Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-12-11
LATEST lTELEGRAMS.
AMERiuAK PnEeB AseOOLATioH, VIA q. r. 4 A.
TnLEaRLPH COMPANY.
Specials 60 she Ledger.
THE FIRE FIEND.


Fffth Avenue Hotel. New York, I'm
1 PLANES Last Night--rwenty.fOur
RerYamts. MEN and Women, are
Burned 90 Death-kGenes Among
the GuesIs--A Block Destroyed I'm
Flushing village.
NRw YORK. December ll.-At 1850 o'clock
last night fire commenced in the upper story
of the Fifth Avenue Hotel. on Twenty-third
street. The fremen were quickly on the spot.
and streams Of water were soon pouring on
| the flames, which by u o'clock had enveloped
the hotel, Hose were attached 10 various
pipes inside the hotel, thus assisting those on
the outside. Many Of the guests had retired
or were about retiring when the fire alarm
was sounded, but it was not until the fremen
had brought the hose into the hotel that any
alarm was created. Then ensued a panic
among the guests, who rushed for their trunks,
yaluables, etc.. and made for the door. The
female domestics were considerably alarmed
| The fire was first discovered by the occu-
pant of room %, who, on entering the hall
way. observed a smoke issuing from a door
| leading to small room near his own. He
opened the door and an immense mass Of
smoke and flame met him. He cried "frel"
and the halls were instantly filed with men.
The scence was now one of the greatest ex-
citement. Employees Of the hotel procured
buckets of water and threw them on the fire.
The fremen soon got properly to work. but
not before the fire had assembled to the sixth
story, and was spreading along the roof.
After working manfully for awhile they sue
ceeded in confning the FIRE to the wing in
which il originated. At midnight it seemed
Il -. -. a. a
fourth. fifth and sixth floors number of rooms
were badly damaged. The dining-room was
also greatly damaged. Hg
The loss cannot be estimated at present
but is believed to be about $4,000. Loss
on the building $4,000 to $4,000. The loss
entirely covered by insurance. Among prom
inent guests were General Burnside, George
Porter. Mr.. Pullman, and others. During
the confusion attending the FIRE many women
tainted and the Railways were filed with |
screaming guests. Many ladies were taken |
to the Albermarle, st. James. Glenham, Hoff- |
man House, and other hotels in the vicinity. |
Soon after the fire was extinguished the fire.
men commenced an examination Of the toy |
floor, and made the horrible discovery that in |
one of the servants rooms sixteen servants. |
men and women, had been burned to death. |
The bodies were all horribly disfgued. and |
from the positions in which they were found it |
is believed they had been overcome by the |
intense smoke and heat while endeavoring to |
escape. Six other charred corpses were found
in another room adjoining these and are prob
ably all victims.
At $50 am. the FIRE was subdued.
The dead bodies were taken to the Morgue.
Warder Brennan had three ambulances on
the ground. taking bodies to the Bellevue
Hospital. Margaret Pagan, aged thirty, was
so badly burned about the head and body that
little hopes are entertained of her recovery;
she was taken to the Bellevue Hospitals Mary
Jane Healy was badly scalded in the face.
A fireman named Fem fell through the sky
light, cutting his head, but is not seriously ir.-
jured.
On examination it was discovered thT.t the
Ere originated in the elevator or staircase
leading to the laundry. on the top floor. How
it arose could not be discovered. Tie princi-
pal damage is from water.
The hotel is owned by Amos r. Emo.
The progress Of the fire was regarded with
ahXlOus eoncltuue Dy an immense crown OF
spectators, who had assembled in the streets
near the burning building.
Later particulars regarding the fire of the
Fifth Avenue Hotel this morning state that
eleven female servants persisted in one room
by the flames and steam. Six bodies were
found in other rooms. Some Of the victims
had apparently been awakened by alarm. and
had suffosated in attempting to escape. At
this hour il Is impossible to obtain complete
list of the names of the victims. Coroner
Young will hold an inquest.
BROOKLYN, December 1l.-Rarly this morn
ing FIRE broke out in the rear of James
Keefe's blacksmith shop. in Flushing Village.
The entire block fronting on Main street was
destroyed. The Methodist Church was only
Iaved by destroying two buildings adjoining.
Loss. 81, 900.
SHARON. Pa, December 1O.-About 10 clock
Monday night Ere broke out in the frame
building on the west side Of State street. owned
BY S. A. Porter. and occupied by himself and
" WiltE d Grace, marble manufacturers; DIR.
Higman's office. and Mr.. Scofeld's hoop skirt
Wilt & Grace's loss is $500;
insured for 5000 in the Etna Of Hartford.
The building was insured in the North
America Of Philadelphia.