The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-04-14
THE ST. LOUIS HORROR.

IS feet deep to Elm street, with an ell G0g9l
feet-all SIX stories nigh. The fire cOmmenc
ed in the store room under the rotunda, I.
the center Of the entire structure, from which
the stairways radiated and the elevators as
cended. 1t was first discovered by the nigh
clerk, when the entire store room was in ;
blaze, and the flames In few minutes as
cended the stairways and elevators as through
vast chimneys, filing every room and hal
with flames and SMOKE. Half dozen CT ser
wants were instantly sent all over the building
to wake up the guests and sound the alarm
but 80 rapidly did the flames spread, tina
large numbers were Enabled to reach thu
stairways and many flying to the windows IL
their fright and wild despair leaped to thu
ground being crushed to death on the stone
pavement below. Such as had sufficient cool
ness to wait at the windows above, however
were saved by the Skinner fire escape and
other LADDERS used so efficiently by the fire.
men that all who trusted to them, though IN
the 9th story2windows with the flames leap
Ing around them, were safely brought to the
ground In less than two hours after the
fire broke out the west and south walls tell
with fearful crash, leaving only the ell
standing.
1t is yet impossible to tell how many lives
were lost, the names OF not over dozen al
the dead being known, though it is feared
many more have perished-somc putting the
loss of life as high as fifty. The heaviest
loss is among the servant girls, who slept in
the 9th story. Among those who escaped
was Kate Claxon, about whose narrow es
cape from the Brooklyn holocaust the news
papers had but recently ceased speaking as
no less remarkable than her escape from the
burning theatre in Washington. Kate got of
again without Il scratch, but not shred of
clothing except her night robe. There were
about three hundred persons in the building
when the fire broke out
Many thrilling accidents and incidents are
related Says the Times dispatch;
About 2 o'clock Il man appeared at one of
the fourth story windows in his night dress,
and his demeanor exhibited frantic excite
ment. He yelled to the crowd what shall
do?" The crowd, as frantic as himself,
cried, Jump" The man appeared to hesl-
tate. Jump Jump came again from
a hundred hoarse thr0ats. 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
shee,ed, trembling object above, now stand.
ing on the window.sill. The man jumped.
The figure wavered in its flight, turned,
struck The corner of the balcony, and, bound
ing off, fell on to the pavement striking there
with heavy thud on the head and shoulders
The man rebounded with horrid cry and
tell back on the pavement. He was picked
up and carried to u saloon. He gave the
name of J. +. Wilson. Before he could give
any further particulars he had expired.
Another, from the sane:
Suddenly at one of the windows on the
fourth floor appeared man in nightdress.
CHANGING around he appeared to realize his
situation perfectly. The ladder had been
taken away, and below HIM was sheer de-
scent of sixty feet
What shall do :" he asked. "Stay where
you are" answered the crowd aroused to a
clear appreciation OF the lmminence of the
danger and of the possibility OF securing
help. God deliver me" he exclaimed, look,
ing up at the lurid sky and his hands clasped
in prayer. Lord, tor Jesus sake" could be
easily heard by the throng below, Gained in.
TO perfect silence. 1t seemed hours before
the truck was brought. 1t must have seemed
centuries to the lonely man standing at the
darkened window and lighted by an occas-
lonal fash from the flames around him and
startled by the crash that came here and there
of falling walls. The truck finally came and
was slowly and clumsily raised to the win.
dow. Two firemen went up and put the man
on the ladder. He came down slowly, hrs
limbs trembling beneath HIM. At the bot.
tom he raised himself up TO his full height.
"Hurrah for St Louis!' he saii; New York
amt dead yet"
And another:
One of the most painful, yet thrilling
scenes in connection with the conflagratlon
was the peril of the group of six women who
were caught in the attic room in the extreme
southwestern corner of the south wing of the
building. They had raised the sash and
stood there prisoned and apparently doom
ed bevy. II was long time before anything
was done that looked likely TO effect their
rescue, but fortunately the fire was tar from
them. y long ladder was finally procured
and with incalculable labor was lifted into
position. 1t was just long enough to reach SO
that a man standing on top of il could put
his hands on the wlndowsll of the story be-
low where the girls were A short ladder
was reached up and clamped fast to the up
per windowsil, and in minute brave fire
man had mounted TO the top and climbed IN
among the girls. Maybe they weren't glad to
see him. Probably not one of them ever lei
sweetheart IN back window with half SO
eager hand before. After taking good time
to reconnotrc the position and instruct the
girls how TO act, the fireman made them
climb out one by one while he held them fast
and other ready fellows below steaded them
IN their descent. Thus they were all saved
The crowd giving the fireman cheer as he
followed the last one down
The building and furniture had cost about
million and half, and were insured fol
$4,000 The ground floor, except in the