The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1906-04-20
FAMOUSNOB HILL DESOLATE
Promise Given Of Water Supply Today
Large Sum Raised for Relief.
[By Associated Pressl

lated Press1
University of California and built by
Mark Hopkins, was destroyed, with
its priceless contents. Close by were
the Stanford, Huntington, Flood and
two Crocker mansions. All were
swept away. These residence were
Quilt by men who played important
roles in the development of the Pacific
coast.
Grant avnue, stood the Bohemian
club, the most unique social organiza-
tion in the world. Its membership in
cludes many names famous in art,
| literature and commercial work. There
were on special exhibition in the
"Jinks" room dozen paintings by
old masters, including Rembrandt,
Diaz, Murillo and others, and prob
ably worth 100000. These were lost.
The district in California street,
from Powell to Jones street, known as
Mob hill, contained the most palatial
homes of San Francisco. The sum-
NIT is perhaps 500 feet above the
sea level and affords a magnificent
view. Just on the brink was the resi-
dence of the late Leland Stanford
At the death of Mrs. Stanford in
Honolulu the mansion became the
property of Leland Stanford univer-
sity. 1t contained many art treasures
| of great value. On the southeast cor
ner of the same block stood the home
| of the late Mark Hopkins, who amass-
ed many millions along with Stanford,
c. P. Huntington and Charles Crocker
in construction of the Central Pacific
railroad. The Hopkins home was pre-
sented to the University of California
by his heirs and was known as Hop
kins Art Institute.
One block west was the Flood home
huge brown stone mansion, said to
have cost more than $1,000,000. The
Huntington home, which is the least
pretentious residence of the big
Four" occupied block in California
street, just west of the Food home.
The Crocker residence, with it's huge
lawns and magnificent stables, was
west of the Huntington home Many
other beautiful and costly homes were
situated on the hill, but those men,
toned have been land marks for rs
years.
- uA tAAS1 WOSC SLOOu luO olylu
club, the Oldest regularly organized
States, and famous for it's appoint
ments and for the athletes it has de-
veloped. The building was worth
100000 and it's furnishings were of
the finest quality. Nothing remains
but mass of steel and stone.
The great new Flood building, built
by James Flood at cost of $4,000,00O
and occupied about year ago; the
new merchants Exchange building in
California street, erected at a cost of
$2,50O,O0O; the Crocker building at
Montgomery and Market streets, a |
million dollar structure, the Mills |
building at Bush and Montgomery, |
costing the same sum; the new Shreve |
building at Post street and Grant ave- |
nue., costing $2,00O,00O are some new
structures destroyed by the flames.
The Hall of Justice, facing Ports |
mouth square and just east of China
town went and then the flames attack
Chinatown itself, combustible ma
terial of the flimsy constructed |
buildings feeding the flames like |
like powder. Up and on and over the
hills to the westward the conflagra-
tion gained headway when it reached
the residence section.
From Golden Gate avenue, north
ward to Pacific street, buildings were
dynamited to stay the progress of the
flames, but without avail. The heat
was so intense that the ruins OF
buildings were ignited by spontaneous
combustion. Out in Van Ness avenue
a fashionable drive across the city
from north to south, the devastation is
complete on the east side, but the fate
of the Spuckels, Hobart and other
great mansions on the west side is not
known at this hour. The branch Uni
ted States mint in Fifth street, near
Market, was not destroyed, but was
damaged to large extent. It's escape
Is due to the fact that it occupied a
large square, separated from the sur
buildings by wide paved
space. Two bloocks west of the mint
stood the splendid new postoflce build
ing, finished about six months ago and
erected at cost of 100000 for act
ual construction. 1t was one of the
most beautiful buildings In the United
States. said to not have been equalled
In architectural beauty by the new con-