The Russellville Democrat., 1877-04-26

The flames, long smOthered, leaped Ou and scorched him. He flew up stair screaming fire at the top of his voice.
 MUEsTER's SUICIDE.
 A few weeks ago your correspondent, telegraphed the Times an account of the marriage of Munster, member of the British house of commons, to the daugh' ter of Df. Henry c. Lynch, of this city MT. and Mrs. Munster travelled until within the past two weeks, when they returned to the city, and have been stop. ping at the Southern, occupying rooms there when the alarm of fire was given. Both escaped from the building, but in the confusion became separated. Mrs. Munster was taken to her fathers home, and her husband went to the room of a friend, and slept there. At late hour this morning he suddenly sprang out of bed, exclaiming that his wife was at the hotel. Before he could be stopped he had snatched up pistol and fired, shoot ing himselfthrough the right temple and falling dead. His funeral will take place on Friday. The coroner's jury tonight decided that the unfortunate man was crazed.
 MISS KATE CLAxToN's MIRACULOUS Es-
 CAPE.
 Kate Claxton, the actress, whose mi raculous escape from the theaters in Brooklyn and Washington will be re- gave the Times correspondent the following account of her experience in the burning hotel. Miss Claxton says: Il left the Olympic theater i'm mediately after the performance, and re- turned with my brother to the hotel. We went into the dining room to take a late supper, and there we found Miss Osborn and Miss Mcclellan. Miss Mc- Clellan was so bright and cheerful, and l was 30 charmed with her sweet face and manners, little imagining what was so soon to follow. Alter bidding them good night went up to my room on the fourth floor, and my brother retired to his room on the same floor. sat down and read little before going to bed, and everything at the time was quiet. Tho next thing that I remember was a loud knocking at the door. was undressed, and had been sleeping some time. In a half stupid condition I turned and list ened. listened again, and the knock ing was repeated, With the knocking, tAc sounds of which were far and near, came the dreadful shouts of Fire! Firep I sprang from the bed, and a terrible feeling of oppression came over me. I cannot describe it. I looked up at the gas in my room, which was burning dim ly, and there saw smoke curling aroand the chandelier. Then it appeared all at once to fill the room, and dense clouds came through the aperture ofthe fire grate. 1 thought instantly of my brother. and rushed out, undressed as I was, to dis cover his room. Meanwhile he had been by the noise, and was approch- ing my room. I said: Let us find the stairs, or we shall be lost. My brother was then half dressed, and reached across the bed to pick up something to throw over me. We could not find the and the confusion and the smoke and roar of the fire were mingled with the most piercing and heartrending screams. I shall never forget it. We were not acquainted with the hotel ar engagements, for the common practice is to use the elevator in ascent and descent, and therefore could not find staircase or any means of escape. There were others on the same floor in the same terrible dilemma, but could not see each other for the smoke. We groped along and presently found step downward, and commenced to descend. What hap pened I cannot say, for do not distincly I have been in greater dan ger, az you know, and l always endeavor to maintain my composure, but the smoke last night stifed the senses. We reached by some means or other the first landing of the ladies' staircase on the Fifth street side, opposite the Olympic theater. There was a great crowd of ladies in their nightdresses in ths vesti. bule, and some of the physicians were persuading them that all would be safe. We did not heed this advise, and passed out on the street. A way was made through the crowd for us to reach the hotel opposite, and,I remained there some little time to recover myself. There 1 saw poor Miss Mcclellan brought in. l can never forget it. My brother pro- cured a carriage shortly afterward and we came down to the Lindell feel very much worse to-day than I did when I arrived here after the escape. have lost everything, literally everything, for l am under obligations to lady sypathiz- CTS and friends for the clothes which you see mo wearing new. have nothing of my own whatever, except the night-robe in which escaped. "
 MIR. AND MRS. GERLICH.
 Herman Gerlich, the new German consul here, and his wife, jumped out of third. story window on to the east porch, and both sustained serious iniu ries, MT. Gerlich breaking his left leg and Mrs. Gerlich injuring her spine. MT. Gerlich succeeded Robert Rart to the consulship here, and received his appoint. ment from Bismarck some two weeks ago.
 MIR. AUsTIN's ESCAPE.
 Mir. Austin, one of the hotel clerks also had very narrow escape. He was sound asleep in the sixth story of the building when the alarm was turned on, and when awakened by the shrieks oi the women in the railways and adjoin ing rooms nearly every avenue of escape was cut off. Fortunately for MT. Aus tin, he knew the railways and stairways of the hotel almost as well in the dark and smoke as under the m st favorable circumstances, and it was this that en. abled him to crawl along the floor and slide down the banisters to the second story. Before leaving his room he had the precaution to tie wet towel about