The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-04-15
Mayor Welsh, Of Topeka, Shows Where
the COnfagratiOn Broke Out.
SMOULDERING FOR HOURS.
Another Body Found-Mr. Mum
ster's. Jewelry.
SAD PERSONAL EXPERIENCES.

BIZ TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.
ST. LOUIS, April H. 1877.
Orrin Welsh, Mayor Of Topeka, Kansas tells
strange story in connection with the Southern Hotel
IRE Tuesday night He occupied 49, just
the storeroom where the supposed to have
originated Ho says he entered his
o'clock in the evening and found 1t filled
with smoke. He summoned bell boy and
asked the Of the smoke. Tho boy
said he supposed 1t came from CRATE somewhere in
the hotel Welsh went out aud returned at hai-past
ten. There was then strong smell OF fire in the
and more smoke than before. Not being able to sleep
he went down to the night clerk and had his
changed 10 tho fourth floor. where no sleeping
when tho alarm was made early next morning
THE FIRE sMouLDERIxG
He Is quite certain the started early the evers
Ing, slowly burning and gathering strength until II
broke out with uncomfortable fury. Chief Sexton OF
the Fire Department contends that all the circum-
stances point to tho truhuiness of'Wesh's theory,
and that the fire could not possibly have had such
headway when the alarm given had It not been
progressing several hours. There will doubtless be
very lively investigation into the matter there is
strong public demand the responsibility or tho
holocaust should be placed where 1t belongs
MuNsTER's PROPERTY.
The half OF MIR. MINISTER'S s25, 900 necklace. which
was missing, was found this morning in tho room
The stones were all the settings but thor valuo
will, doubtless, be somewhat impaired by the ordeal
through which they have passed. magnificent gold
ring, belonging to the same party and with agate
with Saturn as crest and with MINISTER'S initials In
side, has also been recovered
ANOTHER POUND.
Another body, supposed to be that OF q man, was
taken from the ruins OF tho Southern Hotel this aftor.
noon but It badly burned that 1t could not be
recognized.
FIVE MORE GUESTS ACCOUNTED FOR.
Two moro OF the unaccountedfor guests telegraphed
their safety this morning-Cason and Porter OF India
napolis. II IS also known that r. E. j. Miles of Cinc,n.
natl, is safe; ana tho w. Monroe oNew York. whose
name telegraphed last night is believed TO be w.
8. Morrison, Of the same city, who is safe and now at
the Lnde Hotel
INVESTIGATION ny THE FIRE DEPARTMENT..
As the Fire Department has received much blame
from portion OF the city press and from
many individuals for alleged bad management Of
the Southern Hotel fire. Chief Sexton has
made little Investigation OF the matter in
self-defence He has examined Mr.. Russell,
the chief engineer OF tho motel and several employees
who assisted in the efforts subdue tho flames in the
storeroom. Russell reiterated his statement tcle.
graphed last night, and gave his opinion that the
Fire Department was summoned TOO late to save the
building The other parties examined corroborated
Russell's statement
Kate cLAxToN's EsCAPE-sHE TELLS HER OWN
sroRY-LosT ALL HER EFFECTS.
From the St. Louis Times April l2l
Times reporter visited Miss Cax,on yesterday at
the Lindell Hotel, with the view OF gathering her
experience OF Tuesday nights fearful disaster ana
Bhc courteousy complied She was suffering from
nervous prostration and was much distressed
Pons Mss McCl
but mado effort to her expert.
OF the horrible night as folows:-"I
left the Olympic Theatre Immediately after the per-
formance ana returned to tho hotel with my brother
We went into the dining room to take late supper and
there found Miss Osborn and Miss Mcclellan. Miss
Mcclellan was SO bright and cheerful and l was SO
charmed with her sweet face and Manners little
bidding them good night went up to
my room tho fourth floor and my brother
retired to his room the same floor | sat down and
read little before gong TO bed and everything that
time was quiet Tho next thing that remember was a
loud knocking at The door, was undressed aud had
been sleeping some little time In hall stupid cond
ton turned and listened. listened again and tho
Knocking was repeated. and with The knocking, the
sounds OF which were far and near dreadful
shouts OF s"Fire, nre!" l sprang from the bed
and terrible ioeling OF oppression came
looked up at tho gas in my room, which was burning
dimy, and there saw the smoke curling around the
chandelier Then 1t appeared all at once to mi Tho
and clouds through the apcrtures OF
the fire crate. thought instantly OF my brother and
rushed out, undrcssed as | was, to discover his
room. Meanwhile he had been disturbed by the
noise, and no was approaching my room door. /
said Let US find tho staircase shall be
lost Ny brother was half dressed and reached
across the bed 10 pick something TO throw me.
We could not find the staircase and the confusion and
smoke and the roar OF the fire, mingled the most
piercing aud hear,rendng screams, / shall never
forget. We were not acquainted with tho hotel ar.
rangemcnts for II IS the common practice TO use tho
elevator In ascent ana SCENT and therefore could not
lind staircase or any means OF escape. There were
others on the same floor In the terrible dilemma
but wo could not see each other the smoke.
Presently We CROPPED along and found step DOWN
ward. We commenced TO descend and what happened
then cannot say, Tor do not distinctly remember
have been IN great danger before. you know, and
always endcavor to maintain my composure, but The
smoke last night siifed the senses We reached Nv
other the first landing Of the adies
staircase the Fifth street side. opposite no ulym
pic Theatre. There was u great crowd OF ladies IN
their night dresses IN this yesbule, and some OF the
officials were pcrsusding them 10 remain,
assuring them that All would DO SAFE wo did not
heed this advice and passed out the street. A way
was made through the crowd tor US to reach tho hotel
opposite and renamed there some little time to re-
brought in; never forget i'll My brother pro-
cured carriage shortly ai,erward and we down
did when arrived here after the escape. have lost
everything.
ANOTHER ACTRESS IN pERIL-A TERRIFIC LEAP.
[From the 81. Louis Times, April 12l
Miss Frankie Mcclellan, tho popular young actress
Is lying At the point OF death. Alter performance
NJ the olympic Theotre she returned to tho Southern
and partook OF supper In the large dining room
retiring Tor tho night half an hour later. Tho
fret intmation that she had OF the terrible
danger a loud rapping at all the doors
on the upper floors OF the burning building Her
room was located on tho sixth floor, and tho dense
volumes Of smoke flooded the passages and
her apartment She sprang from the bed and seized a
Towel which she saturated with water and paced
ACROSS hor lace ana mouth 10 prevent suliocation.
These facts are gathered from those wL0 her
10 the ST. James Hotel alter nor irightlu fall,
critical condition renders her nj present
and her statements To them Immediately after her la
reply to inquiries touching her leap for fc were
nal orally confused. All that Is positively known or
her dearly purchased escape detailed in the pain
iui sight Witnessed by Times reporter and
OF others, gazing up cstrcken at the burning hotel
from The FIftn street front. Miss Mcclellan appeared
half dressed, nj side window on tho Iourtn
floor, overlooking tho roots OF tho Monkeys
ND ia AMI abaa4.1 :.