New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-04-14
THE ST. LOUIS FIRE.
SEARCHING THE RUINS

SEARCHING THE RUINS.
TIE BODIES OF MR. AND MRS. II. J. CLARK FOUND
STATEMENT OF THE CHIEF ENGINEER or THE
HoTgL-EFFoRTs TO ExTINGUIsH THE FLAMES
BEFORE THE ALARM WAS soUNDED-MIssING
GUESTS.
ST. LOUIS, Mo-, April 13.-The Board OF
Police Commissioners held a special meeting yesterday
afternoon at which there free discussion regard
ing the fire, the substance Of which that the most
thorough investigation into the OF the IRE ana is
management should be made. resolution was adopteu
rendering the Coroner the services OF the ofcers anu
police Of the department in making his Investigations
into the matter The Coroner will not begin his nves
cation till Monday, but will then make very thorough
inquiry into all the facts connected with tho hre Inc
jury will probably consist Of OF the most prominent
and practical citizens
force OF about $50 men began work again AT 'ne
Southern Hotel ruins this morning. and shortly al'c
ward the body of u woman found on the Fourths'
side of the hotel badly burned and dishgured at
could not be recognized at the time and was taken 70 inc
Morgue to await further developments. About p. H.
another body that OF man. was FOUND ABOUT "o ioo'
from the body OF the woman discovered In the on"s
This body also very badly burned, ana eanie '"
pieces while being removed They were afterwarh luo
tilted "A the remains OF H. j. Clark and wife Of North
Adams, Mass The lady identified by the dress she
wore, and the gentleman by his watch.
Charles W. Sheppard, one OF the propile'orS Vi n
tel gives 1t his opinion that none OF the emo'o'
the house. excepting those heretofore repoi'"' -
killed About twenty OF them still unaccounteu io'
but it is believed that they alive ana are elmer VIII"
friends in remote parts Of the city or have LETT owh vi
the guests thirty have not reported but tue rea
sonabc presumption that most OF them left the CITY
the day after the fire or ha since Departed
Tho remains OF George Frank Gouley, Grand Masonic
Secretary were removed TO the Grand Lodge room Ia
Masonic II All this poon where thoy viii lie in state until
Sunday when the funeral will take place. Extensive
preparations being made for this event. Numerous
delegations Masons from this State and surrouhuDs
States will participate in the ceremonies The pouy VI
Mrs. W. G. Stewart will be taken 10 SYRACUSE
her former home for burial.
STATEMENT OF THE CHIEF ENGINEER.
T. T. Russell chief engineer Of the hotel, has made
statement of his experience the night OF the hre "Dch
throws light upon IT'S origin no says no 'o''
the engne-room about half past II O'CLOCK leaving d"
assistant in CHARGE and went 10 MS rooh
on the fifth floor. the baggage e'e-
vator. He was aroused about five minutes past one
o'clock nv shreks of women. He hurried out and fOuhd
the hall filed with smoke which came from the reisn'
elevator, but fire. He started Tor tle Sou'noh
part of the house with view TO descend by the servants
stairway He obliged 10 crawl on MS hi1us "i''
knees to prevent sufocaton tho smoke being so Ihck
There were number OF women on the min hoor Crying
pteolsy for help whom he told to follow MN 10 me
lower floor which did, but others were 100 diStac'eu
apparcntly lac directed. Finally nc reached the
dining floor. passed into the Kitchen ahd dcsceuou
basement. III ne lOunu tue siloho Nciy "''''
and that the pumps connected with the engine had Dceh
IN opcraon and some of the employees had been throw
ing water on the fire, which at that time was raging
rurousiy the storerOOm. nozzle had beeh pio"h Oh
before he reached the basement another was put o. a
he ten put tho pumps at work again ana turned ore"
on the fire. This continued until the nre became so
bot and spread 40 far that all obliged to lee for
their lives They made their exit through the basement
undor the rear part Of the building and emerged on Elm
at This account not state how long the IRE hau
been burning before the fire alarm was sounded but II
does show and concusyely that efforts were madc 10
subdue il before the guests Of the house were aroused OF
any attempt was mado notify them that the building
was burning It be very certain at all events
IL is extensively believed that the hotel was known to be
ON fire by the employees from twenty minutes 10 nall an
hour before the Fire Department was notified
Russcl also states that there pile OF mattresses
in one corner of tho stOrcrOom ana lot OF loose r'
and about five feet from the floor was box In
which the stock OF matches kept. He thinks the
nattresses and matches had good deal To DO with the
origin of the fire. docs not know anything definite
about it. - $4,000
The following guests in the hotel on the night OF the
fire are still unaccounted for II the lis, should meet the
eve of any one mentioned he will relieve greh anxiety
felt here by telegrapling Brcsn. Darling Co.. pro-
prietors OF the hotel. that he il safe
BROWN, T. t., Georgetown.
CHRISTIAN. A, Cairo.
HALL, H., Providence.
HKSNING, L. NJ Ncw-lorh
KEAyY, =. T.. New-York.
LATsOM. NJ. W., Indianapolis.
LOBY, H., Indianapolis
MARSHALL, ID. W, Cleveland .
MONROE, ". s., NcwYork.
PORTER. III. s.. indianapolis.
sCIIIEWiHD, tDOLPH. NeH-iorh.
SurLEY, j. B., Nev-YOrk
WESTON, ]. H., Wisconsin.
WILLoUGnDY, A, Phiiadrlphia
These names may entirely accurate but they
are believed to nearly OF the seryants all but
very few have reported, and the propr'etoTs
Of the hotel do not think that any we're lost
beside those mentioned In Wednesdays dig
patches, except, perhaps. Charles Ricfsicht. the
head waiter, o! whom nothing has been heard since
tho night of the ire. The last seen Of him he was going
through the fifth story arousng the guests of the house,
and it Is feared he overcome by smoke and fell
victim TO his noble impulse to the lives OF others.