The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1877-04-20
THE ST. LOUIS HOLOCAUST
y FKIGRTFUL CATASTROPHE.

~ hiNI l. "a
Following are the particulars of the re-
cent destruction by fire and great loss of
life in the Southern Hotel, St. Louis, Of
which brief mention was made in our news
department last week
The Southern hotel occupied the square
bounded by Walnut and Elm and Fourth
and Fifth streets, and was the larges. aud
hnest III the Mississippi valley. 1t was
built of Athens stone, closely reSem bling
marble, in the Anglo Italian style, and was
six stories high. The fashionable prone
made extends along the site of the building
on Fourth street, on which are the leading
retail stores. The proprietors of the hotel
were Breslin, Darling & Co. Mr.. Breslin,
the senior member nf ;he firm, is also the
proprietor of the Gilsey house, St. James
and Metropolitan hotels. of New York.
Messfs. Breslin, Darling q Co. leased the
Southern hotel of its owner, Robert Camp
bell of St. Louis. on the lSt of May year
ago. Over 100000 was expended by the
lrssees iii rcnoyatug and Iefurnshiug the
house, putting in the modern appointments
of IA first elias hotel, and otherwise placing
il on par with the leading houses of the
East. In refurniShing the hotel special
Paius were taken to guard against fire.
Hose connections with hydrants were on
every floor. Fire eXtihguishers were
pla ced in the most convenient spots
throug bout the entire building. An elrc
t!ic nIc alarm stret ched its warning arms
into eNciN nook and Granny of the house,
and AN indicator III the office gave the
alarm " hen aIy pant OF the building was
over heated. There were entrances to the
hotel on the ground floor from every street
and spacious, high tiled vcstibule or lob
by, extended from front to rear of the first
floor.
The hotel was the favOIite resort of fash
iouaGle people, and, i'll respect to its pa
tionage. stood equal To any in the county.
It. was hc.e that Governor Hendricks had
his headquarters when i'll St. Louis during
the uaS1 campaign. Here. too, tie Tam
many delegation 10 the st. Louis couNen-
tion had their rooms, and here the Demo
cratic committees from various states licld
the meetings i'll which they mapped out
the course which had its result in the
ton Of the last Democratic national con
veuiinn. On the occasion of his fist visit
to IhIs country the Grand Duke Alexis aud
suite stayed al the Southern, which was
the scene of many a notable gathering. and
. other distinguished people have from time
To lime been its gncSiS. Most of the
speeches delivered after the nomination of
Governor Tildeu were delivered in the
ncig hUoilOoc of the hotel, and night in
trout of II assembled the crowds that
watched tie fireworks and other public
demonstrations held in honor of that
event. The cutiIe cost Of the hotel is said
to have beeu nearly $1,000, coo.
CAUSE OF THE FIRE.
The hameS-vhich originated in the
StoreToou in the baScmtnt-were FIRST seen
coming through the ground floor. Just
north eff the office, at l:2J Il. m. and in ten
minutes it had assembled the elevators aud
!,
floor, under the roof. This floor was oc-
cuIied hy employees ofthe hotel. the most
of whom were women. The fine spread
rapidly, filling every room and hall with
flames and smoke. and .hc scene was of
the most terrible description.
FranItc men. wumon aud children ran
through The halls >hIioking in the most
hcart-rcndiHC mauucr in their wild aud
desperate efforts To escape. The smoke
WIS 80 dpuSC ia some uf the halls that the
gas icls we're cXtiuguished. which render
cd rercsS even To those most familiar with
the building a matter Of great difficulty.
: ShIitkIng men and women awakened !r"in
their sleep bv the terrible cry of fire and
almost s,fIncajrd by the dense smoke as
il fucrd is way Though the halls and
rendered exit nv them extremely hazard
Gus, if not mpusSihlc- flushed 70 the win
doms. aud throwing them open, cried in
agoujzed tones FOR help. Those in the
streets could see, but could render no as
sistaIicc further than To cry, Hold cD
hold oH. Duu't jump. Wen try and get
them ouI.' The hook aud ladder wagon
came. huI here was seeming ~ All Intern
Unable d' lay in getting 10 work, the spccia-
tors parIo,k of the prevailing excitement
3 and it seemed as though the depaI tmcut
was without its usual efficiency, and that
assis,au would never br rendered. The
poor creatures hanging from the upper
winiuws continued their cries, winch
smo;e upon 1he ears Of their helpless hear
ers below with such force as can better be
imagined than dee C. he'd.
At last. when it seemed as though The
4 flames had gained almost fun possession
of the sixth story, The ladders were brought
into rcquisitIou; but they were far too
short. the louges. csreely reaching beyond
the fourth floor. The cries of "llelp
Help ~ as they rang foIth from all sides,
seem cd To paralN Ze the hIemcn as well ds
the others who were lockers on. Some
one with Il cool head suggested that the
longest ladders be raised 60 the top of the
Walnut street verandah, which would
have the effcc, of leugtheninS them hy
! two stories. This was done, ana by Ii
many were saved.
Meanwhile sheets and blankets began to
float from. windows ON the various sides ot
/ the building many of them tied together,
but none of them making rope of sutfi-
cient length to reach a safe landing. though
two men and one woman in the sixth story
descended these pcrilpus strands aud sue
cceded in swinging themselves into fifth
story windows, thus increasing their chan
ces of rescue.
THE FIRST VICTIM.
Ore or the first men 10 reach the ladder
on The Walnut street side was Geo. Frank
Gouley, grand secretary of the Masonic
fraternity in Missouri. He had to descend
knoited rope of blankets from the skill
to the fifth story. tie had not passed more
than a half dozen rounds when he reelcd
and fell, his skun being crushed by stril
ing coruice, aud both legs being broken
producing instant death.
AN INSANE EFFORT.
One man, whose name is unknown. ap