The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-04-12
Inte. view with Manager IL. E. j,
Miles.


The horrible disaster which overlook
tue Southern Hotel is The common tip @
of conversation in all circles In this city,
and news is looked for with avidily.
Hearing that Manager r. e. J. Miles,
of The Grand Opera-house, who was
guest of the hotel at the time OF the
catastrophe, had arrived in this city,
STAR representative sought him to learn
additional particulars.
He was found in the neighborhood of
lIawley's on Vine street, and upon being
requested to talk did so with his usual
force and clearness.
After congratulating him upon his es-
cape, the reporter said:
"Mr. Miles, what is your theory as to
the cause OF such a disaster?'
"Well, sir, the burning of that hotel is
my stery to me. There is not a public
house on this continent that was any
better provided with appliances for the
extinguishment of fire or better con-
structed to resist it's ravages apparent
ly than was the Southern. The disci-
pline too among the fire brigade OF the
you know. lay the blame
on the City Fire Department, which
was not only slow in getting there, but
did not seem to know what to do when
hey did get there. The flames
commenced in the sixth story, ana great
difficulty was experienced in reaching
them. No one about the place expected
the building would burn down, and in
lact Mr.. Darling, one of the proprietors,
gave orders for those who escaped,
though ill from sufocation, should be
taken to the parlors on he second floor,
but from which at last they had 10 be
again remoVed.'
'What about your own escapew
swell, 1 was awakened by the smell
Of smoke, and, jumping up in a hurry,
went to the door OF the room adjoining
mine and aroused Harry Gilbert { the
man who had the baby show here
a few weeks ago) by kicking and
pounding on his door. got
him UP at last and then broke for The
lower floor. was lucky enough to save
what baggage had with me, all but an
overcoat, and Pye got a check for that"
"And Gilbert"
''He lost rything."
81 see by our dispatches to the STAR
this morning that the actress frankie
McClelldn Is hurt-the lady who was
formerly with MIR. Macauley's troupe in
this CITY,"
Yes, Miss Mcclellan was in the
fourth story, anu her only means OF es-
cape was from the window. Luckily,
howevtr, her window. overlooked the
root OF beer saloon, on to which sha
jumped and saved herself, though cor
siderably Injured by the fall.n
"Dla you see Katie Claxt0n after the
fire? Sne WAS reported, you know. as
having both legs broken by jump"
Miss ClaXt"n was not Injured in the
least. L saw her an hour after her
escape, and she was as well as | |
an, and played last night in .The
TWO Orphans at ihe ympic. By
he way, l saw an elderly lady, named |
Steward, jump from window and was
killed; just few minutes after Miss
Mcclellan made the plunge, and from |
The same story. 1 tell you the |
whole affair was most horrible |
Thing. The shouts and cries
Of distress, men and wo- |
men in a dulirium of fear, rushing |
hilher and thither but half clad, and |
with agonIzed faces; husbands calling
Tor wives, wives for husbands; childreu |
and above all, the roar and |
Of the fimes as they eat
their wax nearer and nearer The