The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-04-08
ANOTHER GREAT FIRE!
MIlLERST0WN, BUTLER COUNTY
DESTROYED
Seven Persons Burned to
Death.
50 Bull LDINGS DESTROYED.

MILLERSToWN, April AT halt
past one o'clock this morning q fire
was discovered breaking from the
basement story at the Central Hotel.
J. A. Frisbee, the bartender, who
happened to be sitting up with a sick
friend discovered the fire, imme-
diately rushed through the halls to
arouse the guests There were, in
Gu ling survents, a hundred souls in
the house, and directly the corridors
became the scene Of the widest dis
may. The flames drifted up the
wooden walls, and quicker than it
takes to tell it, 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 flames
and smoke before the most expedi-
tious of the guests could put on their
clothing. Men rushed almost naked
into the hall, some not even taking
their clothing in their arms, and,
anxious only to escape with their lives
tore up and down corridors, madly
seeking some outlet from the pursu-
ing flames. The widest horror pre-
vailed. 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
instant it was hoped that all would
escape but again that hope was dash
ed by the beseeching cries for help
from those who had fingered to dress
or in 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 crcpt
through the southern sleeping rooms
and, following the draft along the
corridor head, cut off the servants
escape from the attic. Between
prayers and shrieaks 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 ofthe girls had the courage and
presence of the mind to turn their
drapery over their heads fer protec-
tion, 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 bull
ding, whence they were rescued.
Others sank bewildered in the suifo-
eating some and, like somk eff the
guests on the floor below, yielded |
struggle to the terrible |
1eath before them. But the climax
)f the situation had not been reached |
ill Nelly McCarty, one of the dining
'oom girls, appeared at the southern
lttic window and proposed to cast
herself to the ground, forty feet below
A warning cry arose. from the crowd
,ut the poor girl would not retreat
Death was behind her and, with a
Wild cry of despair, she cast herself
ourth and fell, pitiful mass of bro
,en bones, upon the pavement. In
lalf an hour the greater part of the
own was burning, and women were
ushing wildly to the fields, dragging
heir children after them. No water
vas to be got, and no resistance was
made after the first feeble effort
The scene at the Hanlon House
vas only repetition of that which
lardly minute before had taken
lace at the Central, which was on
Y across a narrow street. The pro-
rietors made every effort to alarm
be guests aud from the fact that all
be remains had clothing upon them,
ad undoubtedly succeeded in their
uty, but they were forced to fee
nd when the flames had subsidized,
hree human bodies were observed to
e roasting in the ruins, and like
umber were exposed to view upon
ne Goals of the Centr al.
The general opinion is that It origi-
ated from escaping gas, but the Cen
al Hotel people claim that it must =
ave been the work of an incendiary. i
The remains of seven crisp bodies I
ave been lying in the lookup all day, :
here they have been witnessed by c
Nearly all the guests at the Central
lotel lost their money, clothing and
aluables. DIR. Shamburg lost his :
atch and chain, and a thousand dol p
rs in money, and all his clothing ex- I
'pt one coat. Frank Washaburgh t
as the last guest and escaped. He 4
as no; aroused until strangled by p
noke. When morning broke nearly
hundred families were seen in the =
Ids protecting and seeking shelter
n0nO their OnodS !