Fire Destroys Old Hotel

History buffs saved a vacant 101-year-old hotel from the wrecking ball seven months ago, but were powerless to stop the fire that destroyed the building this weekend.

No injuries were reported, but a search continued Saturday for transients who may have been trapped in the boarded-up Southern Hotel when it burned late Friday night.

The fire apparently started in a shed and spread to the hotel basement before moving into the main portion of the two-story building, Riverside County Fire Department spokesmen said.