Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1875-01-29
Burned TO Death.


THE Sacramento (Cal) UR,on contains
the following particulars of the recent
burning of the Western Hotel, in that
city, by which several persons lost their
lives: -
The whole7upper portion of the house
was thoroughly painted and finished
with China gloss, which the fire ran
along as rapidly as man would walk,
owing to its great inflammability, and
the smoke given OFF was as heavy and
thick as might be expected from the
burning of vast quantity of varnish.
Soon it was found that the engines were
powcrless to stop the spreading of the
devouring element, and suddenly, and al
most as If of one accord, scores of men
and women in the crowds that lined the
streets bethought them that, probably
many of the occupants of the upper por-
tion of the building had failed to make
their escape.
The firemen redoubled their exertions,
being ably directed by the chief engineer
and his assistant. The absence Of lad
ders of serviceable length was much felt,
but after some valuable time had been
lost two long ones from Krobs' paint
shop were procured, and did good SER
vice. Just before they arrived a man
was seen to look out of rear window
in the third story of the doomed build
ing, and the men in the alley called to
him to lie fiat upon the floor and wait
for the ladder, but he disappeared so
quickly that he probably heard none of
the advice given. Another man ran out
upon the rear balcony of the second sto'
ry and was advised to jump down, but
hastened back into the building. Neither
of them was seen again. AS soon as the
ladder was placed against the rear of the
building, Assistant Engineer Sullivan as
cended to look for the men thathad been
seen. Smashing window with his hat,
he jumped into the building and disap-
peared, while the smoke poured out flu.
riously from the opening he had made.
A few seconds later he reappeared
nearly suffocated, rand it was evident
that he had failed in the object of his
search.
Gradually the fremen succeeded in
driving the fire from the front and lower
portions of the building, and bursting in
door in the upper story that opened
from long hall, running the whole
length of the house, out upon the from
balcony they found the body of a MAJ
Lying Just back of IL, the face badly
blistered, hair burned off, the hands anC
| feet roasted till the bones protruded
Ropes were procured, the body lowered
! to the ground and presently conveyed Il
the office of the Coroner. As the re
mains were being lowered from the bal
cony a murmur OF horror rose from tn
assembled multitude. II subsequent
was found that the body was that o
Simeon B.TConklin, a well-knOwn print
er, for many years employed in tn
iUnt0n Office. From the description giycr
it is evident that he is the man that sra
out upon the balcony, and then returne
to the building, The Imagination ca
picture him in his flight from tina
end of the building, on the secon
floor, to the front of the third flool
where, Just as he. had reached tn
door, the opening of which would hay
| given him life, his strength faile
and he fell A wound was found on IN
forehead and a report spread that th
unfortunate man had blown his brair
out to put an end to his misery, but sue
was not the case, the hurt having prOl
4 ably been oceasioned4 by his strikin
against something in his rush for lif
Soon afterward there came rumor {
other bodies having been taken from ii
! rear of the building, but the report WI
! incorrect. The positive fact that OF
life had been lost served, however, I
fill the minds OF all With most painf
apprehensions, as it was known that Il
: hotel had been nearly full of guests, amor
them being many ladies. Two of u
latter were very III and rumor had
! that they had not been rescued, but v
are happy to be able to state that thu
we're removed from the building befo
; the fire reached their rooms. 1t was al
Z found blythe printers that another 20
/ ular member of the craft, job Cou
who was known to have been In Il
hotel, had not been seen to leave it al
fears were Expressed that he had be-
. lost. The excitement of the
/ sembled multitude became intenl
Il seemed an age before the fl
e gave evidenceof succumbing, and ev
s then its fury ceased only becau
D II had exhausted the material / up
whiohit fed. lAti half-past four, no
ever, the firemen felt that they were mi
6 ters of the situation, and proprietors
T adjoining stores, who had feared that I
. confiagration might extend to their pre-
= ises, became less anxious. About
O'Clock the engines ceased working a