The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1898-12-01
BALDWIN HOTEL BURNED
A Famous Landmark Of San Fran
cisco Destroyed.
GUESTS PERISHED IN FLAMES.
Lucky" Baldwin's S2.50O.0o0 Hotel and
Theatre in Ruirs-J. L. White Aids
Three Women TO Escape and is Dashed
to Death-Other Thrilling Eescues-
The House Fire Trap.

to Death-Other Thrilling Sescues-
The House Fire Trap.
SAN FRANCISCO, Cal. (SpeciaD. The
Baldwin Hotel, one OF the landmarks OF
this city and which inclosed the Baldwin
Theatre, known to every actor in the
country, he's been destroyed BY fire. The
fire broke out at 3.25 O'Clock a. m, and be.
fore dawn the theatre and hotel were
in ruins. The list OF dead so far as OBJ
tainable on the day after the fire is as fol-
lows:
j. l.. White, capitalist, residing in the
hotel; Louis Meyers, Secretary La Tuyaca
Bay gold mine: John J.. Carter. associate
judge of California Jockey Club; Tate
Pryor, sheet writer for J. J. Carroll; J. NJ.
Lighthead, purser Of the steamer City OF
Sydney. Mr.. Louis Meyers rushed from
the burning hotel and was attacked by
heart disease rs he reached the street. He
died at hospital.
The fire is believed to have started in the
Baldwin Theatre. for the flames rushed
through the airshafts and corridors and
the walls on the Market street and Powell
street sides burned as IL they were tinder.
The two upper stories were ablaze in twen-
ty minutes.
An immense throng mad gathered on
Market, Powell and Ellis streets. Those
who were on the market street side were
appalled, at the sight OF three women and
man who appeared at round window
above the Market and Eddy street corner.
They climbed through the window and
lowered themselves to the cornice by
means ola rope. The women were helped
l,-l 1~.N1 a. &lN<
corntce and were on the fire escape Mr..
White attempted to let himself down to
the cornice. While he was suspended
above the ground the rope parted and he
shot downward to the pavement. He died
almost instantly.
When the fifth floor fell il carried with it
the supports OF the theatre galleries and q
black che2m was all that was left to mark
the place where the theatre had stood.
Nothing was saved from the theatre. Thou
sands OF dollars worth of stage settings
and much valuable scenery were destroyed,
also many Costumes owned by members OF
William Gillette's "Secret Service COM
pany. The manager Of the company lost
the trunk containing contracts OF many
kinds.
The loss through fire Is estimated at g.
100000. The insurance does not exceed
S3o0,0C0 OF which amount S100,000 was re-
Gently placed on the hotel.
pathetic figure around the fire was the
old millionaire Lucky" Baldwin, who has
been almost ruined by the sudden loss OF
the hotel, which was the apple OF his eye.
He had spent large amoant Of money IN
the costly decorations OF the main apart
ments, and for years he had made 1t his
home. He lost valuable collection OF
curlos and all his papers, which he kept IN
wooden box In his room. Only q few
weeks ago he received an offer OF 80 ,000,-
600 for tho property.
Fire Marshal Towe declares the struc-
ture was death trap, and says no such
lllmsy structure shall Do erected again In
tho heart Of the city.
4. II. Christie, OF Milwaukee, was saved
from II perllOus position on the roof by q
fireman, Ed Kehoe. When rescued Mr..
Christie had Il razor in his hand, with the
determination 10 kin himself rather than
TO plunge into the flames that ragged be-
meath him.