Phoenix weekly herald. [volume] (Phoenix, Maricopa County, Ariz. Territory) 1896-1899, 1898-11-24
THE BALDWIN BURNS.

San Francisco, Nov. 23:-The Baldwin
Hotel. which cagnt fire at $3.50 this
morning. is still burning but the fire is
under control. The number of lives
lost is not yet known. A. J. White
and Louis Mayer cigar dealers of
Skaguay dropped dead from heart dis
ease caused by excitement. They were
guests of the hotel. The hotel is to-
tai loss.
The Baldwin theatre is completely
demolished by falling of the fifth floor.
The entire effects of the Secret Serv-
ice Company which was filing an en-
gagement ait the theatre. are entirely
destroyed. Nothing whatever was
saved. Scenery and stage setting was
very valua BILE. a great deal of jewelry
and money belonging to the members
of the troupe was lost. In addition con-
tracts were burned. The wall on the
north side, Ellis street, appears to he
strong; the west wall, hich appears
to be very weak. leans toward the in
terror ruins. The Columbia theatre and
easements of the places of business
opposite the Baldwin were damaged
by water to an extent of $4,000
There were 500 people. guests and
employees. in the hotel wehen the fire
broke out and a number of these peo-
pie are thought to have lost their lives
\ man named A. J. White is one OF
the victims. but before he gave up his
life the gallant fellow saved the lives
of three women.
The fire is said to have started in
the kitchen. located in the basement
on the Ellis street side. The fire
worked its way up through a fine TO
the Sixth floor and before the first
alarm was sent IN had gained great
Roadway.
The building of the hotel began IN
1873 and it was finished in 1877. its
total cost. including the ground and
furniture being $3.OO0O0O. The build
ing was in the French renaissance
style with Corinthian columns and a
mAnsard roof. six stories high and
with n principal dome 1852 feet in
height. The hotel occupied the lot al
the gore formed by the intersection OF
Market and Powell streets. extending
about 200 feet on Market street. 400 on
Powell and 300 feet on Ellis streets.
In the building was the Baldwin thea
ire The street floors of the immense
building was occupied by the hotel Of
fees. bar room and numerous stores
The basement was deliberately fitted
for n cafe e. J. Baldwin stated this
morning that he carried 100000 in
surance but he could not remember in
what companies.
For years the Baldwin has been re
garded as the most dangerous fire trap
in San Francisco. built of wook, six
stories high. with narrow tol'tuous
Railways it is wonder half of the
people in the hotel escaped. They
were slow to awaken. many We're
dazed and stupefied by smoke when
the police. firemen and hotel employees
hurrying through the Railways. kicked
open the doors and notified the people
of their danger. When they managed
70 reach tlle windows and fire escapes
there were no ladders. Many attempt
ed to jump from the windows TO the
streets. but they were warned not to
do so by the crowd below. Then the
firemen got up their ladders and com
menced taking peonlp to the ground.
rescuing many in this manner.
The death of White was most dra
matte. Three women appeared on the
cornice of the fifthsstory on the Market
street side of the hotel. The firemen
could not reach them with ladders and
they stood helpless. strea ming will
terror. Suddenly White came ont of .
window. carrying small rope. With
this he lowered the women into tho
arms of the firemen. who We're waitin"
nj rhn windows of the next floor Their
White started down the rome hand
overland. When half way down the
rope parted and thp man who had juS-
saved three lives was dashed to dealt
On the pavement 100 feet below.