The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-04-28
Verdict OF the Southern Hotel In


OT. LOUIS, April Zi.-lne coroner
jury in the inquest on the victims OF the
Southern hotel fire closed their lsbors
this evening and rendered verdict The
jury examined ninety-two witnesses and
had before them three sffidsvits of per-
sons not personally examined. From
the testimony the jury reached the con &.
clusion that the fire originated in the
basement of the hotel, in their opinion
in the store room, but possibly in the
wine cellar, bat in either
case near the bottom OF the baggage
elevator, which carried the smoke and
flames almost instantly to the upper
floors and the roof OF the building. The
jury then recount when the fire was first
discovered, the delay in the alarm to the
fire department, the arrival of the fire
department. the use Of the ladders aad
the Skinner fire escape, the rescuing of
the people from the windows by fremen,
the jumping or falling from the windows
of those who were killed, and the SER
vices OF the police and citizens, all of
which is familiar to the public.
As TO the cause of the fire, the jury
say they have no testimony sufficient to
base an opinion.
AS to the appliances of the hotel for
extlnguishing fires they say they were
complete, with the exception OF pipes
and nOzzles being wanted in the floors
above the psrlor floor, but from lack OF
system and want of men, TO use the
appliances and OF rules for their
guidance on the night of the fire, except
for few minutes in the basement, aad
the fire had then gained such proportions,
the slight efforts made by the
engineers and fremen of the hotel
proved TO be futile. The fire
department and salvage corps did
their duty with efficiency and prompt
ness, as so did the police department.
The iessees OF the hotel, in our opinion,
are censursble in several particulars.
First-While providing the necessary
materials for extinguishlng fire. they had
provided no means for their use.
Second-In keeping in the store room
and wine cellar large amount OF intiam-
msble matter without adequate watch
ing.
ThIrd-In removing from their office
the gong necessary to alarm the inmates
OF the hotel in case Of fire.
Fourth-In employing only one
watchmsn, and he Very inefficient man,
and supplementing his duties as such
with other matters.
Fifth-In lack OF rules and instruc-
tions to their employees as to their con-
duct aud duties in case OF fire.
Slxlh-In their making no efficient
efforts on the night of the fire to wakeD
the guests and employees; laying, how
ever, no stress on the expressions OF one
OF the gentlemen rs to the fire having
been extinguished and that there WAS no
danger, etc, rs there is no evidence that
any OF the guests were endangered there
by.
In conclusion the jury make some sug-
gestions looking to the avoidance OF such
calanilies in the future, which may be
summed up as follows:
That no hotel or public building should
be unprovided with the means OF extIn-
gushing fires; that sufficient number
of watChmen should be employed to
detect fire, and drill In the use OF the ap'
pliances Tor its guishment; that IN
all large hotels gongs or bells large
enough to be heard throughout the house
should be rung continuously until the
safety of every guest and employe is as
.ured; that stslrways and elevators
should be placed as tar apart as possible,
and that elevators should be closed auto
matically or otherwise rs the platform
goes up or down; that store-rooms, etc,
should be made fire proof and carefully
watched day and night; that no gas
metres should be al owed inside of such
buildings, and that none OF the size of
the largest one in the Southern Hotel
should be permitted at all; that in all
large cities the duties Of building in
spectors should include the inspection OF
all appliance for extinguishing fires, and
see that the men employed in their man
sgement be efficiently drilled.