The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1875-12-24
Burning of a Canadian Hotel With Three
of Its Inmates.

of Its Inmates.
llOrmisdas Leieunesse, son of the
proprietor of one of the hotels ut Black
River, Canada, that were burned on the
4th inst, has given to the Montreal Wit
ness the following account of the fire:
"lOu see we do heavy business, and
my father, brother and myself take turn
about in tending the bar. | went to
bed o after Is o'clock in the evening,
as Is my custom, intending to rise at II
and relieve my father and brother, who
were down stairs. | had been asleep,
but was awake when the two priests
went to bed in a front room on the sec
ond flat, on which my room was also
situated. 4 hall separated the rooms.
My mother slept in one behind mine
with Il window opening on the hall.
About 10 as neal as | can Judge she
called to me and said she heard a noise.
Thinking it was some trouble down in
the bar, answered that | would dress
and 90 down. However, she
opened her door instantly and began
screaming "Firc!" | heard it roaring
and cracking, and Immediately running
III my shirt and drawers to the window,
kicked it out, cutting my foot badly.
The smoke was very thick then, and nv
mother not being able TO follow me, |
turned back and after hard work. for
the fire was close, got hold of her and
carried her to the window. Lifting her
through, | managed to grasp hold of
one OF the pillars of the gallery and slid
down that way to the ground. As |
passed the room where the priests were,
| heard them making anoise as if crawl
ing about and gasping. | did not hear
them cry out, and they must have got
bewildered and blinded with the smoke
and so been unable to reach the win
dows. As soon as | had saved my moth
er | ran for Il ladder, which the crowd
raised against the window of Nine.
Champagne's bedroom in the third sto-
ry, and ran up. | could see her leaning
her gray head against the window Just
in this way Che here laid his head on
his crossed arms; | smashed in the
window and had just grasped her hand,
when herstrength failed and she fell back
into the room, striking her head heavily
the floor as if she had tainted;
the flames rushed toward the open win
dow and | had to 90 down and leave her
to her fate. The fire ran 50 rapidly that
we saved nothing. | do not know how
t started; it may have been from the
'tovepipes or the gas. Very fortunate
y, my sister and the two servant girls
he kitchen or dining-room. Their
Usual hour for retiring is 9, bKt Satur-
lay they stayed up till 10; this undoubt-
.dly saved their lives, as had they been
Up to bed in the third fiat they could
lot have gotten down, for the fire from
he first cut off all the staircases.n :.
He also gave an accurate description
# the two priests: II tall, manly, with
ocular features, and ~iine-lOoking, which
Father Murphy's appearance, and
he other gentleman shorter and stout
T; both young, apparently o yet 80
ears of age.
The charred remains of Father Muir
by, Father Lynch, and Madame Cham
agne have been recovered. The
of the priests were headless when
)und.
A case of general average. "Ain't
Oh rather old to ride for half price,"
I'D Il CharlestOwn car conductor to the
der of two boys riding yesterday.
Well" remarked the youth, Il am
nder IA and this boy with me is only
That don't make twenty, and you
i'll take W boys under 10 for half
rice each"-and he took them.