Los Angeles herald., 1908-12-25
VOLUNTEERS TO AID
Losses, 1t Is Estimated,
Will Amount to
$3.50, 900
WATER DAMAGE BIG
Site of Former Van NuyS
Blaze Again Scene
of Trouble

wv serious Christmas eve
W conAagration was only
averted late last evening by the
absence of any wind, this per
hitting the successful conhne-
ment Of the fire within the Martz
building, located at 4l2 to 4l8
South Broadway. The fire broke
out about 10 o'clock. AS it was,
the loss will, it is believed, APP
proximate at least $l50,00O in
damage done to contents by wa
ter, though the injury to the
building may take the loss well
above this estimate.
A strange coincidence in con
nection with the fire was the fact
that Just four years ago this
morning the old Van Nuys ho-
tel. which occupied the ground
now covered by the Martz build
ing was destroyed by fire.
For a time it seemed inevitable that
the fire would communicate to adjoin-
jng buildings handsome ten-story
Broadway Central office building on
the south. the ground floor of which
is occupied by the A. e. Little Art
mpany, md the Mason block on the
north, occupied by a score OIL mer-
chants and many Offices
The splendid work of the firemen
however who braVed great clouds OF
smoke in extending their ho7e lines, IN
/, Of "A
carious position on the roof of the
building, when once they were allowed
to get into action, saved the building
from destruction.
Although the fremen were hnally
successful in checking the flames, 1t
was only because of the voluntary SER
vices of persons wholly uneonnected
with the fire department. led i'm the
early stages by two heroic young men
&C. E. Brain and Howard Teitsworth
who carried the first line of hose UP
the ladders and into the building
Volunteers Lead Fight
In The first stages the firemen APP
peared entirely at loss, and the
unique spectacle was presented OF
every ladder raised against the build
ing being lined with men in civilian
rIothing and derby hats, while dozen
or more fremen In uniform stood at the
foot of the ladders, apparently waiting
for orders and passing up their fire
axes and other apparatus to less eS-
perienced fighters. When the ordei
finally came, however, they quickly
took possession Of the hose and short
work was made of the flames.
Before this was done, however, the
entire roof of the building was a seeth-
ing mass of flames, and it was only by
the utmost disregard Of safety to then
own lives that the liremen We're aple
10 check the spread of the blaze.
-Four alarms were turned in In quick
suceession and seven engines, two
trucks three hose wagons and one
water tower responded. The fire was
Arst located i'm the fourth floor of the
Martz block, great volumes OF smoke
rolling from both the front and rear
of the building Two ladders were run
to this floor and several llles oi noae
were soon working on the names,
which were confined to the interior
walls. Other lines were soon put into
action from ladders I'm the rear OF the
building, but 1T was fully halt an hour
before the big aerial ladder was un-
limbered and men sent to the roof oi
+he building from which the flames
were breaking in half q dozen direc-
tons. a.
Martz block and the Wtnstel building
Immediately to the south, offered the
moBt stubborn resistance TO Lne lre-
men. and for a time it looked as II
the oceans Of water that were poured
into the building would not be able u
check the spread of the flames.
Flames Under Control
AZ soon, however, as the firemen Were
able to get their hose into action IRON
the TOP of the building it was but
short time before the flames were undel
control, and by 1880 o'clock the flr'
was out -,
immense crowds of Christmas shop
ners on their way home, or engaged II
siehtseeing, were attracted to TIN
scene. and 1t was with difficulty tina
the nolice were able to establish thel
IRE lines and hold them IN check.
The origin Of the fire is In doubt, bu
from The statement of both Brain ant
Teitsworth, the first men TO enter TN
building with "A hose line, 1t would lool
ns' n ii started in the rooms of TIN
ITnderhill Shirt company. When thes.
mon entered this room, on the fourtl
foor OF the building, i'm the rear por
tlon they found stream of flame tw'
feet in length shooting from gas pipe
evervthing in flames and the room fllle'
with smoke. The smoke at this poin
...,.. aIao mora dense than in other pOr