought Of
himself he helped the ladies to slide down
the rope one by one to the ladder below,
the strange lady being the first one to go
down. Then Miss Johnson was lowered,
and the last was Miss Richardaon. The
window ledge. was very hot by that time
and every minute the danger increased.
Finally when White saw that the ladies
had been landed safely, he started to go
down the rope, but 1t burned through
when he reached the third story, and
when he was picked up he was dead,
martyr to his self-sacrifce.
Due credit must also be given to Miss
Kate Richardson. She lowered three la
dies who came to her room in the top
floor while she was arranging the rope.
With a heroiSm equal to that or mite
on the side of the house where the fire
men rescued them. Miss Richardson, in
speaking of the affair, said: Too much
praise cannot be given to Mr.. White, who
met such an awful death. When 1 reached
his room said to him: You had better
go down The smoke by that time had
become more intolerable than 1t was in
my room when | left it.
NO. he said you go down first, and
then he assisted us three ladies to make
the perilous attempt which resulted SO
waited a moment he would have been
saved with the other gentlemen who were
with him, as am told they were brought
safely down. l cannot express my feel
ings when realized our peril. Above US,
on the top floor, was the burning cupola.
and below an appalling death. Neverthe-
less I felt that GOODNESS would alone save
me- The crowd on the ground was more
excited than l was, as they kept crying
out frantically, Don't jump You're all
right where you are. There's no dan
GER I had no intention of jumping. My
sole desire was to reach the ground in
safety and I bethought myself of the rope
which l have had in my room some years
for just such an emergency. 1t saved
several lives and I regret that 1t failed in
the case of poor Mr.. White"
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-11-24

and Leithead dressed for dinner party
TO which he had been invited by friends
In the Western Addition.
He left the home of his friends shortly
after o'clock, remarking that he was
tired and was going directly to the hotel
and to bed. That he carried out his in
left him at the hotel door at halfpast or
a little before Since then no word or
trace of him has been had, though it was
his duty to report at the boat yesterday
dereliction to duty was failing unknown
to the missing purser.
is convinced that his friend is lost. 1t was
frightful story of the fire that he had to
relate Yesterday, and he had an expert
ence and an, escape that would have
Silvered the hair of a man of ordinary
courage.
Something OF, other awoke me- said
boy, [ got no answer and rang again,
door to look down the hall, but was nearly
blinded by cloud of smoke. 1 made my
way to the bathroom IN Of my suit suite IA and ID
ss IN to see bnng shod
through It, There was a crash of glass,
and almost at my feet fell the body of a
man, and | am certain that it was that
with the assistance of a man who had
come into my room to wake me car
ried the body into the hall, but 1t was
lures, but I felt of his face and tried to
identify him in other ways and am salts
fed that the body was Jim's. The smole
came down on us then and we had h
leave the dead and take care of the living
women who were rushing frantically up
and down the hall, shrieking, praying and
utterly panic-stricken.
1--WE rounded up a lot of them and led
them down stairs. We then went back to
get the others, but were shut off from
them by the smoke and flames and so we
went to work on the lower floors.
There is general sorrow lat the Pacific
Mail office. Leithead had been in the en-
ploy of the company for nearly five years,
and was immensely popular with the Oft
cials as well as the employees. He wss
about thirty years of age and, If dead
leaves to mourn him mother in Canada.
and a brother in Montana.
F. L. Holland of the Columbia Bank re-.
ported at police headquarters that he
thought Mrs. Andrew and children of SAT-
Lake City were among the missing. She
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-11-24

arrived with her children Tuesday after.
noon and registered at the Baldwin.
The report got out at the camp OF the
Eighth California yesterday morning that
Captain William Barnes was the man
killed by falling from the fifth floor. Cap
tain Barnes had attended the theateI
early in the evening with some friends
and captain of another company who
was in the city heard that Barnes had
been killed. He told what he had heard
at camp and the members of the regiment
were grieving over Captain Barnes death
when he was found safe and sound, asleep
in his quarters.
F. Weatherbee and wife of Haverhill,
Mass, occupied apartments on the third
floor and have not been seen since early
Tuesday evening. Mr.. Weatherbee was
a travelling man for c. ]. Fox & Co. OF
Massachusetts,.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-11-24

was the last trace of him discovered He
was Tennesseean by birth about 80
years of age, and was well known
throughout the country.
The Pacific Mail steamship people have
practically given up their search for
James M. Leithead, purser o.. the steamer
City of Sydney, who occupied room 406 on
the fourth floor of the Baldwin. General
Manager Alexander Center said last even
ing that no doubt remained in his mind
that somewhere among the smoking ruins
Leithead's body would eventually be
found.
First Officer J. W: O'Connor of the same
boat and chum of Leithead is convinced
that it was the dead body of his friend
that shortly after the fire began he car
ried from his room through the fire and
smoke to the hallway, where he was
obliged to abandon it to save himself
Leithead's movements have been traced
from the time he left his boat at clock
Tuesday afternoon to half-past yester-
day morning, Wen he dismissed his hack
at the door of the Baldwin and went up to
his room on the fourth floor, not quite an
hour before the first alarm of fire was
turned in.
At o'clock Tuesday afternoon Lett
head left the Sydney and with O'Connor
went up to his rooms at the hotel. The
men remained together until after dinner,
when O'Connor went to the Orpheum
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-11-24
GOT SAFELY OUT
AND THEN EXPIRED
Suspicion That the Body of
lewis Mayer Was Robbed
of Jewelry.

Lewis Mayer, a member of the firm OF
Bernard Stahl & Co., cigar manufacturers.
New York, had rooms. on the fourth floor,
and was among the first to get out He
was partially dressed, but brought his
overcoats and satchels with him. He got
to the corner of Eddy and Powell streets
and sat down on a box Some bystanders
saw him sway and fall. The patrol wagon
was summoned and he was hurried to the
Receiving Hospital, where DR.. Tormey
discovered that he was dead. 1t is sup
posed he was suffering from heart disease
and the fright killed him. The body was
removed to the Morgue. He was about so
years of age and a widower. His daugh-
ter is student at Vassar and she was
to meet him in day or two at Seattle
to spend her Christmas holidays with him.
He was president of the Latuya Bay Gold
Placer Mining Company of Alaska, and
was going there with his daughter.
Mayors friends claim that the body was
robbed of over $4,000 worth of diamonds
and considerable money. Last night O,
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-11-24

ter of the hotels ruins. Many men and
women are supposed to have lost their
way and in delirium of fear overlooked
the avenues of escape and thus met
death. ~. 81 o.
Attaches of the Receiving .Hospital were
busy all day answering personal inquiries
and also those received by telephone.
The hospital people treated but two cases
from the fire during the early hours of
the morning, although all the available
men and ambulances were on the spot
ready to alleviate the injuries of suffering
ones.
No organized search Of the ruins will be
made until the wooden walls on Market.
Powell and Ellis streets have been raZed
1t would be hazardous to send men into
the ruins in their present condition. If
BODIES are thought to be in any particular
place an attempt will be made, however,
to bring them out.
John J. Carter, associate judge at Oak
land race track, is among the missing
With George Carroll he occupied room
454 on the fifth or top floor. Mr.. Carroll
made his way down the fire escape ON the
Market street side. The last he saw of
his companion the latter had thrown
sheet over his head and had made dash
for the stairway. Harry Frolich, book
maker, saw him on the third floor, which
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-11-24
TWO BALDWIN GUESTS
DEAD AND SIX MISSING

score came galloping to the scene on
their tireless mustangs. A few stopped
to saddle, but the majority of them
came bareback, and many came with
out saddle or bride.
Cordons of police were stationed at
all corners block away from the fire.
mob prevented from running en- masse
into the jaws of death under the falling
cornices.
During the forenoon, after the
sounder sleepers had seen the morning
papers, the crowd grew still greater.
All day long thousands stood upon the
cold. hard pavements gazing at the
ruin. With repressed anxiety and ex-
pectant horror each one asked the
nearest person how many lives were
lost and all are now waiting with sup
pressed feelings for the story which is
sure to come from beneath the debris.
Dangling from window In the prin-
cipal cupola was a small piece of rope.
This was the attraction for all eyes.
When the story Of the little string was
passed from lip to lip tears moistened
thousands of eyelashes and words of
sympathy and praise were spoken for
heroic J. L. White. With that rope he
saved the lives of three terrified ser
want girls and then, when his brave
deed was done, it broke under his
weight and he fell to death.
Yesterday afternoon when the heat
had sufficiently subsided, many guests
who thought portion of their prop
erty might still be recovered emploved
hyS
rooms. A few got some of their be-
longings, but the property recovered
was badly damaged.
Curious individuals and newly-clad
guests of the hotel harassed the police
almost beyond endurance. All sorts of
excuses were given when a demand to
get through the lines was peremptorily
refused. Pickpockets infested the
crowd plying their vocation, messenger
boys sought persons to whom messages
were addressed, and the day was not
one of unalloyed content for the police
men.
Drs. Morrison and Fitzgibbon of the
Central and Harbor Receiving hospitals
were on the scene all the morning.
Ambulances were held in readiness to
carry wounded persons to the hospitals.
and the surgeons were we'll equipped
with emergency supplies for instant
use.
About p. m. yesterday a large piece
Of cornice, which had been dangling
over the heads of firemen all day, fell
with crash, striking Assistant Fore
man Madison of engine 4; Ike Shan
naughsy of the same company and
Tom Titus, water tower man. All
three started to run when the warning
cry was given, but they did not get out
of the way. They were knocked fat
and the spectators thought they were
killed or badly injured. Fortunately
they escaped even slight injury.
The total loss by all parties is esti-
mated at s200o,0O0 to $1,000, 900; only
partially insured.
Mr.. Baldwin has as yet no plans for
rebuilding the hotel. Gottlob & Marx,
lessees of the Baldwin Theater, are al
ready at work seeking to have a mag
nifcent opera house constructed on the
site of the burned hostelry. They have
received such encouragement that they
are hopeful the scheme will be carried
to a successful termination.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-11-24

1T WAS A FEARFUL CONFEDERATION

lost tin
0
to
chof the
of
mway
ennanage
J. L. White
no he
partially clad the
lives
Trunks which left the fleeing and which destroyed the
mi
y
S
he bear L is he in he trying
so the
dis on
al
casualties occurred
tWeveh to preven o
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-11-24
20 q G Q g 9 9 9 . 9 . . q q q 9 .
REGISTERED AMONG
THE MISSING ONES
Absent Persons Who Are
Being Eagerly Searched
For.

Relatives and friends of persons sup
posed to be among the missing made
strenuous efforts yesterday to locate them
in the flesh or to trace them to the fiery
tomb within the charred walls Of the
Baldwin Hotel.
Persons who made their escape from the
burning building affirm that many guests
must have lost their lives in the dark
ened corridors while trying to make
their escape At the moment when they
were most needed the electric lights went
out, leaving firemen and others to grope
about in the awful smoke-laden corridors,
lightened occasionally by the glare from
the seething caldron of fire in the Gen.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-11-24
THE KNOWN DEAD:
CAPTAIN j. l.. WHITE,
LEWIS MAYER.
THE MISSING:

III MISOINI
j. j. CARTER, Associate
Judge of Oakland Race
Track.
a. M. LEITHEAD, Purser
Steamer City OF sgd
ney.
MRS. ANDREW and chill.
dren, Salt Lake.
F. WEATHERBEE and wife,
Haverhill, Mass.
And possibly JOE SUMMER
FIELD, a Bookmakcr.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-11-24

" NCLOSED within the crumbling
- skeleton of the Baldwin Hotel is
a heap Of debris. underneath
/Which there may he hurried the
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-28
NINTH REGIMENT VETERANS DINE.

The annual reunion. dinner. and CONNIE NOR ton
OF the thirty seventh anniversary OF the departure
OF the 9TH Regiment for the In 1861 given
In the st. Denis Hotel. last night by the veterans
OF the regiment. Comma ndant George a Hussey
presiding. Those the guests table were Gen
erai Allan Rutherford. General William Seward
Colonel ". L. Heermance. and Wallace Bruce.
who was consul at Edinburgh under the Harrison
Administration.
Others present were Colonel T. W Greene. Col
one william Scott. Lieutenant John a. Moore
Captain Thomas w. Thorne. Lieutenant A. w
Meade Major II. W. Williamson Lieutenant Val
entine Marsh, Lieutenant Il. f Bowen. j. J. Tret-
NJ. Crandell, Augustus y. Maze, Thomas Hanna,
l. A. Da Cunha. J. r. Haock Samuel Barry.
mously TO send Colonel G. j Greene now command
ing the 9th Regiment In the South, telegram con-
v,ylng the best wishes OF the veterans for their
success In the present
Commandant Hussey announced that In a visit
paid by him TO the 9th Regiment camp at Peekskill
on Sunday last he had ventured. In behalf Of the
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-28
IN TAKE NO OFFICIAL ACTION.

The following resolution relative 70 the provision
OF the War Revenue bill before Congress tax
ing commercial transactions WAS adopted on
Wednesday at Joint meeting Of special commit
tees representing respectively rho Produce. Cotton
and Coffee exchanges:
Resolved That no official action be taken by tho
Exchanges Of New-York as represented by the
Committees in the sense OF going % Washington
and opposing advocating. a change or tax as
proposed by the Revenue bill at present
The passage OF this resolution by the special com
mittees and its adoption by the governing bodies
Of the several exchanges named does not. howeve-.
operate TO prevent the members OF any OF the ex
changes from advocating az individuals any change
In the nronosed law.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-28
POWDER MILL EXPLOSION.
ONE MAN KILLED AND ONE INJURED AT
HAZARDvILLE CONN

HAZARDVILIE CONN
Hazardville Conn. May T.-For the third time
within two years this village was thrown into a
state Of CONSERVATION this morning by an explo-
sion at the works OF the Hazard Powder Company.
small building blown to pieces. killing ono
man instantly and seriously in1urng another Tho
dead man. Alfred Dlunden aged thirty-one. was
married and leaves four children. James Colburn.
foreman was injured about the head.
The building IN which the explosion occurred was
part OF plant mad0 up Of one hundred small
buildings In which the work OF preparing powder
IS carried on. This building known corn
ing mill and in IT fuses were prepared. At work
IN the building were two men, II was $40 O'Clock
when the whole town startled by loud re-
port and window-ights in various sections were
shattered. Every one knew immedia tely that the
report meant another explosion at the crackers"
as the powder plant is called. and there a
hurried assembling OF the villagers.
When the smoke cleared away tho building. %
by 30 feet In dimensions. was In ruins A little dis
lance away was the body Of Dlunden. who had
evidently been almost instantly killed further
hasty search revealed the fact that Foreman Col
burn had been injured An hours continued
search failed TO disclose other fatalities. and the
work Of rounding up the employees OF the com
pany begun. The damage done by the explo-
sion not great The material loss was small.
The building In which Il occurred was completely
plant were damaged Just how the explosion oc-
Cured has not been learned
This is the third explosion TO occur at this plant
within two years. Early on he morning OF Sep
TENDER IS. 1896 during heavy thunderstorm. one
OF the crackers was struck by lightning and a
amount Of powder was exploded. The en-
ployes had gone to work at that hour. however.
and there no fatalities
On June IS, 1887, one Of the barn crackers was
blown to pieces. In the building at the time were
three men. all Of whom instantly killed. and
near by stood a horse, which was torn to pieces
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-28
TO PROTECT MINES IN HARBORS
SECRETARY ALGER URGES LEGISLATION BY
CONGRESS.


Washington May 2.-The Secretary Of War to-
day sent to the Senate letter transmitting the
draft Of bill 10 protect explosive mines in the
waters Of the United States. The bill provides as
follows
Whenever war exists or is imminent by or against
the United States and mines torpedoes and other
like instruments OF war shall he placed in the har
bors. roadWays other waters OF the United
States IL shall be the duty of the Secretary OF
War 10 make and publish regulations for the con-
duct of vessels and persons on vessels with
gard 10 the safety Of said instruments. vessels and
persons
" is made the Secretary's duty TO publish the
regulations in the principal newspapers. and It Is
made a misdemeanor to disooey them The pen
atty for violation is fine OF not less than 800
nor more than 81 900 and In the case Of masters
the forfeiture OF their licenses Authority Is given
to commanders OF Government vessels engaged In
patroing the waters aforesaid 70 detain any yes
sci suspicion for not more than twelve hours
and 10 force and arms to compel submission
II IS made the duty Of the Secretary OF State TO
give wide publicity to the regulations IN foreign
ports and the certificate of any United States
Consul that he has furnished Il copy OF the regu-
ations 10 the OF a vessel previous to its en-
iering American waters is made admissible as evil
dence against the vessel in case OF a trial for
viola ton Of the regulations.
Secretary Aiger IN his letter Of transmittal says
The need OF afordlns protection to the mines has
become highly important In connection with our
defensive woIAs. and Deine informed By the Attcr-
ney-General that no authority Of law is found
by which the Department can adequately regulate
mediate favorable consideration OF tho bill here
with presented.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-28
DEFICIENCY BILL GROWING.
THE TOTAL WILL PROBABLY EXCEED TWO
HUNDRED MILLIONS.

THE TOTAL WILL PROBABLY EXCEED TWO
HUNDRED MILLIONS.
Washington. May 27.-The General Deficiency
bill to be passed at this session Of Congress Will
carry the largest appropriation OF any deficiency
bill for years, II not In the history of the Gov
eminent 1t will carry at least 100000 600 and
probably more. subcommittee on deficiency
Of the House Appropriations Committee Will
meet at the War Department tomorrow and go
over with officials the estimates submitted by
the Department. now aggregating about $685.
100000. Of which Sl56 900 900 is due solely to
the war They will doubtless have submitted to
them an additional estimate Of between $4,000
coo and $50OO0O0o on account Of the second
call for volunteers
This deficiency has not been officially COM
muaicated to Congress, but It is understood that
the amount will be asked for thus carrying the
total Of the bill up to at least S2O3 100000. I'M
less some items are pruned down. which Is not
likely. The bill. It Is now planned by the COM
mttee Is likely to be reported to the House next
week though il may be delayed by develop
ments growing out Of the Hawaiian issue.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-28
SNIP SEARCHED AT HAMBURG

Berlin May 2-Andrew d. White. United States
Ambassador is greatly pleased at the fresh evil
dence yesterday Of Germany's strict neutrality
Acting upon Information from the United States
Consul at Hamburg to the effect that the Spanish
steamer Pnzon was about TO sail with contraoand
OF war; Mr.. White went TO the Foreign ONCE and
Protested with the result that the Government Of
fcals acted promptly. The steamer searched
and no contraband- Of war was found board.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-28
ACTIVE COAST CRUISERS
MOVEMENTS OF THE WATCH DOGS OF THE NEW
IN

Boston May N.-The United States cruiser San
Francisco. which arrived here yesterday with sew
cral sick sailors. sailed for Provincetown this
morning.
Provincetown Mass. May E.-The flagship San
Francisco weighed anchor at o'clock this AFTER
noon and went out for a nights patrol. The Prairie
left OF $50 Tho San Francisco had target practice
this afternoon.
Block Island, r. J.. May T>1The cruiser Column
hia arrived In the bay az Is p m. and sent boat
ashore for mail and kilograms
Newport r. l.. May 1.-THE auxiliary cruiser
Resolute arrived this morning from New York.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-28

association to say Colonel Greene that the
veterans association would present 10 the SIN
project with the approval of his comrades
He asked all who acquiesced in the patriotic un-
dertaking TO arise The motion was carried, and
committee of three. OF which Colonel william am
colors for presentation before the 9Th leaves ~
present scene Of encampment: The committee Pc n
gan az once the collection OF a fund with when
To purchase the flags. A substantial sum. II wa
SAID promptly realized . .., 49,.
The speakers were the Rev Mr.. Nichols. tnS
new chaplain OF the 9th. General Allan Kuthertoro
Wallace Bruce. Captain Charles C. Wehrum oi
the 18th Massachusetts Volunteers. and Co1onsa
Charles r. Braine.