Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1906-02-12


which swept from the basement
of the Y. NJ bamboo store on South
Broadway UP through the hall and COR
ridors of the Louise hotel late last
night, thirty guests were rescued and
carried down ladders by members of
the Los Angeles police and fire depart
ments.
The blaze, which is thought by some
to be of incendiary origin, started in
the basement of the Y. Nj. company
bamboo store at SIG South Broadway
shortly after 10 o'clock.
1t was first noticed by pedestrian,
who turned in an alarm at Fifth and
Broadway.
The fire department. reached the
scene, which is three-story building,
within three minutes, but by that time
the flames had spread through the bar
rels of varnsh and over the piles of
bamboo in the basement of the build =
ing, and a sitting smoke was pouring
from the windows and doorways Of the
building.
Fight With Axes
With their axes the firenen dashed
in the doors and attempted to fight
their way to the basement of the build
ing, but time after time they plunged
toward the steps only to come stagger-
ing back, blinded by smoke and chok-
ing for breath.
Then for the first time the occupants
of the Louise hotel, directly above the
store, became aware OF The fire and
In an instant panic ensued.
Partly clad men and women dashed
about the halls and from one room to
another attempting to find way to
escape.
All rushed to the stairways and hall,
but the fierce heat and suffocating
smoke sent them screaming back to
their rooms.
None thought of the fire escape and
it was not until squad of police, led
by Sergeant Craig, had put up a lad
der, dashed in the windows with their
billies and leaped into the corridors
that any of the occupants began to
quiet down.
First Guest Rescued
Miss Grace Pillar was the first to be
taken down. She was partly overcome
by smoke and was hurried to a nearby
drug store.
While the blaze was Surging through
the basement and sending hot tongues
of flame up to the higher floors, Samuel
Hood, 81 years of age, bedridden and
absolutely helpless, fought feebly in an
attempt to escape.
Time after time the old man, alarmed
by the smoke and the Shrieks, clutched
and tore at his bedding in an attempt
to gain MS footing. But it was Of no
avail and with a moan he sank back
to his bed to die.
In the excitement it seemed as if the
guests could think only of their own
safety.
But not so with one plucky woman.
Searches for Father
In the meantime Hoods daughter,
Miss NJ. C. Hood, proprietor of the
hotel, had been dashSng from room to
room searching for her father. She
found him and attempted to carry him
from the room. but the old man was
perfectly cool and refused to go.
"I am DID," he said, II have but
few weeks to live at the most, so let
me go and save yourself. Good-by,
daughter, hurry and leave me-"
The woman turned with scream for
help and officer O'Brien, one of the
ablest officers of the local department,
dashed to the room and lifted the old
man, bed clothing and all, on his
With his handkerchief stuffed in his
mouth and fighting his way through
the smoke the officer carried his bur-
den to a window and then down the
ladder.
Hood was taken to a nearby lodging
house and put to bed, but the shock
and exposure, combined with his feeble
may cause his death.
Miss Hood was assisted to safety
by Sergeant Craig.
Saves Twelve Inmates
Mr.. and Mrs. w. d. Mcneil were
piloted through the smoke to the lad
DER by Patrolman Jack Walsh,
This officer saved twelve of the in
mates of the hotel.
Mrs. C, S. Heald and Miss Annie
Head were taken down the ladder and
A. c. Anderson, Mrs. Richard Hart.
MIR. and Mrs. j. G. Harris and Samuel
Coles were rescued by the officers
While the officers were helping the
guests down the ladders the fremen
were attempting to gain an entrance
from the rear of the building
At almost every entrance the smoke
was suffocating.
several loads Of bamboo and a number
OF barrels of varnish were stored in q.
small wareroom.
The room was covered with a thick
protection Of galvanized iron and the
hremen were compelled to hew through
it with their axes.
Flood the Basement
Even then they We're forced back by
the suffocating smoke.
A small squad from company No. 9
were put to work flooding the base
ment-
1t was impossible to get in. so the fire
lads chopped out the cellar windows
and, lying on the ground, turned the
nozzles of the hose cellarwasd and
started the water in.
Several Of them Were carried away