The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-04-04

the deplOrable catastrophe announced in the
head lines above. The Lindell Hotel is de
stroyed by fire. That magnificent architectural
pile one of the finest of its character in the
world, and which only yesterday was the
chief adornment of our city, is now an enor-
nous mass of backened ruins 1t is almost
impossible to realize the fact from the bare
announcement. Yet even while we write az
p. M. Saturday. the midnight heavens are
illumined with the glare of the burning, and
the whole city quivers with excitement and
CONSERVATION.
TILE ALARM
The fire, according to the most reliable ac-
counts, first made its appearance on the roof
towards the southwest corner. 1t is said to
have commenced in one of the servants
rooms, on the seventh story but we could
ascertain no definite particulars on this point.
1t is reported to have been discovered first by
some of the employees of the hotel who CON
veyed the startling intelligence to the Office.
When the announcement was first made that
the building was on fire. it did not create that
wild and sudden excitement which generally
takes place under such circumstances. This
was attributable to the fact that, the fire being
on the highest story, there was little or
no evidence of it in the lower part of the build
ing. 1t is probable, also, that the report was
at first discredted This was about 81 or
quarter to nine o'clock. Everything was
going on throughout the vast building in the
usual manner. The billiard and sitting rooms
were crowded with guests and visitors supper
was not yet over; the large hall wore its usual
animated appearance, and the lights in nearly
every window in the front of the splendid
building told that the almost innumerable
apartments had occupants within. But in
few minutes wild change swept swiftly
through the crowded hotel The appalling
cry of /" fire, - at first whispered in undertones,
began to be spoken aloud, The hurrying to
and fro of employees, the agitation visible in the
faces OF the proprietors and others who re-
turned hurriedly from visiting the upper
stories, soon attracted attention and spread
the exciting intelligence. But all doubt as to
the fact was ended by the appearance of
the flames bursting through the roof and
showing through some of the windows on the
upper story. Then the excitement gathered
on the street with the sound of many voices,
and the widest CONSERVATION spread from
room to room, along the wide corridors, and
from floor to floor throughout the enor-
nous hotel. The scene which ensued
battles all description and yet there
was not that desperate panic which is
so generally associated with such occa-
sions. Whatever efforts to conceal the fact
may at first have been thought necessary by the
gentlemen connected with the hotel, in order
to prevent a widespread and unnecessary
alarm, were at once abandoned when danger
became evident, and measures were immedi-
ately taken for the safety of the occupants.
But the alarm of fire needs but little propaga-
cation by messengers. The trample and rush
of hurrying feet and the roar of voices soon
acquainted every inhabtant of the building
in the most distant apartments with the news
that the hotel was on fire, and then the frantic
rush and scramble for escape commenced.
Owing to the early hour but a small portion
of the guests had retired to their rooms, and
hence there was not the crowd that there
hov haar bo1 tba fra or in,
the night, but still the corridors and stair
ways poured forth thrOng of bewildered and
affrighted people, that streamed down to the
lower floors, while the building rang with the
shouts of men and the screams of scared
women and children.
AS far however, as the loss of human life
was concerned, there was but little danger;
the fire was at this time only on the roof of
the building, and there was no obstacle to
prevent escape, and all the people succeeded
in getting out in safety. There were several
sick persons in the hotel who were carried out
and conveyed to some of the houses in the
vicinity. The alarm was conveyed to the Fire
Department from the Missouri engine house
on Washington avenue, and the various en-
gines arrived without much delay.
THE PROGRESS OF THE FIRE.
The engines, when they went to work,
proved powerless to stay the progress of the
NANNAAAN''
dered it almost impossible to throw water
fairly on the roof, and even when this was
accomplished 1t was of no avail, as it was evil
dent the fire was spreading underneath where
it could not be reached The tiremen carried
the hose through the hall and up the stairs
towards the upper stories, hoping to be able to
play directly on the flames, but apparentIy
were unable to do so, as no effect was per
ceptible.
The large tanks of water constructed mainly
for such an emergency in the upper story Of
the hotel were also of no practical use for
what reason we could not learn, and in fact
we could not ascertain that the elaborate sys-
tenn of hose connections in the hotel was
brought into use at all. Consequently the
flames spread on all sides with great fierce
ness and rapdity.
A little before 10 o'clock they had seized
upon the cupola in the centre of the root
and completely enveloping the sides, made i
resemble a twisted column of fire. Still, TO
nearly an hour the fire was confined to on
section of the roof, and there were man.
who laughed at the idea that the Who'll
building would be burned. 1t was painful
sight TO watch the advance of the fiery de
stroyer, and at the same time notice the ute
uselessness OF the efforts made TO retard il
Gradually the fire gathered in power an
intensity, and spread itself abroad all owe
the roof. Volumes of inky smoke began t
issue from the windows of the seventh story
andlittle ribbons of flame flap around the heav
cornices.
About half-past 10 o'clock the whole top {
the great hotel was on fire, but the flames wer
principally developed on the west and eai