The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1872-12-27
THE LAST HORROR.
Burning of n Portion Of the New York
Fifth Avenue Hotei-Eleven Servant Girls
Burned to Death.

Burned to Death.
The list of horrors that are charged to the
account of the closing year has had most
deplorabe addition IN the fire at the Fifth
cinders, and pecuniary dam .ge TO the amount
of Sl50,000. are the net results of the
calamity. A New York paper gives the fol-
lowing particulars OF the terrible affair:
The fire originated in the Twenty-third
street wing, occupied by the 500 servants en-
ployed i'll the hotel, through which wooden
spiral stairway runs from top TO bottom, and
also the laundry elevator. The smoke was
first detected by a gentleman boarder about
retiring to bed, who informed tie clerk. The
alarm was given, and when the employees Of
the house reached the upper stories, occupied
by the servants, the flames had gained fuiious
Roadway on the top floor where the spiral
staircase was ablaze. The servants in the fifth
and sixth stories were reused with difficulty,
and escaped hurriedy in their night dresses.
BY this time CONSERVATION had spread among
tho guests, nearly all of whom vacated the
premises more or less panic-stricken.
The scrub-women, occupying two rooms in
the seventh story, were completely cut off
from escape by the stairway. A window
opened on the roof, few feet below, but it
was barred up by strong iron grating, in
tended TO prevent any ingress from the quar-
ters of the late servents. 1t is said this graf
ing could have been readily wrenched loose
but the women who persisted had doubtless
lost all presence Of mind for their roasted
bodies were found huddled together IN the
center of the room.
The fire originated probably through the
carelessness of some of the female servants,
and crept rapidly upward between the lath
partition to the wooden cockloft, covered with
tarred roof. where the unfortunate women
persisted. 1t must have been burning some
time before the alarm was given.
The bodies of the victims were taken in am
balances to the Morgue. The scene at the
Morgue Was truly heartrending. From 8
o'clock until a constant stream of men and
women viewed the bodies of the unfortunate
women who were burned or scalded to death
in the fre-trap attic. 1t is estimated that
over 25,00) persons viewed the charred re-
mains, most of whom were attracted by NOR
bid curiosity, though many were searching for
| relatives and friends who had been employed
in the hotel The police had great difficulty
III restraining women, thousands OF whom
clamored for admission. When many of them
confronted the terrible sight, they began
terrible weeping, praying, and deported them
selves extravagantly. Several were led off in
faInting condition, and one young woman
who was accompanied by her mother, fell in
fit and was removed by force.
The bodies were ranged side by side in
rough pine collins, in the yard at the western
end Of the Morgue. Several among the de-
ceased had been burned almost to cinders
while others had been literally roasted. In
some instances the flesh was scalded from the
bones.
The Herald editorially SAYS it is stated that
gross carelessness was apparent in the cond-
ton OF the warming apparatus and that there
was too much anxiety to keep the fire a secret,
and too little effort made to save the unfortu-
nate girls. The whole subject Will no doubt
be thoroughly investigated
The losses are estimated at from $3.50. 900
to $3.50, 900.