Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-12-13
FIFTH AVENUE HOLOCAUST.
Evidence Before the Fire Marshal.
Great Indignation Against the Hotel
Propriet0rs.
Fuller Particulars, etc., etc.

Mary Ann Pagan, ons of The victims ol
the Fifth Avenue Hotel fire, died in great
agony at Bellevue Hospital yesterday.
The fire originated, according to the ev
idence before the Fire Marshal, in SER
wants room on the third floor.
One of the proprietors says, however,
that the origin of the fire is not at all
known. Another of the proprietors says
be ordered an alarm to be given immedi-
ately after the discovery of the fire. Both
are of the opinion that the poor girls met
their death from suffocation.
The loss on the building viii be only
about $4,000. The furniture is damaged
to the extent Of $4,000.
An eye witness says there is no doubt
but IL an alarm had been sounded immedi-
ately on the discovery of the fire, the girls
would have been rescued. 1t is the general
impression that the hotel proprietors, in
their anxiety to save furniture and carpets,
wanted to put the fire out themselves.
The loud, piercing screams of the poor
girls on the top floor were distinctly heard
in the basement. At this time the fire had
made great headwsy, but even then the
hotel employees, whose attention had been
directed to ths great glare said: ''Oh it's
nothing" and agair; "these girls will scare
the guests, If they go on that way"
Gen. Shsller, fire official, says the alarm
was not given soon enough. Chief Engin-
eer Perley says the location of the fire was
first telegraphed to him at eighteen minu-
tes past eleven, and that the fremen were
on the ground FIVE minutes later. He
thinks there was most unaccountabls delay
at the hotel in giving the alarm. The
tortuous ways of entering the building pre-
vented the fremen from doing very effective
service.
A foreman of one of the companies says
that at first he was refused admittance in
to the Hotel, accomp lnied with the excuse
that they did not wish panic among the
guests. He finally insisted upon entering.
The fire marshal says that nothing like suf-
ticient precaution had been taken to guard
against loss of life in the event of fire at
the hotel; that he finds that no efforts had
been made by the people in the Hotel to
rescue the girls. He thinks the authorities
were so much concerned about the baggage
of the guests, that human lives were forgot
ten, besides the workmen were looking af-
ter baggage, instead of attempting to rescue
the endangered people. An employee OF
the hotel says be Intellectually endeavored
to tear off the screws of the windows where
the girls were confined.
Over twenty-five thousand persons went
to the morgue yesterday. The sights there
were of the ghastliest character. The
press of this city calls for thorough inves-
tigation.
The Herald heads its leading editorial
thus: "The Fifth Avenue Holocaust 1t
was criminal-was it murder?" and pro.
ceeds in lengthy article to strongly con-
denim the authorities Of the hotel for their
conduct.
Six bodies are yet unrecognized. Three
of these cannot be identified. Some of the
bodies look like mummies they are so plack.
eued. Three of the roasted victims were
found in a room in position as though
they had been burned while embracing eacl
other. A great deal of indignation is man
ifested toward the authorities at their course
in sending the corpses of the unfortunates
to be stored in all their horrid disfgur e
ment at the morgue, which is intended only
for the reception of unknown dead.
Some charitably disposed citizens have
proposed subscription in aid of the rela
tiYes OF the burned.