The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-04-18
Investigation Of the Southern Hotel
Disaster,

Investigation Of the Southern Hotel
Disaster.
ST LOUIS, April II The coroncr's
jury resumed the investigation of the
fire this morning The first witness, j
IL. Weber, ASS stsnt observer Of the U.
). signal Service testified that when the
alarm struck he was going In the signal
service office in the top story of the in'
sursnce building on the corner OF Sixth
and Locust streets. He went ~ the win.
dow and saw the root and upper story
of the hotel in flames.
Henry Hsmer, keeper OF the storcroom
OF the hotel. made diagram OF the room,
and explained Its relative position TO
other parts of the basement, engine
room, &c, and described their conteL Is.
The walls OF the store room were Of wood
and a wooden partition divided il into
two rooms. In the inner room, the one
nearest TO the baggage elevator, there
WAS pile o. mattresses and hair or moss,
and large box OF matches wss standing
on the floor about twelve feet from the
hair. Tue steam pipes which heated the
building and the supplies to tie elevator
and engine ran through the store room
ABOUT eight feet from the match box.
Some of these pipes were covered and
some uncovered. They made the room
too hot and 1t was necessary 10 have
grated windows and doors to the room 10
admit OF the circulation OF air. be WAS
on duty from SIX o'clock in the morning
to six in the evening, but on the night
OF the fire he did not leave TILL seven
o'clock; gave the key OF the store room
TO q son of George Darling, one Of the
proprietors; when he lett the house
everything was safe there; had no knowl.
edge whatever of the origin OF the fire,
and heard no statements relating thereto
made by any employe; dIdn'!
lodge in the house, and knew
nothing of the tire till the next
morning. None of the employees who
have thus far testified could tell the time
the fire was discoyered or how it origin
sted, bat they all agree that when they
lett the basement there WAS fire in the
fifth and sixth story, which they could
plainly see from the ground.
Isssc Cook, of the American Wine
Company, bosrde:, tcstIiied that he
was sitting in mis- room on the third floor
when he heard the cry Of Dire. 1t WAS
about twenty minutes past one. ran
out and found the halls full Of people;
saw Mr.. Darling on the second GJOr; he
WAS assuring everybody that there
WIS no danger, and urged
them TO return 70 their rooms.
Some started TO do so and held back
Others who more fully realized the dan
ger. Captain Warner, another OF the
proprietors took different view OF the
case, aud urged the witness and others
10 leave the house and take their effects
When he reached the stfeot, about 30
o'clock. be did not believe the
fire department could save the house;
heard n roaring noise in the baggage
elevator like locomotive furnace; be-
lieved the fire WAS rushing up 1t; had
previously noticed that the walls OF this
elevator were thick with grease.
David A. Hogan, the night bell
boy. swore be was sHeepIng out the bll.
lisro room when he noticed the smoke;
went TO the Office and was told 10 90 10
the basement and see where the IRE WAS.
He went down and found the store room
on fire and the flames running along the
wood partition towards the baggage
elevator; returned 10 the office and told
Clerk Ford the house was on tire This
was 10 or l5 minutes past o'clock by
the office clock; alarm was lmmed lately
given By Mr.. Ford; went up
stairs ana called Mr.. Shepherd and Mr.
Darling; the latter was in the club room;
told him the whole house was on fire,
then went along the balls knsckinE AZ
the door Ct the rooms and crying "fre"
When he reached the psrlor floor, Mr..
Darling WAS trying % quiet the ladie.
there. saying that the FIRE would be out
soon; Just As Daring ssId tbi. the fame
burst through the door Of the back stair;
went and broke open the door ct the
ladies'. entrance on Fifth street which
wss locked, and the ladies rushed out;
ueltLer Darling nor Shepherd told him
~ cs u the guests when ae Informed them
that the house was on FIRE.
The Relief Coneert.
Geor e j. Jones, treasurer Of Debart
Opera House, sold a. the Auction III.
change to-day severs! tickets for the ber-
IL OF destitu!e Fervsnt girls. Two tickets
brought 500 each, and another was
knocked down 70 toe GLo1,- Democrat
for $50. Tne benefit promises ~ be
very generous one.