The herald., 1898-11-24
THE BALDWIN HOTEL

landmark, will be destroyed. In this dome
were stored many relics of the Baldwin
Theater.
The Baldwin Theater was completely de-
molished by the falling of the fifth floor.
The entire effects of the Secret Service"
company, which was filling an engagement
at that theater, were entirely destroyed.
Nothing whatever was saved. The scenery
and stage settings was very valuable. A
great deal of jewery and money belonging
to members of the troup was lost. In addi-
tion, the contracts were burned.
The wall on the north side ellis street,
| appears to be strong, but the west wall,
which appears to be very weak, leans to-
ward the interior ruins.
| The Columbia Theater and Easements of
places of business opposite the Baldwin
We're damaged by water to an extent of
$4,000.
INSURANCE IS SMALL
The Baldwin Hotel has been known and
dreaded for years by fremen and insurance
people as the worst kind of tre-trap. 1t
has been stated often that there were no
| fire walls in it except those inclosing the
theater, and that no insurance company
would write a risk on the building except
for a small amount and a heavy premium.
| The building of the hotel began in 1873
and it was finished in 1877, its total cost,
including ground and furniture, being 49,
100000. The building was in the French
Renaissance style, with Corinthian columns
and mansard roof, six stories high and with
a principal dome l62 feet in height. The
hotel occupied the lot at the gore formed by
! the intersection of Market and Powell
streets, extending about 200 feet on Mar
ket street, 400 feet on Powell and 300 feet
on Ellis streets. In the building was the
Baldwin Theater. The street floor of the
immense building was occupied by the ho-
tel office, bar room and numerous stores. In
| the basement was an deliberately fitted cafe.
+. j. Baldwin stated this morning that he
carried 100000 insurance, but he could not
remember in what companies.
DEATH OF A HERO
| The death Of White was most dramatic
Three women appeared on the cornice Of
the fifth story on the Market-street side of
the hotel. The firemen could not reach
them with ladders and they stood helpless,
screaming with terror. Suddenly White
came out of window carrying small rope
! With this he lowered the women into the
arms of the firemen, who were waiting at
the windows of the next floor. Then White
started down the rope, hand over hand
Half way down the rope parted and the
men who had just saved three lives was
dashed to death on the pavement 100 feet
below.
BALDWIN'S ESCAPE
Lucky" Baldwin had a narrow escape
from perishng within his fre-trap. Amid
all the din he slept peacefully until his room
was broken into and he was dragged from
his bed
II. l. Kowalsky, a well known attorney,
was also dragged unconscious from his bed
He will recover. One of the most thrilling
incidents of the fire was the rescue of A. II.
Christie by Fireman Keough. For fifteen
minutes Christie ran to and fro on the cor
nice of the fifth floor, seeking in vain for
some way to escape the rapidly approaching
flames Fireman Keough, after many eff
forts, managed to reach Christie and bring
him down in safety.
IL. Il. bdltiNlil, ONucI VI lIic HOttl, Is pros
trated and unable to tell much about his
affairs. He says he will not be able to es-
innate his loss for several days. II. w.
Lake, manager of the hotel, barely managed
to get out with his wife and children. He
says there were 300 guests in the hotel DR..
Freeman of the Gay Coney Island Company,
escaped but lost $500 in cash and all his
papers.
TUESDAYS REGISTRY
The following named people registered at
the Baldwin Hotel yesterday
Mrs Stocking San Diego.
ID. Lipman, city.
W. NJ. Rice, Vancouver.
j. Wadsworth and wife, Yrella; j. Cos
linsky, Keswick; f. c. Bowman and wife,
st. Louis; DIR. Harrington, Arizona; W. r..
Clark, Stockton; L. A. Booksin, San Jose;
j. NJ. Francouer and wife, New York; Mrs.
Reny, New York; Miss. Perry, New York;
c. Ii. Chester, Milwaukee; L. r. Prince
Boston; r. p. Adrain, city; L. J. Caldwell,
Los Angeles; j. w. Blair, Portland; j. K