Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-04-16
The st. Louis Fire.

Argo was playing billiards at the Lacledc lilo.
tel. 4 second and general alarm being sound
ed, he went out into the street TO see where
the fire vas. Looking down Fifth street he at
once saw that the flames were de7ouring the
Southern. Without stopping moment he
rushed to the scene, and assisted in raising the
first ladder TO .hc third story Of the Walnut
street front. At this time Mr. EiDsman and
his family we're at the wndows OF their room
on the fourth floor crying for help. Although
the ladder referred to only reached to the third
floor MIR. Argo assembled to the top aud cra~lcd
10 at The third story window. aud, Ieanin. our,
he directed Mr.. Epsnlau what TO do. 1t was
bv MIR, Arpo' direction that Mr. Einaman split
| the sheets Of the bed and tied them together,
bv which Mr.. Eiusnan swung down, while MIR.
Arco attempted to catch him in his arms while
sliding down the sheets. The improviscd rope
| partcd, and MIR. Ensman shot by Mr.. Argo III
his descent and was dashed to pieces on the
nayement Mrs. Scott was the next TO descend
| bv tic part of the sheet rope yet remaining,
and when getting to the end she dropped
through the arms Of Mr.. Argo, tearing his Lett
hand badly, it Is supposed by her nails and lei!
to the pavement. Fortunately Sic was not
killed, but sustained severe cuts GU the lett side
of her head aud Was badly bruised. The next
and last person to take such terrible risk was
Mrs Einsnau. She had Seen both her mother
and husband Jail through the arms OF MIR. Argo
to the pavement, fifty feet below, but yet she
never hcsiIalGd. ScI2ing THE Ireachcrous sheets
she climbed carefully ont OF the window and
with great lortitudc, slid down until she reach
ed tho end Mr.. Argo then cried cut:
''Lct 90 and | will catch you.
Mrs Einsmau dropped when the word was
given, aud Argo, by heroic effort, succeeded
in catching her in his arms and drew her into
the room, which was at this time breaking out
with flames. lie then carried her down the
ladder, both reaching the ground uunjured.
One of tho narrowcst escapes from death was
that of Professor j. H. Recs, Of New \ orE,
his wife and two chambermalllS. They occu
picl apartments on the Fourth street side OF
The sixth floor At about two i, III. Mrs. Kccs
was awakened by heart rcndlEg shrcES, and,
rousing her husband, tho couple cndeavorGd to
make their way through The hall. Driven back
Nv sulfocaling smoke and Intcns]: heat, they
ro.cntcrrl their ROOM closed The door and ven
iillatnr, and ruahcl to the window. no help
was in sight, and as they made I second at
tempt 10 escape by the door the two chamber.
maids rushed franticaliy in with their heads
covered, saying that cGrc>s by that route WAS
cut of, it being Impossible 10 reach the Stair.
All four again rushed 10 the window for ar,
! the room by this time being filed with snake.
Mrs. Hccs and one Of the girls tainted, but re-
covered. Whcn aIl hope had been abandoned
) the Skinner lire escape hove in sight. 1t was
raised very slowly, but the liremcn succeeded
10 ascending and rcscuing several persons from
the fifth floor, including one man, WHO had let
| I,,,, ,,lnI Iron n n
Of sheets tied together. After these were say
cd the ladder was moved very slowly into posi-.
ton for tho people on the sixth floor, but 1t
only reached as high as the Windows below,
and it was several feet from the wall. a rope
was finally thrown 10 the Rees window, and Q
!, fireman, very brave fellow was hauled up.
|. Mr. Rces was then let down TO the window
} ledge below Ills wife followed, and she was
supported on the narrow ledge until another
fireman, Ed. Thorn, arrived and assisted in
swinging her to the ladder. This brave man
carried the woman vino was weak and sick
down part Of the way. His strength abandon
: lug him she clung TO his back uotil additional
J assistance arrived. Professor Recs remaiacd
on the fifth story window ledge until both
maids were lowered to the sidewalk By means
} Of ropes tied around their waists. The women
behaved admirably, keeping perfectly quiet
9uu DclTayluS w dIdi ". iiao IL nv W. ~ ioi
their presence Of mud it would not have been
possible for the frcmcn Thorn and Kirk to
save them. While the second chambcrnaid
was being lowered the rope slipped and caught
Mr. Recs around the neck Had not the Wo.
man reached the ground st that instant the
Professor would have been dragged d0wn 10 4
horrible death. He succeeded in freeing him.
self, however, and Jumped 10 safety to the lad
der, descending preceded by Thorn, who sue.
cneded in supporting him.
Orrin Welsh, Mayor Of !opcka, Kansas tells
a strange stnry in connection with the South.
crn Hotel fire on Tuesday night He occupied
room 10, just over the storeroom where the
fire is supposed to have originated. He says
he entered his room at o'clock in the evening
and found it filled with smoke. lie summoned
bell boy and asked the cause Of the smoke.
The boy said he supposed it came from CRATE
somewhere in the hotel. Welsh went out and
returned at half past ten.
There was then strong smell Of fire 10 the
room, and more smoke than before. Net be.
ing able to sleep he went down TO the night
clerk, and had his room changed 10 the third
floor, where he WAS sleeping when the alarm
was made carly next morning. lie Is quite
certain the fire started early IN the evening,
slowly burning and gathering strength until 1t
| broke Out with uncomfortable Jury.
Chief Sexton, of the fire department, con-
tends that ali the clrcumst ancns point TO the
trulhluInes5 Of WeIsh's theory, and that the
fire could not possibly have had such hcalway
when tue alarm was given had it not been pro-
crossing several hours. There will doubtless
| he very lively invest CATION into tho matter,
as there Is Il strong pnblic demand that the re.
spousibiEIy Of the holocaust should be placed
where it belongs
| A FAIRFAX MAN IN 'lRDUBI.E--l Lees
burg Washingtonian say5:-~
| The Commonwealth W. Ehari"i ". Poole,
| occupied the attention. ni The court Tuesday
aud Wednesday. Pool Is farmer 10 Fairfax
l-on the 10Th Of December last he passed sew
eral pieces Of counterfeit bali dollars in the
town Of Hamilton. lie made several purchases
at different stores Of very small amounts, about
five cents. and in each Instance gave counter.
! felt halt dollar and got forty five cents in good