Los Angeles herald., 1906-01-29

PASADENA, Jan. 2S.-The commo-
dious residence of Rev. Robert II. Mere
dith, the venerable pastor of the First
congregational church, 80 North Euclid
avenue, was visited by disastrous fire
this forenoon. resulting in a loss of
probably $4,000 and over. The entire
roof of the building was destroyed and
although most of the contents we're re-
moved during the early stages of the
fire they sustained more or less dam
age, 1t being necessary to simply flood
the entire house with water. DR.. and
Mrs. Meredith are resting quietly to-
night at the home of friend and will
themselves suffer little physically from
the excitement and inconvenience inn
posed by the disaster.
The fire broke out while the family
were preparing to go to church where
DR.. Meredith was to preach as usual.
DR.. Roberts, whose house adjoins the
Meredith home on the south. rang the
doorbell furiously at 1920 and informed
DR.. Meredith that smoke was issuing
from the roof near the chimney at the
rear of the house. Word was at once
telephoned the fire department and in a
very few minutes ladders were against
the house and stream of water was
playing on the fire, almost Immediately
as 1t broke through the roof. But the
flames had evidently been gaining
headway inside the attic. for it became
a difficult fight at once and step by
step the roof caught fire and in spite
of the vigorous work of the fire fight
ers was destroyed.
The crowd Of church-goers, the five
leading church edifices of the city be-
ing located within few blocks of the
fire, became at once volunteer firemen
and in a short time removed practical
ly all of the contents of the building.
DR.. Meredith's extensive library, said
to be valued at over $4,000, was piled
on a neighboring lawn, covered with
carpets and placed under guard, while
many articles of personal apparel were
taken into nearby homes. 1t became
necessary to chop away many parts
Of the walls of the building in order
to get at the flames and it was fully
an hour before the efforts of the fire.
men could cease. The origin of the
fire is unknown but probably a de-
fective electric light wire Is to blame.
1t is estimated that the damage to
the building itself will be in the neigh
borhood of $4,000 and this together with
the small loss on the contents is re-
ported to be fully covered by insurance.
The loss may run much higher when
the effects of the water on the walls
anu 1lOOES VI lIie ioWeT SlOTy are tdhtil
into account The property was pur-
chased some time ago by DR.. Meredith
for a little over $4,000 and was a very
convenient and stately mansion.
It's Postmaster Rich Now
Manager Rich and his associates at
Wilson's Peak Cottage hotel enter
tanned over sixty guests today and
the beauties of a perfect winter day
made the romantic trail through the
Santa Anita canyon busy thorough
fare. Many Los Angeles and Pasadena
parties held picnics in favorite spots
beside the trail, the recently completed
Sierra Madre line making the canyon
easy of access. At the summit of the
mountain the past week has offered
superlative weather, although this
evening the watchers there scent some
sort of d change, the coming probably
of either rain or snow. Among the
days guests were William Garland,
the well known Los Angeles real es-
tate dealer Edward Ames and E. o.
Edgerton. also of the Angel City. Len
wood Abbott, c. A. Caldwell and Frank
w. Reed, the Pasadena view photog-
raphers, are at the hotel and are just
completing a long series of photographs
of mountain scenes for future use,
among them a magnificent panorama of
the entire San Gabriel range taken
from wonderful view point. III. r.
Bassett. the former owner of the Will