Los Angeles herald., 1906-06-11
FIRE DAMAGES
HOTEL ARGYLE
LANDLADY PROVES HERSELF
HEROINE OF OCCASION
Prompt Though Uphill Work on Part
Of Department Prevents Serious
Blaze-severaI Persons Hurt
in Fighting Flames

What might have been a disastrous
fire occurred yesterday morning at tn,
Hotel Argyle. corner Second and Olive
streets. That the building was saved
was due to the prompt work of the
flremen, under somewhat adverse cir.
cumstances, and the quiet and energetic
work of the landlady and guests who
did everything to help the firemer
rather than hinder them in their work
The fire was discovered at II O'CLOCK
in room fronting Olive street, occu
pied by Mrs. Anna Bergin and hei
daughter Mary. Mrs. Bergin was ah
sent, having gone to attend mass at the
Cathedral of st. Vibiana, and hei
daughter had gone to Santa Monica tC
spend the day with some young com.
panions. Guests who discovered the
fire were unable to break in the dooi
to the apartment. BY this time the
smoke was rapidly filing the halls ant
it was found to be of a serious nature
Several guests rushed to private tele.
phones in the hotel and to the nearest
fire alarm box and literally over.
whelmed the fire department with calls
Hill Is Drawback
The Argyle is situated only one block
from the Hill street engine house, bu
the hill to Olive street is so steep thai
it is impossible to haul the apparatus
up Second street and the engines were
compelled to make a detour around Hill
to First, where the hill is less steep ant
up that street to Olive and then bacl
to the burning building. On the way
up the hill one of the horses of the fire
truck, after valiant effort to hau
his share of the load of three tons fol
each horse, stumbled and delayed the
truck in reaching the fire.
The engine and hose wagons reached
the building in good time and the fire
men did speedy work under the direc
ton of the chief. In a few seconds {
line of hose was carried up to the thirt
floor, where the fire originated. BY
that time the rooms and halls were
filled with dense smoke and the firemer
had hard time reaching the rooms.
The fire reached the roof and between
the ceiling and rafters played havoc fol
some minutes. After a hard fight the
firemen subdued the fire in the location
after breaking through the roof in sew.
eral places.
Heat Breaks Windows
Although confined to a Comparatively
small area the fire was intensly hot an6
broke the window panes and skylight ir
the hall, scattering glass over the fiool
and stairs.
The police force, under the direction
of Sergeant Williams, arrived at the
fire about the time that the firemen die
and went to all the rooms, ordering the
guests to leave the upper floor of thu
building. They assisted the firemen II
fighting the flames.
The faces and hands of several of tn,
firemen were burned. They performed
heroic Deeds but modestly did not re-
port them at the office of the fire de-
partment. From the front hall window
of the third floor one climbed out ant
over the gabled windows to the roof, E
steep ascent with nothing to assist hin
but his two hands, and from there
climbed over the roof to reach the fire
Frank Haven of engine company No
16, in crawling in the narrow space be-
tween the ceiling and roof with the line
of hose, practically prevented the de.
struction of the building by keeping the
flames from spreading through the
roof.
The Argyle is situated in a district
of hotels and apartment houses on the
hill. overlooking the city and from
these adjoining houses the guests
in a few minutes. Late church goers
also enlarged the crowd.
No Panic of Guests
There was no panic among the
guests. and nothing thrown from the
windows, although at one time tht
building looked as if it would be ut.
terly destroyed. The guests quietly
threw together their clothing and val.
tUio In oh 1f
blankets, made their way to the lower
floor, where they were deposited II
the parlor halls and porches. But
one trunk was carried out of the build.
ing, and that was by frail woman
an invalid, who succeeded in getting Il
across the street Later 1t took two
men to bring it back to her room
which was unharmed.
The landlady, Mrs, H. Harrod, proved
herself the heroine of the fire. She left
her own valuables in her room, ant
went to all the rooms, reassuring the
guests and caring for the effects Of
those she knew to be absent.
Woman Is Heroine
When the firemen were taking the
hose into the building, she stood In
the hall and helped straighten the hose
up the stairs.
soon al llSI lHe arrival VI the eIlBllles
she was assisted by her son-in-law, c.
Winter, who with his wife, Charles
IIarrod and his wife and Mr.. and Mrs
Williams, the latter, Mrs. Harrod's
daughter. had left for a days outing
in the canyons back of Sierra Madre
and on their way on the car, while
crossing Second street, on Main, saw
the smoke. Thinking it near home,
Mr.. Winter rushed up the hill in time
to assist his mother-in-law. The rest
of the party thinking that it was not
near the house, continued their trip to
Sierra Madre and there was caused
much anxiety by the nonappearanct
of Mr.. Winter. They reached the Ar
gyle soon after lunch, after hurried
trip.
Aside from the owner of the building
and the lessee, one of the heaviest
losers was Miss Anna Berger, whose
room adjoined that in which the fire
originated Miss Berger's room was
entirely gutted. With the exception OF
the clothes which she had on, all heI
belongings were burned.