The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-04-15
THE ST.. LOUIS HORROR.
Some of tile Scenes at the Burning OF Inc
Southern Hotel.
[From st. Louis Papers.1
A LAST FAREWELL.

by many Oh LHe bpect1boLo VI ~ -. -
street side, just as the danger appeared
most immfnent. In the fifth story win
dow. upon q background OF lurid flame;
might be seen the profiles OF man and
woman shaking hands and taking q
last farewell OF each other. They had
stood at the window and appealed Tor
aid until hope gave out, and just Wnen
they felt the volumes OF smoke over
coming them, and saw the flames ap-
ranid strides, they fell into each others
arms. and were lost In the flames.
TRUE HERO.
The hero on the Fifth street wing
stood on his window-sill and rescued
number of the girls. 1t was case OF
ptre grit, and the notable descended
without even removing his silk hat.
with the sash down, and the lire raging
within. he gathered coil upon coil OF
rome. thrown to him from the ladders
which did not reach him for several
feet. and after sending this means OF
rescue to the poor creatures above, and
when he could do no more, ne calmly
and quietly let himself down and dis
appeared without giving his name.
TERRIBLE JUMP.
About Q o'clock man appeared at
one OF the fourth story windows on the
Walnut street side. He was In his
night-dress, and his demeanor exhibited
frantic excitement: He yelled to the
crowd. "What shall I do ?" The crowd.
40 frantic "a himself, cried, Jump"
The man appeared to hesitate. "Jumpl"
'Jump'' came again from hundred
hoarse throats. Again the man looked
down from his dizzy. eminence to the
cruel stone pavement below. Jump
came again from the throng now
moving backward and forward with
more intense excitement. and looking
up with wild agitation at the sheeted,
trembling object above, now standing
The figure wavered In its flight, turned,
struck the corner of the balcony. and,
bounding off, fell on the pavement,
atriking there with heavy thud on the
head and shoulders. The man rebound
al with horrid cry and fell back on the
pavement. He was picked I'D by Mr..
John Davis and Redmond Ryan and
carried to the formers saloon. He gave
the name OF J. e. Wilson. Before he
could give any further particulars he had
expired.
SUICIDE TN PREFERENCE TO BURNING.
Another startling and horrible revela-
ton Of the catastrophe comes In the 1ol-
lowing shape: Among the first police.
men on the scene after the IRE started
were Officers Clark and Blackford.
They mounted Immediately to the upper
floors and, without fully approaching
the danger Of the servicer persuaded
several families to leave their rooms and
90 down stairs. Some women refused
"a stir without their husbands, and had
TO be dragged down. Men were there
who advised families not to leave
their rooms, as there was mo. dan
GER" Others were in q panic so
great as to rush frantically in the
officers had been some little time
at the work of arousing people they
heard the sound of two pistol shots.
apparently coming from the door OF
room around In the south bend Of the
west hall of the hotel. The main hall
ran east and west. Near the west, or
Fifth street front, o transverse hall led
to the south. Then, again, from this
transverse hall another passage led
this farthest hallway came the two re-
ports. Blackboard exclaimed, My
God Clark, they're shooting in here. +"
Listening for moment and hearing no
sound. BIackford went up to the door
and opened it. On the floor lay man
and woman. The officer was astonished,
but says he hastily examined them and
believes they were dead. His impress.
sion was that the man had abandoned
all hope OF escape and had concluded
that 1t was easier to die by the bullet
than to be burned to death.
ANOTHER SUICIDE.
One OF the most startling occurrences
OF this tragic occasion was the suicide
OF VIM. Felix Munster, son OF an Eng
lish member OF Parliament, who lately
married an estimable lady OF st. Louis.
Mr.. Munster and his bride having
RECENTLY returned from their wedding
tour In the South were stopping at the
Southern. When the alarm came they
were aroused in season and succeeded
In gaining the street, where they soon
took a carriage and repaired to the resi-
dence OF Mr.. Frank j. Donovan, No.
1897 Gamble street. Mr.. Donovan on
learning that the hotel was burning
decided TO 60 down town and seeit. Mr..
Munster thought he would leave his
ed not to. Meantime Mr.. Jerry Con-
roy, Mr.. Donovan's partner, had been
early at the fire, and not seeing any
thing or the MINISTER'S, had taken car
rage and gone to Donovan's house,
where he found the missing ones all
right. Conroy Immediately set cut to
return. and Munster concluded to come
down, too. After arriving at the fire
they met Donovan, and afterwards went
together with r. Graham Frost to Con-
rows room, corner Of Fourth and Olive
streets. After remaining ia the room
some little time the party started to
leave about 6 o'clock. Two OF their
number had gone down the stairs part
u way, and third had passed out OF the
room, leaving Mr.. Munster tagging be-
hind. The occurrence excited no re-
mark at the time. until the report Of a
pistol was heard coming out OF the room
they had just left. On returning hasti.
ly to the room they found that their
friend had picked up a revolver and
shot himself.
A MANIAC.