The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1871-02-02
TERRIBLE FIRE (!
THE HALLIDAY HOUSE IN RUINS.
SEVEN PERSONS BURNED TO DEATH.

burning OF the Halliday House on Tuesday
morning last at which time six persons were
burned to death, one burned so badly that he
lived but a few honrs, and number of others
seriously injured.
The fire was first discovered and the alarm
given at about half-past four O'Clock, by
some young men who had attended the mas
querade at the Park City House in the north
ward, and they did all they could to assist
the inmates of the hotel in making their es-
cape. -
Several of the male boarders that roomed
in the fourth story, jumped from the windows
of their rooms, and escaped with slight in
Ijures, while others rushed for the stair-ways
and came near suffocating in getting out.
Mrs. j. B. Merrill and four young children
persisted Capts. Everett and Haen, sailors,
and also Mr.. 8. d. Hastings of this city,
who rendered good and timely assistance to
many, state that they heard the lady and
i children screaming for help in the third
story, and minute later the room in which
they were was enveloped in flames and
smoke. About nine O'Clock the remains of
Mrs Merrill and the four children were found
in the ruins OF the basement, where they had
fallen through from the third floor, and pre-
/ scented sckening spectacle as they laid in
the doorway. The mother had the youngest.
a child about Two years old. clasp
ed in her arms, and the little chilG's arms
were tightly wound around its mothers neck
Osmond Capron, brotherot Capt. Albert
Capron, of this city, and clerk in the store
Of Capron & Stevens, was la ken from the burn.
ing building tearfully burned, and his night
clothes were still in flames as they carried
: him across the street to the residence OF
Henry Andre. His injuries are such that lit
tie hope is left Of his recovery.
The clerk, Simon Fuller, who has been clerk
In the hotels of this city for years, was sleep
ing in the parlor on the second floor, and
: might easily have saved himself by jumping
from the window, but he rushed up into
the burning building and endeavored to save
others he thought in danger. He was taken
out in an almost insensible condition, and
after untold agony died at four O'Clock in the
afternoon, at the residence of W. 4. Halliday,
on Market street. m
A man in the employ of one OF our hard.
ware firms roomed in the third story of the
hotel, and when he first heard the alarm en-
6 deavored to get out by going down the main
, stairs, but the sitting smoke drove him hack
/ and he jumped flom window. striking on
f the roof of the short piazza on the east side
r of the building. The roof being eovered with
ice, he slid off to the ground, breaking his
) thigh, and received other injuries that will
3 lay him up for long time if it does not rem.
r der him cripple for life.
: Austin B. Wattles, of Jewett's livery stable
/. was in room on the third floor. He made
E his way to the head OF the stairs on the third
floor and threw himself over the banisters to
the floor of the Office which was filled with
flames and dense smoke, and here he became
almost suffocated. Making one more effort
he fell over the railing to the stairs leading to
the front door and rolled down to the bottom
He was taken out badly burned, but will re.
cover.
Zach Wilder jumped from the fourth
8 story o the roof of the walk on the east side
of the hotel, and fell to the ground, but for
: tunately received no injuries except few
bruises.
= Sam Ranney jumped from the fourth story
5 on the north side of the eastern portion ofthe
: hotel. Zach Wilder braced himsslf agains,
the side of the building and endeayored tc
I break the force of his fall, and was pretty
f badly bruised. Ranney got off with few
e slight cuts and bruises, which was miracu
lous, considering the distance he fell.
Charley Brown, well known among oul
u y.
. Iclothes. Col. F. s. Lowell also escaped In
his night-clothes, though not till he had
been somewhat burned. A gentleman, named
9 Mitchell who arrived from Chicago on the
: $50 train, and had just got into a sound slum
= Der, got out in his shirt and drawers. He was
e pretty BADLY burned about the face and hands
young man named Ed. Wade, who work
! ed about the house, has not been seen since
: the fire. and was undoubtedly burned to
death, making six in all that persisted in the
flames. &@ hme t-sssta
: Mr.. Rush and wife, who had room on the
second floor, made their escape, and brought
out some of their property. This, with 9
very little of the loose furniture of the hote
was all that was saved, all the guests except.
ing Mr.. Rush not having a change of any
garment.
The origin of the fire is a mystery, but it il
supposed that some one who had attended
the masquerade from the hotel, lit lamp in
the lamp room and must have dropped the
: lighted match among some bits of oiled pa.
per and rags on the floor.
, Messrs.Capron s. Stevens, propretors OF the
!. flour. feed aud grocery store under the hotel,
!, lost all their -four and feed, but saved large