The star of Pascagoula. [volume] (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1873-1878, 1877-04-27
THE FIRE AT ST. LOUIS.
Personal Experience and UerOisn The
Marrow Escape OF Kate CIaHton.
ORIGIN OF THE FIRE-MR. FoRD's STATE
MENT

/ OhlJlN oF lIlE FlhE-hh. fOhb > STA l.
MENT.
st. Louis correspondent Chicago
Times: The fire had its origin in the
store-room under the Office. There seems
to no reason to doubt that further. The
flames had communicated well among
combustible material in that place and
had almost reached the elevator before
anybody had observed them. The dis
covery seems to have been made almost
simultaneously by George w. Ford, the
night clerk, at the time on duty in the
Office, and two or three of the other en-
ployes. Mr.. Ford makes the following
statement: | was standing behind the
counter transferring the names to the
ledger when l smelled something like wool
burning. | said to a one-legged fellow
that was on the outside of the counter,
d" / smell something like wool" and then
he said he did, toe. l turned right
around to the back window, only a step
off, and opened it. The whole back
part of the hotel wa ablaze, and / saw
at once there was no hope to save the
place. l turned right around again and
turned the district fire-alarm, and then
sent one of the bell-boys out with a fire
alarm key to turn ON a general alarm.
| then sent five men up through the
hstel to wake up everybody, and | myself
stood in the rotunda and yelled fire as
loud as | could over and over again. !
could save nothing but the Office books,
and came near not saving them. The
safe was already locked, and everything
in it is now probably as good as ever,
In two minutes after the alarm of fire
was given in the house, the steps leading
down to the office floor were filled with the
hotel guests and employees, but all egress
was cut off by the smoke. The fact of
it is, the whole thing was like that
(snapping his finger). l carried two
ladies down the ladies' entrance, and
went up for another one, when | was
by the smoke, and if it had
not not been for a freedman, one of our
bakers, | would probably now be among
the ruins somewhere. Those that were
saved may think the mselves mighty
lucky. At..the same time that Mr.. Ford
made his discovery one of the employees
Of the hotel smelled smoke, and tracing
It to the store-room, burst open the door.
The flames, long smOthered, leaped out
md scorched him. He flew up stairs
screaming fire at the top of his voice.
MINISTER'S UICIDE
A few weeks ago your correspondent
.elegraphed the Times an account of the
marriage of Munster, member of the
British house Of commons, to the daugh-
of DR.. Henry G. Lynch, of this city.
Mr.. and Mrs. Munster travelled until
within the past two weeks, when they
'eturned 10 the city, and have been stop.
,ing at the Southern, occupying rooms
here when the alarm of fire was given.
Both escaped from the building, but in
he confusion became separated. Mrs.
Munster was taken to her fathers home,
md her husband went to the room of a
riend, and slept there. At a late hour
his morning he suddenly sprang out of
ed, exclaiming that his wife was at the
lotel. Before he could be stopped he
lad snatcbed up a pistol and fired, shoot
ng himselfthrough the right temple and !
alling dead. His funeral will take place :
n Friday. The %cOroner's jury tonight !
that the unfortunate man was +,
razed. |
KATE cLAXToN's MIRACULOUS rs. 7
CAPE. I
Kate Claxton, the actress, whose mi
escape from the theaters in I
'roOklyn and Washington will be re- f
rendered, gave the Times correspondent d
following account of her experience b
q the burning hotel. Miss Claxton q
AVS: al lett the Olympic theater i'm. a
lediately after the performance, and re- a
lrned with my brother to the hotel. p
We went into the dining room to take o
late supper, and there we found Miss f.
and Miss Mcclellan. Miss Nc is
lellan was so bright and cheerful, andl d
as so charmed with her sweet face and \
ianners, little imagining what wa so p
on TO follow. Alter bidding them Ii
'od night | ven up to my room on the ss
urth floor, and my brother retired to &C
$ room on the same floor. / sst down Ii
ID read a little before going to bed, and re
erything at the time was quiet. The at