New-York tribune., 1903-04-11
FOUR TENDERLOIN FIRES.
ONE IN THE FL1TIRON.
Many People IN Vieforia Hotel and
4 Ddrtment Houses Scared.

-Four fires in tthe Tenderloin district created
much excitement in that part of the city yes
ferday. The rrost serious blaze scared many
guests in the Victoria Hotel and annex and oc-
cupents OF two fashionable Fifth-ave. apartment
houses early in the morning and caused loss
OF about 100000 The Flatiron Building was
the scene of a slight but exciting fire at noon
All the fires in the district were believed TO he
OF accidental origin.
The early morning fire was in the middle Of
the block bounded by Twenty-sixth and Twen-
-seventh-sts and Broadway and Fifth-ave, in
e warehouse used by John F. Douthtt, deco
rator. for the storage of paintings and fur
nirure. His store is on the ground floor Of the
apartment house No go and ODD Fifth-ave,
next door 10 the Crosic apartments at Twen-
ty-sixth-st The flames in the warehouse gained
considerable headway before they were dis
covered and smoke entered both the apartment
houses and the Victoria Hotel and annex In
volumes sufficient to cause alarm. Three hum
dred guests in the hotel were turned out of their
rooms and were forced 10 take refuge in the
restaurant of the hotel until the danger was
over Many actors and actresses in the
mex Went 10 the fire escapes, but learned that
there was no immediate danger and returned TO
their rooms later.
The hremen went into the Croisic and helped
TO rescue several women from the smoke. A
panic there was averted by the presence of the
fremen. although many persons in the house
left their apartments for time In the apart
rnent house next door Mrs. Huntington. Miss
Penheld and Miss Letter, niece of the Chicago
merchant were rescued from the smoke by po-
iicemen. Patrolman Duffy found Mrs. Higgin-
son and her daughter chasing two prize win
ming Angora cats on the top floor The women
refused TO be rescued until they had caught the
cats and had seen them safely slowed in bas-
kets. Then they walked downstairs with the
policeman, who carried out the cats.
Captain Zalinski the inventor OF the dynamite
gun. who is an invalid, carried out of his
room by firemen. although he protested that he
wanted 10 stay and look after some papers and
models relating TO new inventions His nephew.
S. L. Adler. looked after them, however.
The firemen directed most of their efforts for
a tirne TO keeping the flames from spreading TO
the hotel and apartment houses and it was
about ) a m. when the fire in the warehouse
was subGued. Then most Of the persons who
had been frightened returned TO their rooms.
Mr. Douthitt's loss by the fire said TO be
about S1oao0n. as many valuable paintings
were destroyed. and his insurance was said to
be $4,000 Among the paintings were four by
Delgardo depicting sporting life in Spain; the
Original Lion by Drake; number of paint
ings by Felix. a landscape by Raschniel. val
ued at 5000 and numerous engravings by
Kaufman. a large collection of draperies and
tapestries was also destroyed Raschniel.
whose landscape was destroyed. is painting sew
eral pictures for Andrew Carnegie.
The second fire. originating in defective
fue was discovered at $50 a. m. in the Jap
anese goods store of Chon Yum & Co, at No.
60 West Thirfy-third-st- The fremen eXtin-
guished the flames before there was serious dam
age. but considerable excitement was created in
the Martinique apartment hotel The clerk in
the hotel was kept busy for time answering
snxious inquiries on the telephone from upper
rooms
4 defective electric light wire started a fire
al noon in the glass exteuson of the Flatiron
Building on the ground floor. at the sharp
Tuenty-third-st corner. where the United cigar
Stores COMPANY had an Easter display of arti-
fcial flowers The flames broke through the
glass. causing display not expected. The fire
men responded quickly to alarm. and in ten
minutes the fire was When the hrenen
reached the building the cigar store was filled
with q thick smoke. Many Of the tenants III
the building became excited. and rushed down
the stairs 10 the street while others contented
themselves by looking out Of the offce WIN
dows at the fire The crowd became so large
that Captain O'Connor. of the West Thirueth-
Ct station. hastened TO the scene with the
reserves.
The fourth fire in the district created scare
in the building No. II West Twenty sn~Lh-st, ~
the ground floor Of which is occupied by Young
< Nueent wholesale florists. A tent IN the
back yard. sheltering large consignment OF
Easter flowers. caught fire Many women "eIe
IN the place when the fire was discovered. and
there was q stampede. while persons on the up
per floors Of the house were hurting water from
rear windows on the tent me hrenleh mace
short work Of the fire when they got there. and
the loss was oniy about S2te