West Feliciana sentinel. (St. Francisville, La.) 1876-1877, 1877-04-28

Bars, who managed to escape from
an upper floor ty the main stair-
case, end as soon "a the danger was
approximately estimated he turns
ed his attention with others to the
saving Of life. Mr.. Warwick, Mr..
Plunket, Mr.. Weston, and j. FL.
Huntly, all actors connected with
the companies playing at the two
houses, did noble work in saving
life from the inside as well as from
without. Mainly through their el-
forts the lives of Misses Clifton and
Osborn we're saved, and when they
were satisfied that all the theatre
cal people we're safe. they turned
their attention to the others. Mr..
George Gray, an actor at DeBar's
rendered great assistance to the
firemen working in the rear of the
building. When the top joint of the
ladder, spliced to aid in the escape
of the female domestics on the gar
ret floor, rested on the window
sill, he was the first to reach the
frantic women, and he tied several
Of them together before they began
the descent. They reached the
ground in safety, amid the cheers OF
the excited crowd. One minute
later the roof over that wing of the
building fell in with a frightful
crash, carrying everything with it.
Mr.. John Davis, a sa!oon-keeper,
did noble work in saving life. Mr..
and Mrs Joseph Carr were saved
by his ins,rumnetality, and many
others. Fireman P. Connolly lab
ored until he fell from exhaustion
and fatigue. His manipulation OF
ladders for saving life was some
thing remarkable TO witness. Tears
of gratitude were shed yesterday
by many helpless females vino owe
the preservation of their lives 10
the bravery of this man and his COL
leagues.
Kate Claxton, the actress, whose
miraculous escape from the theaters
in Brooklyn and Washington will
be remembered, gave the TINES
correspondent the following ac-
couat of her experience in the burns
ing hotel. Miss Claxton says: 81
left the Olympic theater immediate
ly after the performance, and re-
turned with my brother to the
hotel. We went into the dim
ing,room to- take a late sup~
per, and there we found Miss
Osborn and Miss Mcclellan,
Miss Mcclellan was so bright and
cheerful. and | was so charmed with
her sweet face and manners, little
imagining what was so soon to fol-
low. After bidding them good
night l went up to my room on the
fourth floor, and my brother retired
to his room on the same floor. l
sat down and read a little before
going to bed, and everything at
that time was quiet. The next
thing that l remember was a loud
knocking at the door. was an
dressed. and had been some time.
IN half stupid condition 1 turned
and listened. l listened again; and
the knocking was repeated. With
the knocking, the sounds Of which
were far and near, came the dread
full shouts Of Fire Fire!' sprang
from the bed, and a terrible feel
ing of oppression came over me. |
cannot describe it. l looked up at
the gas in my room, which was
burning dim'y, and there 1 saw
smoxc curling around the chande-
lier. Then it appeared all at once
to Eli the room, and dense clouds
come through the aperture Of the
fire crate l thought instantly Of
my brother, and rushed out, I'M
dressed as ! was, to discover his
room. Meanwhile he had been dis
'turbed by the noise, and was ap>
preaching my room. | said: Let
us find the stair, or we shall be
lost My brother was then half
dressed, and reached across the bed
to pick up something to put on me
We could not fad the staircase,
and the confusion aud the smoke
and roaring of the fire were min
g!ed with the most piercing and
heartrending screams. l shall
never forget it. We were not ac-
quainted with tie hotel arrange
ments, for the common practice is