The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1874-04-10
Y,hc Butsc, county Holocaust.
PARTICULARS OF THE late DESTRUCTIVE
FIRE AT MILLERsTowN.

NULERsTowN. April 1.-At half past
one o'clock this morning fire was discov-
cred breaking from the basement story of
tIa Central Hotel. J. A. FTisbee, tie bar
tender. who happened to be sitting up with
a sick friend. discovered the fire, and inn
rnediately rushed through the halls to
arouse the guests. There were, including
servants, a hundred souls IN the house, and
directly the corridors became the scene of
the widest dismay. The flames drifted up
the wooden walls, and quicker than it takes
tn tell ii. spread over the entire southern
side. and were curling in a thousand
+onTues 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 cloth
;no 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 the cor
ridors madly seeking some outlet from the
,,rrsuinp flames. The widest horror pre-
raiIrd. Many on the lower hall had found
their way out of the building, and the pro-
nrietnr of the house, who was SICK, had
been borne ont. For an instant 1t was
boued that all would escape, but again that
hone was dashed by the beseeching cries
for help from those who had fingered to
dress. or in the excitement of the terrible
n1oment were unable TO undo the fasten-
iuCs of their doors. To add to the horror
of lie situation, it was discovered that the
flames had crept through the southern
sleeping rooms and, following the draft
along the corrid Il head, cut OF the serv-
ants escape from the attic Between pray
ers and shIiekS and groans, the scene was
now too much for human hearts, knowing
their utter inability +" render aid. MANY
turned awc.J from the sickening scene
They found it as difficult to endure as to
relieve. Some of the girls had the cour-
are and presence of mind to turn their
draDery over their heads for protection,
and rushed through the sheet of flame
and thus some escaped. Others rushed
back to the north side and cast themselves
from the iudows upon the roof of the nd
Joining buildings, from whence they were
rescued. Others sank back bewildered III
the sutfCcating smoke, aud like some of
the quests on the floor below, yielded 70
the terrible death before them without a
struggle. But the climax of the situation
had not been reached until Nelly McCarty,
one of the djninT-roOm girls, appeared at
the southern attic window and proposed to
cast herself to the ground. forty feet be-
low. \ warming cry broke from tine crowd.
but the poor girl would not retreat. Death
WAS behind her and, with a Wild cry of
despair, she cast herself forth and fell, a
pitiful mass of broken bones, upon the
pavement. In half an hour the greater
part of the town Was burning, aud women
were rushing wildly to the fields, dragging
their children after them. No water was
to be got, and no resistance was made after
the first feeble effort.
The scene at the Hanlon house was only
a repetition of that which hardly a minute
before had taken place at the Central,
which was only across 4 narrow street.
The YruprietorS made every effort to alarm
the guests, and from the fact that all the
remains had clothing upon them, had un-
doubtcdly succeeded in their duty, but
they were forced to flee aud VIXEN the
flames had susided, three human bodies
were observed to be roasting in the ruins
aud a like number were exposed upon the
Goals of the Central.
The general opinion is that the fire origi-
mated from escaping gas, but the Central
hotel people claim that it must have been
the work of an iucendiary.
The remains of seven crisp bodies have
been lying in the lookup all day, where
they have been witnessed by thousands
Nearly all the guests at the Central Ho-
bles. Dr. Shamburg lost his watch and
and all his clothing except one COAT
Frank WashabuIgh WAS the last guest and
escaped. lie was not aroused until strang-
led 10y smoke. " hen morning broke near
ly hundred families were seen in the
fields protecting and seeking shelter among
their goods.