Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-12-11
FlRElN NEW YORK.
he Fire ut the Fifth Avenue Hotel In
New YOrk-SixLeen Persons Burned
to Death-A Horrible Sight-Partic-
ulurs Of the Fire, Comments. DC.

ulars Of the Fire, Comments. &c.
New York, Dec. ia fire broke out at a
little past / 0 clock last night IN the upper
part of the Fifth avenue Hotel on the Twenty
third street side The engines when the
alarm was given, were quickly on the spot and
we're soon at work pouring streams upon the
hames, which ut midnight euve!oped the whole
Twenty third street side. Many guests had
retired or were about retiring when the alarm
was sounded, and When the fireman brought
the hose in the interior Of the building panic
epsued among the more tiuid Of them who
made rush for trunks, &c, and demanded
settlement of their bills aud left the house
After the FIRE had been pretty well eXtngulsh-
ed the tiremen on the ground went through the
rooms in what is known as the cock lott oc-
cupied by the laundry women and were horrl-
fed BY stumbling over the remains OF the hu-
man beings which were piled on the floor
Lanterns were Immediately procured and hor-
rible sight revealed. Ga the floor OF room
about twelve feet square were found no less
than sixteen bodies all burned beyond recogn-
ton. The bodies were found lying near the
ONLY window f,he room which Was barred so
tha, escape BY that means, (the staircase lead
ing to the room being on fire. was impossible
and they were compelled to wait tor death with
what resignation they could summon. 1t Is
supposed many were burned to death while
asleep. The positions Of some Of the charred
remains showed that the unfortunate creatures
died in great agony. Etfots will Dc made to-
day to convey the remans OF the untortu-
nate victims TO the morgue OWING to the
confusion and Excitement the names OF tho
victims could not he ascertalned. UP to
twenty minutes past two, twenty Two had been
recovered, sixteen in one room and six in anoth
or, which is probably ALL The FIRE originated
in the elevator on the stair case, leading to the
laundry. There were FIVE hundred guests in
the house, but none are reported Injured. The
damage by the fire and water will not full short
of 5 100, 900. The alarm was first given by one
of the female servants who shrlcked 'hre
through the hall way awakening the guests.
Many of the guests went to the office and 10,
CURED as to the excitement, but were informed
by the clerks that there was only little hre
in the laundry This attempt to keep the lire
quiet, 30 as to avoid q panic, helped to briug
about terrible results. When the guests be.
came cognizaut OF Their dengerS, scenes OF
confusion ensued. People were moving
about in apparent distraction, baggage filled
the Railways, the smoke was sutfocating aud
water drenched the floors. 1t was nearly II
O o'clock before any one gave the alarm. A pass
ing policeman then learning OF the ire inside
caused the fire engines to come to the spot.
The fire by this time had considerable head
yay, The ladies were iu wild state OF excite
ment. The carpets were still covered with
water A poor servant girl was burned on the
third floor writing IN agonies OF pain, her
bodv being friphttully burned The shrieks of
/ the servants in the upper stories were heart
rending as the Gremen were making their way
to rescue them. Large crowds had in the mean
time gathered 10 the streets Inc excitement
outside kept up till about two o clock when the
fire was about extlngulshcd.
The Herald editorially says it is stated that
gross carelessness was apparent 10 the condl-
ton of the warning apparatus, and that there
was too much anxiety to keep the hre
secret and too little efforts made to save
the unfortunate girls. The whole sube
will 20 doubt be thoroughly investigated
There are various statements as to the
origin of the fire. One says it was caused
by the bursting of steam pipe 10 the laundry.
| Some seventy or eighty servants altogether were
awakened from the top floor and hurried down
stairs. Their clothing was utterl " ruined. A
fireman named Deayey was serlousl y Injured
Nv falling through a crevlce to the pave
ment The hotel furniture was worth about
500. 600. and fully one fourth of this was
utterly ruined. The house is owned by A. 4.
Emo, but is leased to Darling, Griswod & Go.
Just before the alarm guest was assigned a
room which on reaching he discovered to be on
fire. Returning to the clerk he was Informed
that there was 20 other room vacant. The lire
was not known at this time in the office: Among
the most prominent guests were Cen Burnside,
General Horace Porter, and G. NJ. Pullman, Of
Chicago. Several of the lady guests were ac
commodated in ueig hboriug hotels and houses.
Miss Nilsson the actress, was lady guest.
l. ri Uoathar RenOrt.