The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-02-26
From the St. Louis Republican of Sunday.

IRON the 81 LOUIS republican OF Sunday.
One of the most calamitous events that have ever
occurred IN this city, involving fearful extent OF
loss to life and property, TRANSFERRED Yesterday morn
ing, between the hours of three and four O'clock
The Pacific Hotel, situated on the corner of Seventh
and Poplar streets, together with the contents of
number of stores the first floor beneath was en-
tirely consumed by fire, nothing remaining but the
blackened and crumbling walls.
The origin of the disastrous confagraton is at
present not known with certainty. The prevailing
impression is that the flames first broke out in the
rear of the drug store of Dumont c. Jones' one door
from the corner of Seventh street; but how has
not yet been explained. The clerk who had only
been three days in the establishment, and who slept
IN the back part states that when he was awakened
by the glare of the light the whole of the western
portion of the building in flames. This was
from half hour to three quarters before the steam
engines arrived. He had not previously heard any
alarm. There was half barrel of turpentine a
barrel of oil, and some other combustibles in that
part OF the store where report says the fire origi
mated.
The loss OF property, though large, is nothing to
the destruction of human lives which this catastro-
phe has occasioned From the best information that
we can gather, there about one hundred per-
sons sleeping ill the Hotel at the time of the occur
renee. 1t appears that the entire building was
enveloped in the raging element before scarcely any
OF the dodgers were awakened to the full sense of
their danger. And when the inmates were finally
aroused it was only to find all opportunities of
egress closed to them, for the staircases in front
an attempt to escape by these means would be only
rushing into the arms of inevitable DEATH
The scene that ensued battles any effort at descrp-
ton. The rushing of men, women and children to
and fro to avoid the blisterng heat and to search
for ways to reach the streets-the shrieks of the
terror-stricken and the groans of those bound to
their rooms by walls of scorchng ire-the shouts Of
those who had been called to the spot from the sur
rounding neighborhood- clambering over sway
ing and reeling joststhe falling floors with their
loads OF heavy furniture and their dearer burden of
human lives-al this and more that was intensely
terrible and fearful, it is not given to our pen to
adequately describe.
The stairs gone, the roof and floors inch bv inch
giving way, and the lurid flames shooting up mo-
mentarily thicker and hotter, many sought to es-
cape the impending hazard of being burned to
death, through the scarcely less dangerous prospect
of jumping to the grouud from the windows OF
those who endeavored to save their lives in this
way, six at the Sisters Hospital Yesterday
Mr.. Fl. Hubbard, who arrived in ST. Louis from
Boston about eight weeks since, was occupying,
with his lady, room on the third floor Mrs r.
was first aroused, and awakened her husband
Hardly had he come to be conscious of the cause
of the surrounding confusion before he his wife
leap headlong out of the window on Poplar street
Seeing no other visible means of saving himself he
followed her, and both fell, not far apart on the
pavement. Mrs. Hubbard had one of her legs frac-
tured in two places, and had the knee cap of the
other dislocated; besides this, her lower jaw was
broken in two places. 1t is not expected she will
survive. Mr.. Hubbard had the ankle joint and hip
of his left leg displaced, and also received severe
confusion on the forehead. He is not thought to
be in a dangerous condition.
Miss ID. Hunter endeavored to leave the building.
after having been badly burnt by jumping from the
second story. In the fall of her legs was broken
and her head severely cut She was placed in fur
niture car, to be taken to the Sisters Hospital but
before arriving there she corpse.
James +. Geary, local reporter of the Leader, of
this city, in attempting to escape with his wife and
child fell to the cellar Besides receiving some bad
burns the face, head and legs, by means his
right foot was cut to the bone, from about the mid
die to the heel 1t is feared too, that his lungs are
injured from inhang hot air. He is thought to be
in a critical situation
Following is Mr.. Geary's statement;
"Aiy wife," said he, 'was very sick last evening
much that |, staving at home with her. was una
BILE to attend to the office | than sat with her all
night, doing in a chair Early in the morning.
cannot say at what time-I was awakened by suf-
locating smell as of fire; took notice of that at
the time surprising that the servants were lighting
the fires. Shortly after, heard some one running
over the house, shouting "fire!'' told my wife to
lie still, while should go down and see what was
the matter. When got some way down the stairs,
the smoke overpowerd me for moment recovering
| went up stairs to my room which was No10, got
a shawl, which Mrs. G. put around her. | then led
her down. The smoke was so dense that she
all but suocating, she fell down. then dragged
her out, and left her in the custody of some one
who promised to take her off safely. returned to
get my little girl, Florence Geary.)
To get to her obliged to go through the fire,
which cut off our return by the stairs. | got her
to the window, then threw mattress on to the bal
eony this let her fall, jumping after her. The
fire now seemed to be coming out of the windows,
and experimenting danger in this position, | called
out to those who were on the pavement, threw the
mattress to the ground, and again dropped the
child upon it. At this moment, some one placed
ladder against the balcony, but as had cut my
foot sadly in jumping, after had got upon it fell
the fall completely benumbing my limbs so that
could not get up now shouted to those who were