Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1906-01-25
SICK WOMAN
CALLS F|REMEN
HOME OF UNION LEAGUE CLUB
SECRETARY BURNS
owner 5Iames Telephone Operator
for Delay, and Family Uses
Garden Hose to Stay
Flames

After making a home the ideal Of his
life since ~ years old, NJ. S. Gregory
| secretary of the Union League club
was forced to stand idly by last even.
| ing about 1880 o'clock and see the new
$t2,0 900 house at 2340 London street that
he had nearly completed, burn to The
ground. Poor telephone service Is
blamed by Mr.. Gregory for the loss OF
| his house.
| With a. wife confined to her bed i'm a
nearby house. occupied by the family
until the home was finished, Mr.. Greg
DRY was busy with assisting his chill
dren, their nurse and Mrs. Gregory
from the house before he could turn
his attention to the burning mansion.
Then with small garden hose the
owner of the burning building at
tempted to hold the flames under con-
troll until the fire department arrived.
After working ten minutes i'm binding
sheets of flame and nearly choked by
the clouds of smoke, Mr.. Gregory rea-
lized that he could do nothing to save
the house.
Sick Wife Calls
Despite her condition of i'll health,
Mrs. Gregory stood by the open win
dow of their temporary home and at
tempted to get central on the telephone.
When nearly overcome the nurse
her at the post.
After finally arousing the operator
the nurse says she was forced to go
through n detailed account of the To-
cation of the fire before the operator
would notify the fire department.
Long after all hope of saving the
house had been given up the fire de-
partment arrived on the scene and
worked desperately to save the house,
Tn LII nf I,n
affair afterwards, Mr.. Gregory said
that he did not blame the department
for the tardy response. "It was the
telephone OPERATOR" he said.
The telephone officials, however, say
those who telephoned were so excited
they could not state clearly what they
wanted.
ITO all appearances the fire was in
cendiary," said Mr.. Gregory. my wife
noticed the fire first. retired with my
children at 1880 o'clock and about Ills
Mrs Gregory called to my attention q
cracking sound.
Struggles With Blaze
"In an instant I saw that the fire
had gained good Roadway. I leaped
into my clothes and began to fight the
fire. Next 1 thought of my family.
For minute l went to their assistance
and in a short time l saw them all safe
in the care of neighbors. Then 1 re-
turned to fight the fire.
This home was the dream of my
life. l have planned this house since
childhood and I took every precaution
against fire. Chief Lipps gave the
carpenters a fire drill thirty days ago
and I allowed no smoking in the house.
AT o'clock last evening Mr.. Moore,
my foreman, went through the house
with me and we were careful to leave
no matches about.
"1n the part where the fire started
there were no shavlngs or pieces OF
wood. All was clean. ] believe that it
was incendiary because there was no
cause for the fire. My workmen lost
at least $500 worth Of tools in the fire.
I had $4,000 insurance on the house,
the rest is a total loss"
Gregory's house was half mission
style and was one of the finest built
houses in the section. In another week
he would have occupied the house. he
said. Mr.. Gregory remarked that he
narrowly missed storing the handsome
silver service, presented by the men,
bers of the club to him recently, in
the house.
Warm personal friends of Mr.. Greg
DRY expressed grave fear that the eff
feet of the loss Of the home would
prove fatal to Mrs. Gregory. They say
that she has been living in hopes that
she would see the house completed.