Los Angeles herald., 1905-12-28
FLOOD THREATENS
RUINS OF HOTEL
WATER MAIN BURSTS UNDER
BROADWAY VAN NUYS
Former Guests Fear Walls Will Fall
and Cover aIuables-Depart-
ment Unable to Stop
the Flow

Water was flowing into the basement
of the Van Nuys Broadway hotel last
night from a broken water main and
it is feared br the owners of the build
ing that the walls may be undermined
so that they will fall. The main was
damaged in the fire Sunday morning
and burst at o'clock yesterday after
noon. Within q few hours water had
flowed into the basement to a depth
of several feet.
The water department sent men to
shut off the water but they were un-
able to locate the main as there are
several in the ground under Broadway.
If the walls should tumble into the
debris they will cover up the valuables
that are buried there and it is the
fear of the owners, who say it would
be many days before the valuables can
be recovered. The hotel safe was
turned over yesterday but the work.
men We're unable to raise it so that
it could be opened. In it are jewels
and many other belongings which the
proprietors of the burned hotel desire
to return to the owners.
Very little was done yesterday
toward searching for lost articles on
account of the danger that is incurred
by anyone who enters the ruins. Many
heavy pieces of iron or metal, such as
bathtubS, can be seen partly protuding
through the second floor which is in
such weakened condition that it may
fall to the basement at any moment.
The losses that have been reported at
the police station SO far are as fol-
lows:
Mrs. L. Bixel, 81 souvenir spoons
obtained in European cities, Eastern
Star pin black ribbon belt with valu-
able engraved gold buckle, ring, gold
rim nose glasses and gold stick pins.
Mrs. Marie Schaelzie, trunk contain
Ing 5000 worth of clothes
G. J. Cotton, Searchlight, New, gold
cross set with diamonds, valued at
$3.50; gold nugget cuff buttons.
Mrs. Thomas Benton, Lincoln, Neb..
gold watch, gold necklace, three dia-
mond and pearl pins, silver hat pin,
plain gold bracelet, two gold belts.
three seal rings and silver-mounte
toilet set
G.. A. Fitch, gold watch and Knight
Templar charm.
Mrs. Underwood, turquoise necklace,
stone necklace, diamond studded
locket.
j. A. Mcdonald, 2525 Michigan ave-
nue., gold brooch, horse shaped. set
with diamonds, and three solitaire dia-
mond rings.
Mrs. Frank Suyden, gold watch, gold
bracelet, eight pearls and gold hair
pins
Insurance Figures Given
The total loss from the fire which
destroyed the Van Nuys Broadway ho-
tel and adjoining buildings Sunday is
estimated at $269,000 The Insurance. Is
$9s,5OO. Following is a table showing
less and insurance carried as given yes
terday by owners and lessees of the
buildings:
insurance carried by Broadway Van
Nuys Hotel Co.: Alliance $1,000; Ger
man Peoria, $2500; National Union.
$4,000; Colonial. $4,000 Royal, $500:
Home, $5000 North America, $4,000;
Germania, $1,000. Total, $4,000; esti-
mated loss, $4,000.
Insurance carried by the Broadway
Van Nuys Cafe Co.: Providence. $1,000:
estimated loss, $4,000.
Insurance carried by the Cass-Dame-
rel Hardware Co.: North River. stock.
$17OO, fixtures $500; London e. Lanca-
shire, stock $1T00, fixtures $500: West
chester, stock $3.50, fixtures $3.50; I.iv-
erpool Globe, stock $780, fixtures $3.50:
American of Boston, stock $3.50. fixtures
$3.50; Firemen's Fund, stock $3.50, fix
lures $3.50; National of Hartford stock
$3.50, fixtures $3.50; Milwaukee Me-
CHdHlcsi STOCK $ooO 1lXtureS $50; Con-
t'nental, stock $l700, fixtures $500; Ger
man National, stock $3.50, fixtures $3.50
Total insurance, $4,000; estimated loss,
$45 600.
Insurance carried by the California
Wall Paper company: Firemen's Fund,
$1,000; M. Il. Whitaker agency, $4,000;
Hollingsworth & Co. agency $1,000;
Cochran agency and others S25OO. To-
tai, $500; estimated loss, 100000.
Insurance on Martz building: ALI
ence, $4,000; Alliance, $4,000; Germania,
$4,000; German of Freeport, $500; other
companies, $4,000. Total, $4,000; esti-
mated loss, $85,000.
Insurance on the Winstel building:
German of Freeport, $4,000; Germania,
$4,000; others. $1,000 Total, $25, 900; es-
tlmated loss $4,000.
Total estimated loss, s269.OOO. Tota,
insurance, $99500.