Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-04-14
Tlse 81. Louis Fire.

remains of those who are supposed to have
nerished 10 the fire 1T the Southern Hotel, ST.
Louis continues Three bodies were found
Yesterday and two OF them have been ldentI'
| fed. The one supposed to be that OF oaoy
turned out to be The rcmalGs or uog. ht
! nreseut it is impossible to form aoy correct es'
innate OF the loss Of life, but the most saogu'ne
fear that the number OF deaths will reach TWEEN
tv five From a statement made by the cngl.
nscr Of the hotel it would appear that the fire
originated in the store room, where NUMBER
Of mattresses were kept, and that nearly llalf
an hour was spent 10 vain efforts to eXupguish
the flames before any attempt was made to
aronsa the inmates. The coloDer will begin bis
duties on Monday, and the investigation, 1t ls
pronised, will BIO of very searching character.
Twenty employees Of the hotel and thirty
eight guests arc still unaccounted Tor, but the
former arc believed by the proprietor to be with
friends. and there is a reasonable presumption
that the latter have left the city.
Il has already been announced that the Hon.
Mir, Munster, formerly member OF the Brit
ish House Of Commons and his wife made nar-
row escape from the burning Southern Hotel at
81, Louis, aud that, few hours afterwards,
MIR. Munster, whilst laborinR under great nen
tai excitement, committed suicide. a dispatch
to the New York Tribune gives The following
particulars OF the tragic affair -
The marriage, three months since. OF tho
IInr YIN. Felix Austin Munster, OF Brighton,
&usscy Eur,and, to Miss Blanche, daughter OF
DR., II. G. Lynch, highly respected citizen oil
ST, Louis, was brilliant social event. The
bridal patty left on tour to the South and re-
turned on the Grand Republic last Friday.
Thcy engaged board at the Southern. Their
rooms were on the fifth floor, facing 90 Fourth
street. On the Inflated night the husband anu
vile had retired carly. Under the Influence OF
m oriate Mr. Munster slept souodly. Mrs.
Munster awoke before the alarm became gen
crsl, and with difficulty aroused her husband.
: Hastily dressing they attempted to escape by
the hall. The smoke sttled and blinded them;
= 1--WE will smother TO death, shreked
the wife, aud together they returned to
the room they had just quilted and
closed the door. They looked out OF the WIN, ;.
dow; 10 ladders were up; the noise OF
the flames was heard and they knew that death
was near; there seemed TO be DO hope. Ont of
sheets they made a rope and prepared TO CLIMB
aowo. Blanche" said the husband. She
started, but returned. "How will you get down
if you give me that rope, said she. Twill you
be bra7e?n he asked. Then we will ole TO-
getbcr.' He bad q revolver aud be said: "Wo
will at icas. not burn to death. At this mo-
mcot the door was burst 10. Some brave tel
low lifted Mrs Munster to his shoulders and
ran with her through The balls. My hus-
band" she cried. He followed and answered.
Scorcbcd and we'll nigh exhausted they reached
the street. Nlr. Munster later 10 the morning
visited the sceue in company with some friends.
The CHASTITY whole seemed to have depressing
, effect upon him. At five o'clock the went up
to Mr.. Conroy's office, in building at the cor
, ncr Of Fourth and Olive streets, and lay down
] + lnr, l;nhf h-ol ooI tho
noise and hustle of the street told that the city
:: was awake Mr.. Donovan suggested az adjourn
p1cnt to his house for breakfast. Dir. Conroy
started down stairs; Mr.. Donovan followed; DR..
l!yach had just left the room and closed the
door. "Wilianl, said the doctor to Munster,
who tar7iad. The reply was the report OF Il
pistol The party hurried back into the Office
Mr. Munster lay dead upon the floor. lie had
taken revolver, the property of Nr. Conroy,
FROM bureau drawer, placed the nuzZ!c in
', his mouth, and fred From Thou's Irish
Almanac" it is learned that William Felix
Austin Munster was the syn Of Lord Henry
Munster, Of Sussex, England. He was born at
> Brighton 10 l949, and was in his twenty eighth
year at the time Of his death. He was grad
uaic CT both Oxford ADD the London Univcr.
sty, aud was bachelor Of law. He represent
cd the Maow district 10 the House OF Com.
nous 10 1872. aud was returned ~ 1871 serg-
/. Ing with distinction and credit lie had made
periodical visits 10 America during the past
three years.
\ gentleman who vas passing by the South.
err Hotel on his return from a supper, when
the alarm Of fire was sounded, says he rushed
into Che building and passed up to the paror
floor hy the west side entrance. He could see
no Gre. but The smell Of something burning
filled the ais. He met two or three persons,
who asked what was the matter, Wberc was the
FIRE? \ policeman came up and asked him
whe?; h. was going lie said he heard some
onh cry "Ei:r!" aud came to see what it
meant He looked down the rotunda and could
not distinguish Anything for the smoke. He
hurried back aad ran up stairs crying Fire !"
,, He went to The fourth floor aud raped at the
doors as he passed down the halls, SAYING
Get up! the house Is ca fire
Tie then started TO 60 to the upper story, but
concluded rot TO. lie thought he would not
risk il, and started to 90 back, when the flames
shot up the elevator, and in au Instant cut Oft
door rubbing his eyes. lie rushed in!o the
room aud looked ont OF the window.
The street was Gl!ea with people rushing to
and fro. ila saw no meabs Of escape by the
window and hurried hack TO the hail. though
the smoke was SO thick he could hardly breathe.
He did not know what to do. The hall was
GIcd with q crowd Of paoplebali crazed men
asking one another meaning less questions,
women screaming aud rushing back and forth
nearly naked. Escape by the stairway was
cut of.
a young man came out of roou near and
shouted:
For Gods sake where's my mother?'
4 voice came from the next room. Henry
Henry! !" The man threw himself against the
doc: aud burst it orcp. A mass Of smoke and
Z scarcely audible groan was all that could be
seen or heard. The man stood moment ap.
Ia!Ijd, aud then raising one arm above his
eyes, lie said, Here mother where are you p
and he disappeared. He was heard 10 fall, but
nothing could be seen. lie never came out.
Two men followed him to a window, which
they raised aal locked cut. Some men we're
trying to raise y ladder, hut it would not reach.
L.I,o