Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-04-03
BURNING OF LINDELL HOTEL.
Wild and Fearful Scenes Loss
Two Million Dollars. 5eg

c u sf
One Of the most remarkable events of
this very remarkable day, was the de
struction, by fire. of the new and mag
nifcent Lindell Hotel in St Louis. The
origin of the fire is unknown, but twas
first discovered in the roof The Repu6.
hcdD thus refers to the scene after the
fremen abandoned all efforts to save the
building: -s4s s.s5A gs.ao
To any person who is unaequaiuted
with the size of the building and did n OF
witness the conAagration, it is impossible
to convey.an adequate idea of the scene
as the fire reached its -hight--within the
broad spaces between the outer walls the
flames roared like storm. So astonish-
ing was THAR fierceness, that it seemed
as if they were burning from a sea Of oil.
This was doubtless occasioned by the
terrific draught caused by the heat
which transformed the immense build
ing with its hundreds of windows, as
it we're, into huge blast furnace.
So strong was the upward sweep of
the flames that large burning fragments
were driven skywsrd, as if projected from
the mouth Of a crater Some Of these,
although there was little wind, were car
ried away and fell on the houses of dis.
tant squares; others falling downward
slowly in the vicinity were again brought
within the influence Of the whirling vor
tees Of FIRE, and again tossed upward on
the sheets Of flame, smoke and sparks
that sireamea aloft from between the
walls of the burning building. The sky
wore a frowning, lurid care for miles
around, and people living away in the
country must have thought the whole
city was sinking in sea Of flame.
The noises on the streets grew still,
the vast mpltituaes ceased to murmur,
all faces we're turned toward the stately
building consuming in fire. The flames
first reached the ground floor near the
southeast corner, and then passed from
store to store along the Washington
avenue front westward with fierce ra-
pidity.
About this tine several consecutive
explosions occurred in the easements
under the stores, the precise nature Of
which II was difficult to determine. A
4thueutu. Iepuit Noltu uo htdiA nuh
then a vast volume Of black smoke would
be helchsd forth from the cellar 70 be
replaced in a moment by a roaring
column flame.
Al about II o clock il became evident
that some Of the walls could not stand
much longer, aud the police commenced
clearing a wider space on all sides around
the burning building. The crowds
swsyed slowly back into the darker
streets, and again pressed on The lines
with upturned faces full Of interest aad
wondermeut Nov and then, at ;he fall
/ ing and crashing Of door or staircase,
numbers we're seized with a panic, and on
deavored to rush away on a double quick,
/ but soon turned aud their gaze became
again fastened ia the scene with n sort
OF weird fascination. Pyramids Of flames
shot up from the roof TO great hight
6ery tongues tapped around the corzices.
and volumes Of devouring Gre poured
forth IRON every window IN the vast edi-
/ fee The air vas sill, and huge clouds
I Of dark smoke lin With shone millions
I Of sparks, Ike golden stars hung over
[ the scene. AT every crash a columu Of
I blacker smoke shot upvasd, soon 20 be
painted BY the red glare
The excitement vas great and ite
people awaited with intense Interest be