Los Angeles herald., 1910-10-17
HOME IS WRECKED
BY AN EXPLOSION
Mysterious Fire at East Holly
wood Leads to Shock Neigh
bors Say Dynamite Cause
WATER HEATER is SUSPECTED
Mother and Children Flee from
House in NightCIOtheS.
Police Investigate
WATER HEATER is SUSPECTED

Fire of a mysterious origin followed
by a heavy explosion that tore out
several windows of the house, destroyed
the home of Henry Honnigman at
$50 Windemere street, East Holly
Wood, at 3 o'clock yesterday morning
Detectives are working on the case
in an effort to learn the origin of the
blaze and the cause of the explosion.
When the fire was first discovered
Mrs. Honnigman, her two daughters,
Annie. aged II, and Fannie, aged IA,
and an 18-year-old niece were asleep.
Honnigman, who was fully dressed
awakened them. it is understood, and
the family rushed out of the house.
Mrs. Honnigman and the girls did not
have time to get their street clothes
and fled in their night clothes.
Detectives Roberds and Beaumont
who were detailed to investigate tne
matter. found a battered hot water
heater in the ruins. This tank was
ripped open, the bolts blown off, allow
ing the plates to bend outward ana the
bottom of the receptacle was bent IN
ward.
The officers are unable to determine
whether the explosion, which occurred
ten minutes dIl6I lllG llAC heN5 AA@
covered was due to the bursting OF
the water heater or some other cause
THE theory that the explosion was
caused by dynamite was advanced by
John B. Fletcher, a neighbor, who mas
had considerable experience in hanollng
explosives.
According to Fletcher, who made
thorough examination of the ruins yes
terday, the explosion was caused py
dvnamite or some other high explosive.
AS the explosion was heard by sew
eral watchmen employed in guarding
4be hall of records building on North
broadway, more than three miles away,
the officers believe it possible that
dynamite might have been used TO
wreck the place.
CARTRIDGES IN HOUSE
Lieutenant Murray, Sergeant Adams,
and Patrolman Gilpin hurried to the
scene of the fire early yesterday morn,
ing. They questioned Honnlgman anu
the latter at first appeared conLuseu e'-
Later he said there had been an eX-
nIosion. but stated that 1t occurred
about ten minutes after the fire was
discovered. This statement was cor
roborated by several neighbors VINO
hurried to the burning house soon after
the occupants had vacated IL.
When asked as to the prooaole cause
nf the EXPLOSION, I1OuLlS Allt1ll 49,
had quantity of .3S-caliber cartridges
in the house and they might have eX-
nIoded. He also said there was not
water heater in the house, but 1t had
not been used since early in the
evening. ,. ,,,5
niece remained on the sidewalk near
the burning building ana reLuseo o oP 80
accompany neighbors to a place oL
shelter They were attired in their
night robes and were reclining on oed
clothes that had been saved from the
ruined dwelling. ,-.z
when Mrs. Honnigman was asked
what she knew about the origin OF the
fire. she stated she knew nothing ana
referred her questioners 10 HollIIg mus
man. whom she said knew all ABOUT
the matter.
According to persons living In the
peiphborhood two or three men were
playing cards in the Honnigman nome
shortly before the fire. This was men,
toned to Honnigman and he declareu
positively that there was no truIh III
The statement; that he was asleep at
+he time the fire started, and that ne
IneU nothing about the fire until he
was awakened by the cracking OF the
The police assert that Honnigman
was fully attired at the time ne ran
from the burning dWelllnS'
Several windows with dlaIloilu- ,
sbaned names of glass were found
practically intact a short distance from
the ruins. The windows are thought
to have been blown out by the force
of the explosion. -,
THE officers also learned that several
neighbors saw two men carrying a
lantern enter a barn at the rear of the
Honnigman home a short time before
the fire started.
The dwelling, Honnigman said, was
worth $500 and the contents were
vaIued at S35OO. He said he carried
insurance on the contents, but was
unable to remember just how much.
Mrs. Honnigman stated yesterday
that the fire probably started outside,
as there was no smoke in the place
when she first was awakened. She
secuted the idea that the place was
set afire by an enemy, declaring posi-
lively that the family had none.