The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-11-13
ENDANGERED In A HOTEL.
THE FIRE ADYENTURE or LODGERs
IN THE dNIHONY HOUSE.
Aroused In the Might. too Frightened to Dress,
and COiapelled 10 Escape Thrnueb smoke
BY the Way of n single Nnrrow stairway.

Aroused In the Might. too Frightened d to Dress,
and Coinpelled 10 Escape THROUGH smoke
BY the Way OF n single Nnrrow stairway.
The night watchmau of the Anthony
House, at 8A Broadway, made his accustomed
round of the cellar basement, and ground story
of tho building at ~ o'clock Yesterday morn
ing. and nndin9 everything right, went to tho
sixth story and called the fireman. As the
watchnan went down stairs ho smeled smoke,
and bv the time he reached the ONCE the rooms
aud halls were filed with It. He we the alarm,
and with the assistance OF a p inter, who was
putting the finishing coat on tho restaurant, he
hastened to arouse the guests The building
contained sixty lodeers and ABOUT thirty en-
ployees. As the first OF them we're awakened,
the nro had gained such headway that dense
smoke nlled every room. and the cracking OF
burning timber was appalling.
the Mercer street police aud Engine Company
is were at the building within nye minutes OF
the discovery OF the fre. The second aud third
alarm were sounded and the police and such
1rcmen as were not needed for nrc-n hitting scat
tered through tho building. Fastening the flight
OF tho daz ID, ,half-surocated men md women.
The ono narrow st irway that constitutes the
only eeress was crowded with half dressed per-
sons In night attire. sCro lming aud cropping their
way through binding smoke. Fortunately, the
Ure cOnmenCc1 IN tne eNtrc ne rear OF the buli-
ing. the reWOtest point from the stairway. Had
Il been In the iron it's dillirult to explain how
many could h We escaped, MS the rear windOws
overlook an excavation for anew building max
Inc the descent irom the lowest window thirty
feet. Every pers u was got out safely, and tue
nremen were left 10 uninterrupted work az Inst
the nre
lne basement. In which tho flre started, con-
taincd very nttlo inl lmnabls material. Even
tho walls were desti ute II ilths. Nevertheless,
the nOOr Of the nrst story vas bltling hctcely,
aud flames were IL akinx r, pid heauway upstairs.
len engines were 500 AT wora, under direction
OF Chief Bates ana Assistant IiCQutl. Lines
o. ose were run into every story. lnt iOOring
was cut away SO as to admit streams into the
woodwork OF the walls, .Hd IN half an hour
tue nre VIVA out. the chief mage being doue
IN the restaurant ana basement.
Charles a. Merritt, PROPRIETOR OF tho Anthony
House, found accommodation for his guests
nd employees with john Merritt. at 80 East
Mn street. hey were IN a pitiabie cOnJitiOn,
few having retained presence Of mind enough
to secure their Baggage, an1 many, Ia their
flight, braving the chill rignt or In their
retiring robes. Nery lew articles are missing,
however, although most Of the wardrobcs were
damaged by water. lhe building, belonging 10
tue Roosevelt estate, - damaged 5000 Mr.
Merritt estimates ns damage IN brOkGu crock
cry md ruined furniture az {lO,UJl, on - hicn ne
nus tli,tD in-u anCe. Ihe inside Of the build
inE " a. uewiy painted anu nttcd up.
The OriEin Oi tue IRE Is unexplained. The
1re ia the restaurant 1 4nge was eXtlngA shed
when business closed the night before. I've en-
gine supplying steam for heatiug the building
IN sly, tnat no made ms round within ten
minutes oi the alarm. NOtuing but the prompt
anu skiiiful tuOtts Of tho nremcu AMI police
prevented terrible catastrophe.