The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-05-06
DISASTROUS FIRE IN CHICAGO.


Ruins-Ths Guests OF the Hotel Driven
from their Beds by the Flames Peril
SusAdventures and miraculous Escapes
-Estimatod Loss, 0192,
$4,000,
Nom ne chicago Republican Of Saturday.
Chicago has once more become the subject of
a devastating cOnhagration, that terror to all,
the Fire King, having visited the heart of the
city, laying waste one of the finest hotels of
which our fair CITY once could boast The alarm
was first given from box No. g. about ~ o'clock
yesterday morning. The fire department was at
once on the qui UiUe, and those engines within
the district for which the alarm was given, we're
very soon on the ground and at work. The fire
proved to be in the basement of the Merchants
Hotel situated AT the corner OF Washington aud
State streets. The flames had reached an as
Cendancy alarming in itself before single
stream was PLAYING upon them, and 1t was
deemed advisable to repeat the alarm
calling forth the entire fire depart
ment of the city. In short time the two great
thoroughfares Washington and State streets,
were throAged with people, and amid the great
soncourse we're running to and fro steamers,
trucks and vehicles of all descriptions, creating
a perfect chaos. The seething, cracking hames
were bursting from every window above the
main entrance to the building on State street,
and all hope for the safety OF the hundred or
more occupants eemed to be abandoned. The
staircase was one vast sheet OF flame, and yet
there was no help for the terror-strlcken people
within, Every window in the large structure
was crowded with anxious faces, denotlng by
their frenzied appearance firm determination
to lump for life should the fire reach them and
compel their retreat. A few minutes more, and
seVera engines were at work, their spasmodlc
putting and the strenuous exeItons OF the tire
men giving hope TO many whom despair had
rendered almost powerless.
TIE ALARM AND STAMPEDE.
At this early hour in the morning, it is to be |
supposed that n any of the occupants of the |
hotel we're yet in bed. The breakfast-table had |
lust been surrounded by the boarders, and the |
tempting viands spread out before them were |
being rapidly devoured. cry OF fire from the |
street below served only to attract attention at
first, but when some startled persons in the |
dining. hall from their seats terrified by the
alarm which was repeated by scores of terrified
individuals, the inten sest excitement ensued.
Servants, with orders yet unfulhlled, came in
collision with reueating guests, and every
avenue of escape was sought Tor by the bewil
dered crowd. The dlning.room is situated
directly over the store of Messrs. Rice & Allen,
and it is in the Crosby Music Hall building, con-
aeCting with the Merchants Hotel by several
D.. =" on the south SIDE. From the breakfast
dool. ""us mothers ran for their children,
taDle anA's .,, :, the rooms ABOVE, while gen
tlemen with truLl noun tbe s1aiirS Tbe
their loads behind then. Great nresonoo oF
utmost confusion prevailed. cort Ct roan bt ~
mind was exhibited on the p, " mttar mruS' DIt
totalinaDility to move muscle or o,9SI
liable was the condition OF more. The dino in
presented from the streets was heartrens ".boot
En |
stories of the building, looking down upon l-"O
sWaying horde tar beneath them, were numer-
rous persons who had just arisen from Their BEDS
Many OF them being transient guests, ignorant
of the situation and not knowing which way to
turn, looking wildly about them, lmpl )rlng Tor
help. The flames soon envelOped the stairway
leading from the State street entrance, thus cut
ting off all means of retreat in that direction.
The dense smoke drove back the more Daring
persons who persisted in getting out by pushing
their way through the seething fire, step by
step down the r,ckety stasrcase, and then rush
was made for another door,
RESCUED AND ESCAPED.
The greatest exertion was made to give the
inmates of the rooms in the upper stories
better opportunity for escape than was afforded
by the stairways. By dnt OF great eXertion on
the part of the fremen and others, several lad
ders were placed against the sides of the build
ing, and down these great many clam6ered,
thus doubtless, saving their lives. In win
dow OF the fourth story facing on State street, a
man was seen in his shirt-sieeVes looking INTO
the street, and apparently unable to make any
exertion TO escape. He maintained one posture,
that of balancing himself on his hands, as il IN
the act of eaping. A ladder was procured and
raised 10 the window below him, but at a distance
from him too great to admit OF his reaching 1t.
The greatest anxiety prevailed among those who
noticed the jeopardy of the man, and many were |
the suggestions made for the best manner of |
giving him aid. Finally rope was thrown |
over the roof of the building by fireman, and
lower himself to the first round of the ladder.
From this elevation he slowly descended, land
ing on terra trTnd in safety. Mr.. James Grant,
a member of Hook and Ladder Company No l,
with heroic effort rescued the wife of DR..
Thomas 7. Ellis, who must otherwise have
perished in the flames. From a third.
story window, facing on the alley between
the hotel aad CTosOys Opera House, the noble
fellow carried the lady in his arms and with
one hand guiding his way, he made the perilOus
descent down the ladder. The lives of two
men, who were in the rooms on the fourth story,
were also saved by the daring man. A Mr..
Hurlbut, commission merchant who roomed IN
one OF the highest stories, barely escaped with
his life. He was aroused by the strong scent of
the sulphurous smoke, and making his Way to
his room door, dashed out and through the hall
way. A gentleman occupying room directly
opposite to him, met him as he made his exit
and hurrledly asked which direction to take in
order to get to the stairway. Mr.. Hurlbut
told MIN 10 follow, and he did so, but between
the intervening flames and clouds of smoke he
lost sight OF him. Rushing to the head of tine
stairs, Mr.. Hurlbut found there q barrier to
further effort 10 reach the street Nothing
daunted, he pushed onward through scorchIng
tre and smothering smoke Recollecting that
once upon time he had read that to retain
ones breath Is preventive of suffocation he
ablded by the instruction, aud continued ON his
course. Once he goried in long plossV lonts
of hair, but now he is singed and Olackened
minus his hirsute beauty. Other interesting
particulars of the rescue and escape of person9
there are connected with this great conAaUra.
tion, and we regret that we have not space m
which 10 relate them.
THE DESTRUCTION.
Once under full headway, the fire spread over
the entire building, and from every window tbf
flames licked the walls, darting forth from thC
great columns of smoke ascending up ward. L
was feared at one time that the Opera Hous,
fro