The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1877-04-19
Kate Cgdct0ss's Account of Her rs
cape In the st. Louis Fire.

I left the Olympic Theater immedi-
diately after the performance, and re-
turned to the hotel with my brother.
He went into the dining room to take
late supper, and there we found Miss
Osborn and Miss Mcclellan. Miss Nc
Clellan was so bright and cheerful, and
l was SO charmed with her sweet face and
manners, little imagining what was SO
soon to follow. After bidding them good
night 1 went up to my room on the
fourth floor, and my brother retired to
his room on the same floor. 1 sat down
and read little before going to bed, and
everything at that time was quiet. The
next thing that remember was a loud
knocking at the door. 1 was undressed,
and had been sleeping some little time.
In half stupid condition turned and
listened. I listened again and the
knocking was repeated. With the
knocking, the sounds of which were far
and near, came the dreadful shouts of
" Fire! Fire" I sprang from the bed
and terrified feeling of oppression came
over me. I can not describe it. l looked
up at the gas in my room, which was
burning dimly, and there I saw the
smoke curling around the chandelier.
Then it appeared all at once to fill the
room, and dense clouds came through
theapertures ofthe fire CRATE. I thought
instantly of my brother, and rushed out,
half dressed as I was, to discover his
room. Meanwhile he had been disturbed
by the noise, and was approaching my
room. I said: "Let us End the stairs or
we shall be lost" My brother was half
dressed, and reached across the bed to
pick up something to throw around me.
We could not find the staircase, and the
confusion and smoke and roar of the fire
were mingled with the most piercing
and heartrendering screams. I shall
never forget it. We were not acquainted
with the hotel arrangements, for the
common practice is to use the elevator
in ascent and descent, and we therefore
could not find staircase, or any means
of escape. There were others on the
same floor in the same terrible dilemma,
but could not see each other for the
smoke. Presently we groped along and
found a step downward. We commenced
to descend. What happened can not
say, for I do not distinctly remember.
[ have been in greater danger, as you
know, and I always endeavor to main
tain my composure, but the smoke
stifed the senses. We reached by some
means or other the first landing of the
ladies' staircase on the Fifth Street side,
opposite the Olympic Theater. There
was a great crowd of ladies in their night
dresses in the vestibule, and some of the
physicians were persuading them to re-
main, assuring them that all would be
safe. We did not heed this advic, ), and
PASSED out ON the street. A way was
made through the crowd for US to reach
the hotel opposite, and remained there
some little time to recover. There ]
saw poor Miss Mcclellan brought in. ]
can never forget it. My brother pro-
cured carriage shortly afterward, and
we came down to the Lindel. I feel
very much worse to-day than did when
I arrived here after the escape. 1 have
lost everything, literally everything, fol
am under obligations to lady sympathi
zers and friends for the clothes which
you see me wearing now. I have moth
ing of my own whatever, except the
nightrobe in which I escaped.