Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-04-16
The Burning of MiIlerstOWn, Pa
Sad Loss Of Life.

by which seven persons were fatally
burned and about fifty business houses
and large portion of the town were de-
stroyed, entailing a loss of nearly $780,:
600:
AT 1:30 O'Clock Wednesday morning
April 1, a dire was discovered breaking
from the basement story al the Central
Hotel J. A. Frisbee, the bartender, who
happened to be sitting up with a sick
friend, discovered the fire and Immediate
ly rushed through the halls to arouse the
guests. There were, including servants,
100 souls in the house, and directly the
corridors became the scene of the widest
dismay. Fortunately there were no lady
guests registered last night or the story OF
horror and death might have been i'm
measurably more painful to detail. The
flames drifted up the wooden walls, and,
quicker than it takes TO tell 1t, spread over
the entire southern side and were curling
In a thousand tongues from cOrnice and
gable. The heat had the effect to crack
all the windows on that side of the house,
and admitted the flame and smoke before
the most expeditions of the guests could
put on their clothing. Men rushed al
most naked into the hall, some not even
taking their clothing in their arms, and
anxious to escape with their lives, tore up
and down the corridors, madly seeking
some outlet from the pursuing flames.
The widest horror prevailed. Shrek rose
upon shrek in heartrending accents, all
the more impressive because they came
from strong men graphing with death,
with. the odds so terribly against all mere
human power. Many on the lower hall
had found their way out of the building,
and the proprietor of the house, who was
sick, had been borne out. For an inStantit
was hoped that all would escape. but
again that hope was dashed by the be-
seeching cries for help Of those who had
fingered to dress, or III the excitement of
the dreadful moment were unable to
undo the fastenings of their doors. To
add to the horror OF the situation. it was
discovered that the flames had crept
through the southern sleeping rooms and,
following the draft along the corridor, had
cut oil the servants escape from the attic.
Between prayers, and shrieks, and grOans
the scene was now too much for human
hearts, knowing their utter inability to
render aid. Many turned away from
the sickening scene they found it
as difficult to endure as to relieve
Some of the girls had the courage and
presence of mind to turn their drapery
over their heads for protection, and
rush through the sheet of flame; and thus
some escaped. Others rushed back to the
north side and cast themselves from the
windows upon the roof of the adjoining
building, whence they were rescued
Others sank bewildered in the suffocating
smoke and, like some of the guests on
the floor below, yielded without a strug-
gle to the terrible death before them. But
Aha1 1T, g r,+
reached till Nelly McCarty, one OF the
dlning-room girls, appeared at the south
ern attic window and proposed to cast
herself to the ground forty feet below
A warning cry arose from the crowd, but
the poor girl would not retreat, and with
wild cry Of despair she cast herself forth
and fell, a pitiful mass of broken bones,
upon the pavement The flames were
now spreading SO rapidly that every one
turned to rescue his own property Masses
of sparks and burning shingles were fall
ing on the roofs around. In haitian hour
the greater part of the tow was
burning, and women were rushing
wildly to the fields, dragging their chill
dren after them. No water was to be got
and no resistance was made after the
first feeble effort. The scene at the Han
Ion House was only repetition Of that
which hardly a minute before had taken
place at the Central, which was only
across a narrow street The prOprietors
made every effort to alarm the guests and,
from the fact that all the remains had
clothing upon them, had undoubtedly
succeeded in their duty, but they were
forced to fee and when the flames had
subsidized three human bodies were OBJ
served to be roasting in the ruins, and a
like number were exposed to view upon
the Goals OF the Central.
The dead so far discovered Though al
most undoubtedly a further search among
the debris of the Central will discover
more) are Nora CAVITY, dining-rOom girl !;
Captain Oliver, of the Rynd Farm, guest
at the Central; Butcher George, porter at
the Central; Sanford Acker, guest at the
HanlOn House; Philip Martin, guest at
the Hanlon House; a young man I'M
known, guest at the Hanlon House. The
registers of both hotels were lost Nelly
McCarty was removed to the house of a
friend, and after receiving the holy sacra-
ment according to the Catholic faith I'M
derMent an examination by the surgeons,
who despair of her recovery, as she is in
jured internally.
The general opinion is that the fire
originated from escaping gas, but the
Central Hotel people claim that It must
have been the work of an incendiary.
Reports of the fire were slow to be cred
lied at Petrolia, Harms City, and other
towns throughout the lower country. 1t
being All Fools day, many were under
the impression that 1t was grand sell !;
but by two O'Clock in the morning nu-
merOuS parties who had been eye-wit-
nesseS appeared, and their candor could
no longer be doubted Ere long not a
horse nor wagon could be obtained at any
price, as all had been hired to visit the
scene of the contlagration. Various ru-
mors were extensively circulated regard
ing the loss of lives, some getting as high
as fifteen and twenty, and none giving it
below what 1t really was. 1t is safe to
say that no excitement ever happened in
Butler County calling out as many peo-
pie, all anxious to render any assist
ance in their power. The surround
ing towns could not boast of more
than corporal's guard, as all who could
get away had gone to Millerstown. For
a time the oil excitement was virtually
banished, and the topic of conversation
turned to the details of the conf1agration.
In the street offensive odors are percepti-
bic, being blown from the ruins constant
ly, and it is generally supposed that the
loss OF life is greater than at present as
~certained The remains of seven crisp
bodies have been lying in the lookup
all day, where they have been witnessed
by thousands. Many turned from the
horrible sight with tears in their ewes.
Operators, and all parties either directly
or indirectly concerned, pronounce it the
most distressing scene they have ever