Los Angeles herald., 1905-01-23
FIRE DAMAGES THE NADEAU
HOTEL BLOCK
Men and Women Rush FrsntleaIIy
from Their Rooms at the Alarm
Of Flre-Loss Several Thou
sand Dollars

1
t. L. Tally. 1t spread through the
clothing store belonging to s. slegeI,
completely burned the interior Of the
Nadeau barber shop and damaged the
hotel to the extent of $4,000.
Although the loss was less than that
sustained in recent fires the blaze
created more excitement than usual
because of the danger to the guests in
the hotel.
The blaze was first seen by Detective
Jack Walsh, who was passing corner
opposite to the building occupied by
the moving picture machines He
glanced across the street and saw q
ball of fire spreading through the
machines. He Immediately started to-
ward 1t and as he did so the fire
reached the celluloid film and with a
report like canon blew out the win
dows of the store and spread to the
hotel building.
| Walsh dashed across the street and
Loomis turned in the first alarm from
/ box 12. Walsh went to the nearest
box and turned in the second and the
| first engine arrived almost Immediately
from the Also street station.
BY the time the firemen we're able TO
get the hose turned on the burning
building the flames had almost COM
pletely enveloped the side wall and one
of the electric poles at the corner of
First and Spring had taken fire.
| Members of the police force put up
| fire ropes as soon as they could be
brought to the spot to keep the crowd
back and to prevent any danger from
falling wires.
| Dan Grabill was on duty as night
clerk In the hotel and discovered the
flames almost as soon as the officer.
He turned on the fire call box which
rings the bells in each room for nearly
fifteen minutes and aroused the guests.
H. Alden, the proprietor of the hotel,
who occupies a room on the third floor,
had retired, but long before the bell
had ceased ringing he was on the main
floor directing operations.
The guests came down in any kind
of wearing apparel which came nearest
to hand.
| Women appeared In overcoats and
mems hats picked UP from the halls
as they ran. Some were without shoes
and stockings and others showed with
hair streaming down their backs. One
man landed in the hall with two over
coats and part of one suit in his arms.
having forgotten everything else in
his mad rush to get out of the build
ing. Three women were carried down
stairs by the bell boys. having tainted
at the first alarm. and an old man.
who Is partially crippled, had to be
borne from the third floor by the same
willing arms.
Several people on the fourth floor
rushed to the windows and would have
| jumped If the boys had not reached
them in time to hold them back. At
one time a window was thrown open
and a huge bulk was seen to emerge.
The next minute there was crash on
the pavement below, and when the
officers reached the spot heavy trunk
was laying on the ground. The box
had not been locked and a shower of
wearing apparel landed In the street
at the same time.
The hotel doors were locked as soon
as 1t was ascertained that the build
ing would not go, and no one was al
lowed to enter. In this way the usual
amount of thefts was prevented.
The women were sent into a room
On the first floor and allowed to COM
plete their toiletes, after they were
assured that no serious danger would
result.
When the flames had burned the in
terror and side wall of the corner
storeroom they crept upward to the
northeast front room Of the hotel,
which is used as parlor. and the by
ISLANDERS thought when this point was
reached that the whole building, as
we'll as the surrounding block, would
burn.
The firemen were quick to turn the
hose on the second floor, and the fire
was stopped before it went beyond this
room. The furniture and fixtures of
the room were completely demolished,
and that which was not hurt by fire
was ruined by water and smoke.
The damage to the hotel was slight,
although smoke filled every room in
the house. making them uninhabitable
for some time.
The lights went out in many of the
rooms. leaving the guests in darkness,
and the popping wires added to their
dread and terror.
Everything belonging to the picture
show was burned and the Nadeau
barber shop was damaged to the ex-
tent of $500.
The Siegel clothing store is one of
the oldest of its kind in the city and it
was here that the greatest loss was
sustained. The doors and windows
were all broken open and the hose al
lowed to play at full blast. The dis
play hats and clothing in theowindows
| uyara amaNf alOuQ with fha fo.,a,,f Of