Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-04-02
TERRIBLE COMPLICATION.

The LindeII House i'm st. Louis Conn
pIefeiy DestrOyed-Heayy Loss by
Guests and ether Parties-TOtaI Loss
$1,000, ,OOO-FuIl Particulars.
ST. LOUIS, March 3l.-The LindelI Ho-
tel, the largest building of this kind on
this continent, if not in the world, was
totally destroyed by FIRE last night. There
is good deal Of mystery about the origin
of the FIRE, but the most reliable accounts
are that il broke out in one Of the west front
rooms in the fifth story, about 81 o'clock,
but the alarm was not sounded till after 8
O'clock
At this time the fire was confined to two
rooms on that floor, but owing 10 the ex-
treme height of the building, it was diff
cult to reach that locality with the hose.
1t gradually ascended till it broke through
the sixth and seventh stories, and reached
the roof near the northwest corner of the
building. From tEis point the fire rapidly
extended underneath the roof across the
entire width of the hotel, to east Sixth
street front, and then moved rapidly down
ward till the whole structure was enveloped
in flames.
Up to the time the fire spread across the
building it was the general belief that the
lower part of the hotel would be saved, but
as soon as the flames reached the elevators
and inner courts, up and through which
strong currents of air rushed, the fire re-
ceived a new and powerful impetus, and all
hope fstaying the deyouripg element was
lost
The efforts of the fireman were not re-
laxed, however, and the full force Of the
fire department was put forth, until three
o'clock, at which time all the inner work
was consumed, and a considerable portion
had fallen; and what was once the stateliest,
most imposing and handsomest hotel in the
country, was mass of erumbling black
ened ruins.
The building was owned by the estate of
Henry Ames q Co., Edward Ames being
the representative Of the property.
It's original cost was little over $500, 000
and il was bought by Ames & Co. in De-
cember, 1868, two months after it opened,
for $4,000
The insurance on the hotel amounts to
$4,000; $4,000 to $4,000 of which is in
Eastern companies, mainly New York,
Brooklyn, and Philadelphia.
The lessees were Hatch, Weaver & Felt,
whose loss on the furniture and stores is
abont S300,OO0 Insured for 100000
But little of the furniture was saved.
There were about four hundred guests in
the hotel, large number of whom consist
ing of families boarding in the house.
The latter lost the whole of their personal
effects, owing TO the confusion. and excite
ment prevailing and the general belief that
the house would not be destroyed until it
was too late. The loss from this source
probably reached over 100000.
The goods in the stores underneath the
hotel were almost totally destroyed, though
there was abundant time to save them.
Loss probably S50,000
The total loss by the disaster can scarcely
be less than 81 100000.
A list of the losing compan les will be
given as soon as-obtained.
The fire was seen at distance Of seven
miles from the city.
Mr.. Ames says he will not rebuild the
hotel, but number of prominent citizens
have already taken the matter in hand,
and an effort will be made to effect its re-
construction.
ST. LOUIS. March 3l.-The following is
2 partial list of Mr.. Ames' insurance or
the Lindell Hotel: Ten thousand each in
the Phoenix and Lorrillard, New York, In
surance Company of North America, Phil
adelphia Commerce, Of Albany, and ten
thousand each in the following st. Louis
companies: Marine, Globe, Citizens, At
landc, United States, St Louis, Mound
City, Missouri, State, Mutual, Home and
Pacific.
Messrs. Hatch, Weaver, Felt & Co. had
the following, among other insurance, on
their furniture: $1,000 each in the Cont
mental, Washington, Jefferson, St. James,
Excelsior; $4,000 in the Pacific, Nation
al, Mississippi Valley-all st. Louis offices
and $1,000 in the Etnas. Hartford.
This fire is the most serious calamity
that has befallen St. Louis since the great
fire of lS49, and is matter of universal re-
gret and sorrow.
The value of the surrounding property
is already deprecated from ten to twenty
per cent, and if the hotel is not rebuilt,
this depression will be felt for a distance
of many blocks.