The herald., 1898-09-28
FIRE AT HOTEL VfNDOME
MUCH MORE SERIOUS THAN WAS
FIRST REPORTED
FINANCIAL LOSS IS HEAVY
One Man Suffocated and One Badly
Injured-Rumors Of Bodies in
the Ruins
Associated Press Special Wire.

Associated Press Special Wire.
| SAN JOSE, Sept. 27.-Thc result in the
loss of property from the NeudoIne Hotel
I fire is heavier than at first anticipated,
as the flying sparks, 1t is believed, caused
the loss of the fruit packing house Of Por
! ter Bros. The building caught about 4l5
this morning. and although strenuous eff
forts to save it We're made by the firemen
It was totally destroyed The building
and fixtures We're not worth over $500, but
a large quantity of fr,;it was stored In it,
which was consumed. Manager Bills says
the loss of Porter Bros. is about $4,000
| but fully covered by insurance. A big
force of tiremen was at both places I noon
today, still playing streams of water on
the ruins.
| 1t was about 1850 last night when the fire
| was discovered in the top story of the
dining-room and kitchen annex, or wing.
of the Nendome Hotel The belief was en-
Itertained by every one that the whole build
| ing was doomed, but the fremen by des-
| perate efforts confined the fire to this
wing. At / o'clock this morning the roof
and two upper foors crashed through to
the dinng-room floor, carrying a number
| Of firemen down with II. There was awful
excitement for few seconds when cries
for help wera heard from the ruins. Fire
men and willing hands Jumped to the
rescue and soon Ed Holtz. Fred Hambi
Paul Farrar, Frank Hogan. Pete Cilleran,
George Welch and Jack Doyle were safe.
None of them were injured but had been
forced to yell to tha.r comrades to stop
| the water or they would be drowned.
Wher he tor atonnoS and 10
got air most Of them were able to climb
out themselves.
! But the word went around that Miles
missing Heroic efforts to find them were
made, and after some time Williamson
was found prned down by tirnbers and
nearly sufforated. He was eventually re-
leased AID given attention. While weak
and suffering, no fatal injury was found
| and h. was taken home.
! McDermott could no' be found. The fire
wai still burning. bit under control. Work
never ceased for one moment and at 1885
the body was discovered ina sitting posi-
tion. It was ILLS before the timber and
debris could be removed SO the body could
be taken out when It was removed to the
morgue He had not been burned, but had
|
The left hand was cooked by steam.
| At noon 1t was still rumored around that
San Francisco fireman who was here
on a visit had gone down In the wreck
and was stnl there He was described as
wearing badge numbered II. but no one
could give any name OF particulars, and
this rumor may be incorrect. Report had
It that other bcr1es are in the ruins, but
| ei,,
Chief Ford was inclined to- think 1t cor
rert
The scene at the beautiful hotel is one
| ruins. All the center Of the building
from top to basement is flooded. carpets
destroyed and furniture smashed There
Is an Insurance ot $4,000, and Manager
Schnell says 1t will tak-,'it al to repair
| the loss.
| Others say This = too much probably, and
that s5oG9 Will co*er It. The building was
| owned by q stock company and was erected
in 1851 The total cost, including the beau
t:ful grounds, was 100000 Tho chief in
surance companies which lose are, Mechan-
| les Of Milwaukee. Lancashire Of Manches-
ter, Engla nd, Home of New York, Phoenix
Of Hartford, Conn, Royal Exchange and
Queen.
1 Porter 5rotHerS WeIc luli9 IH'uted afno ong
several companies, so no one loses any
| great sum.
Fortunately only about s:xty-five guests
were In the hotel While there was grea
excitement and some loss Of personal prop
crty, all escaped safely.
Fireman McDermott leaves a widow and
three young children. He was about 40
years of age and much esteemed.
The front of the hotel is not injured nov
are the grounds seriously damaged. For
tunately there was no wind last night or
the damage would have spread hey ond
computation. AS 1t was, when the heat