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

partly overcome by smoke AMI were
carried out to the open.
1t was at the entrance to the ware
room that the fire fighters met with
the most desperate resistance, but
were met by a burst of flame and
smoke that sent them back, choking
for breath.
The gases from the burning oils and
varnish were suffocating, and for that
reason the f1remen were kept at a dis
tance of about ten feet.
Broadway Blocked
The sidewalk on the west side of
Broadway was packed to suffocation
and it took a squad of policemen to
make a passageway from Sixth to
Fifth street One woman became faint
because of the pressure of the crowd
and had to be carried into a doorway
until she revived.
Everyone seemed possessed with a
desire to get as near to the fire as pos
sible and trampled on one another
without regard to the proprieties.
On the side next to the fire, a rope
was stretched, giving the firemen more
space for their work, but from the ar
rival of the companies until the fire
had dwindled down, the firemen were
seriously impeded in their efforts.
A crowd of women rushed into the
ID
publication and literally had to be
driven out from their position.
Cheer the Firemen
When the theaters let out the crowd
became even more dense and Broadway
was mass of people from Fifth to
Sixth street, watching the '-ctirling'
smoke wreaths which enveloped the
building.
Each time the firemen and policemen
went UP the ladders there arose cheer
and when the men came slowly down
guiding or carrying some woman, the
silence was intense until the fainting
women were placed on firm ground.
Miss Georgia Barnes, who said she
went up to The Louise to see friend.
had very pretty silk gown ruined.
Ruins Her Dress
"I had telephoned my friend" she
said to the reporter, that | would
come for short call on my way home.
1 was upstairs when 1 noticed the
smoke and then 1 heard someone yell
Fire 1 started to run down stairs
and tripped upon something and got q
bad fall. My dress is torn and know
will get a good scolding when I
get home"
She looked ruefully down at her
dress and said that she had always
wanted to know how it felt to be in a
fire and now she was satisfied.
Notified by telephone that their
stores might be in danger, a number
of Broadway business men came on
g, run to the scene of the fire and added
to the general confusion by asking
questions about their own property.
One man who had been pushed back
by a policeman said that it was a
shame if he could not get by to look
after his own property, and when
questioned admitted that his store was
a block away from the fire.
Owing to the dense crowd which
filled the entire street, the engine sta
toned at the fire plug at the corner of
Fifth street had hard work to get coal
and the crowd had to be almost ridden
over before they would give back to
allow passageway for the coal supply
wagon.
The clerks in the Owl drug store
were kept busy answering telephone
calls in regard to the fire. One woman
sent a message requesting the clerk to
find out If her son was down at the
fire.
Hoseman FeIIed
Harry Griffin, hoseman in engine
company g. was taken to the receiving
hospital at II o'clock suffering from a
badly strained back and from suffoca-
ton. In some way he was struck by
a ladder or a hose nozzle and falling
into the dense smoke was almost suffo-
Gated when pulled out by some of the
flremen.
He was treated at the receiving hos
pital and the doctors said he would be
all right in a few days.
Griffin Is one of the most popular
members of the department and has
been in the service for about two years
He was formerly on the stage and is
noted for his great strength.
Safes Remain Intact
Two safes in the store occupied by
the Art Novelty company, containing
several packets of valuable papers and
a considerable sum of money, were
left standing unharmed in the center
of the floor by some queer freak of the
fire.
1t is probable that had the safes
dropped to the basement their con-
tents would have been damaged.
AS the flames ate their way about the
floor the rafters gave way and the
portions of the floor sunk with the ex-
ception Of small square on which the
safes We're standing.
Tenants and Losses
The Y. M. Co., bamboo and Japanese
art goods store at 516 South Broadway,
in the basement of which the fire orig
mated. claim total losses at about $4,000
from fire water and smoke.
The Los Angeles Van and Storage
at 51S South Broadway, esti-
mate losses at about $1,000 mostly from
water and smoke.
The II. w. Leonardt Art Novelty
of $50 South Broadway esti-
mate losses at about $4,000, of which
one-third Is covered by insurance,
damage done chiefly from water and
smoke. Mr.. Leonardt stated that the
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