The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-04-20
THE ST. LOUIS FIRE.
Further Investigation by Coroner
Statements OF Numerous Witnesses.

W "N"S'SHs "'WVsSpoI
Sr. LOUIS, April l0.-The Southern
Hotel inquest waa resumed this morn
ing. EusIache j. Cooper, General Tray,
ellins Agent Of the Burlington and Cedar
Rapids Railroad, gave y vivid descrip.
tion OF his experience at the fire. The
material part Of his testimony was that
hc was awakened by the scream Of women
in the hall; got down to the parlor floor
with part Of his clothes ON his arm by
cropping through the halls in the densesi
smoke he ever saw. There he met TWEEN.
Iy or thirty persons in the greatest cx.
Citemcnt, and man, whom he after.
wards learned was George Darling, was
telling them that there was no danger;
that there had been n fire in the basement,
but it was all out; that ii there waSmuch
fire there would be less smoke. and that
they could return to their rooms.
The remainder OF the morning session
was taken up in examining the persons
who identified the bodies Of II. j. Clark
and wife, and al'o with a lengthy descrip.
ton OF the fire annuncator in the house.
given by Charles Hcisler, its its inventor.
Mr. HCsser explained the construction
Of the machine: It was operated by elcc.
triCity and designed to give warning ut
the office whenever Il room or part OF the
house connected with it reached Il tempe.
nature higher than the one for which the
instrument was set. 1t was very deli.
cately adjusted and reliable il properly
attended 10. In thi- case il hsd been
neglected
Charles a. SpauIding, manager Of the
Olympic Theatre, was boarder in the
house; heard the cry OF fire; ran ont OF
the room and rushed down stairs to the
parlor floor, where there were perhaps
100 people in various stages OF excite.
mcnt. Heard George Darling try TO
quiet the women by telling them that
there was no danger, tina; the lire was ont
and so on.
JOs. Crawsham, who pm. the gas pipe in
the hou'e when it was built, said the large
meter which supplied the main part OF
the hotel, was situated very near the
freight elevator. lithe connections with
this meter were melted Oft during the
tire, there was 4 volume Of gas added to
the flames sufficient to supply from 1000
to 1900 burners, The witness thought
that all large gas meters should he placed
under the sidewalk.
Chas. +. Barney, OF the firm Of SCrurEl,
Nandeyoorte y Barney, had boarded At
the hotel i've or six years, and was
awakened by the criel Of fire; he threw
his oyer-c0at over his wite's head aud
started Tor tie iOwer hoor: at the loot
ot the stairs, on the parlor floor, he met
Darling and several Others; Darling
said, Don't be excited: there il no danger;
the fire is out. About two minutes later
met Capt, Warner, who said the fire was
greater than was supposed. and advised
him and others to leave the house at
once, which they did, passing ont by the
Fifth street or ladies entrance.
Charles II. Shepperd, cashier and one
Of the proprletOr5-ROomed Oh the sixth
floor; was awakened by night hell.boy;
don't know the time; the boy said there
was fire in the store room; told him to
call Russell, the engineer, and have the
water turned on; started for the Office
floor, aud was nearly stiiied hy the smoke
in getting there; on arriving at the Office,
tried to open the safe, but there was so
much smoke could not see combination;
saved some books and helped two or
three persons out OF the house; gave 80
orders TO any one while at the office to
have the guests aroused and notified OF
the fire; tried to ascend the main stair.
way to the parIor toor, but could not get
up on account Of the smoke. The fire
aununciator had been in use about three
weeks, but it was not regular in its oper.
alton and gave false alarms. 1t gave no
warning that night until the fire was un.
der headway. had spoken to Mr.. Hes.
sler, the maker of it, day or two before
about its bad working and asked him to
fix it. John Davis, saloon keeper, was
at the fire and assisted in rcsCuing sever.
al ladies from the building; heard Geo.
Darling tell the people on the parlor
floor that there was no danger and, not to
| b1 alarmed