Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1877-04-21
THE ST. LOUIS FIRE.
BURNING OF THE SOUTHERN HOTEL.

When the alarm of fire was given
Mr. Ernest Argo was playing billiards
at the Laclede Hotel. A second and
general alarm being sounded, he went
out into the street to see where the fire
was. Looking down Fifth street he at
once saw that the flames were devour-
ing tho Southern. Without stopping
moment he rushed 10 the scene, and
assisted in raising the first ladder to the
third story Of the Walnut street front.
AT this time Mr. Einsman and his FAM
ly were at the windows of their room
on the fourth floor crying for help.
Although the ladder referred to only
reached to the third floor Mr.. Argo as
cended to the top and crawled in at the
third story window, and, leaning out,
be directed Mr.. Einsman what to do.
1t was by Dir. Argos direction that MIR.
Einsman split the sheets of the bed and
tied them together, by which Mr. Ems
man swung down, while Mr.. Argo at
tempted to catch him in his arms while
sliding down the sheets The impro-
vised rope parted, and Mr. Einsman
shot by Mr. Argo in his descent and
was dashed to pieces On the pavement.
Mrs. Scott was the next to descend by
the part of the sheet rope yet remain
ing, and when getting to the end she
dropped through the arms of Mr.. Argo,
tearing his left hand badly, it is suppos-
ed by her rails, and fell to the pave
ment. Fortunately she was not killed,
! but sustained severe cuts en- the left
side of her head and was badly bruised.
The next and last person to take such
terrible risk was Mrs Einsman. She
had seen both her mother and husband
fall through the arms of Mr.. Argo to
the pavement, fifty feet below, but yet
she never hesitatej. Selling the
treacherous sheets she climbed carefully
out of the window and, with great for
tude, slid down until she reached the
end Mr.. Argo then cried out :.
"Let go and l will catch you"
Mrs. Einsmp dropped when the
word was given, and Argo, by heroic
effort, succeeded in catching her in his
arms and drew her into the room, which
was at this time breaking out with.
flames. He then carried her down the
ladder, both reaching the ground unin-
jured.
One of the narrowest escapes from
death was that of Professor j. III. Rees,
of New York, his wife and two cham
bermaids. They occupied apartments
hn c,I # 10 Vt
floor At about two a. m. Mrs. Rees
was awakened by heart rending shrieks,
and, rousing her husband, the couple
endeavored to make their way through
the hall Driven back by sutfocating
smoke and intense heat, they re-entered
their room, closed the door and ventil
lator, and rushed to the window. No
help was in sight, and as they made q
second attempt-to escape by the door
the two chambermaids rushed frantical-
" in with their heads covered, saying
that egress by that route was cut off, it
being impossible to reach the stairs.
All four again rushed to the window
for air, the room by this time being
filled with smoke. Mrs. Rees and one
of the girls tainted, but recovered.
When all hope had been abandoned the
Skinner fire escape hove in sight. 1t
WAS raised very slowly, but the tiremen
succeeded III ascending and rescuing
several persons from the fifth floor, in
eluding one man, who had let himself
down from the story above by means
of sheets tied together. After these
were saved the ladder was moved very
slowly into position for the people on
the sixth floor, but it only reached as
high as the windows below, and it was
several feet from the wall. A rope was
finally thrown to the Rees window, and
a fireman, very brave fellow was haul
ed up. Mr. Rees was then let down to
tie window ledge below. His wife
followed, and she was supported on the
narrow ledge until another fireman, Ed.
Thorn, arrived and assisted in swinging
her to the ladder This brave man car
red the woman who was weak and sick
down part of the way. His strength
abandoning him she chung to his back
until additional assistance arrived.
IOltSSul iActS lSIiIdIutu VII tbS biIh
story window ledge until both maids
were lowered to the sidewalk by means
of ropes lied around their waists. The
women behaved admirably, keeping
perfectly quiet and betraying no alarm.
Had it not been for their presence of
mind ir-would not have been possible
for the ircmen Thorn and Kirk to save
them. While the second chambermaid
was being lowered the rope slipped and
caught Mr. Rees around the neck. Had
not the woman reached the ground at
that instant the Professor would have
been dragged down to horrible death.
He succeeded in freeing himself, how
ever, aud jumped in safety 10 the lad
der, descending preceded by Thorn,
who succeeded in supporting him.
Orin Welsh, Mayor Of Topeka,
Kansas, tells strange story in connec-
ton with the Southern Hotel fire on
Tuesday night. He occupied room 1l9,
inst over the storeroom where the fire is
supposed TO have originated He says
he entered his room at o'clock in the
evening and found it filed with smoke.
He summoned bell boy and asked the
cause of the smoke. The boy said be
supposed it came from CRATE some
where in the hotel Welsh went cut
and returned at bali past ten.
There was then strong smell of fire
4 h. 10 bn, ha-