Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1879-06-05

defectiye hose and an inadequate supply of
water, were unable to subdue the fire until
the entire house and contents were con.
sumed and considerable damage done to
adjoining property. The water supply
consisted of eleven cstcrns, of which the
two nearest the scene of the disaster were
soon exhausted. Many of the others were
too far distant to be available. The hotel
was large four.stsry brick dwelling, on
the main street, near the court house, and
in the heart of the town. There was no
Waterman employed about the premises,
and the fire was first discovered by one OF
the porters after it had already gained con-
siderable Roadway 1t seemed to have
originated under the stairs In the hall on
the first floor, and spread rapidly, SO that
it had well nigh covered that entire floor
before any alarm was sounded or any cf-
fort made to arouse the guests. The hotel
was crowded to its utmost capacity, there
being sevcnty-two guests in the house, for
ty.two Of whom were transient, and ma
ny of them parties il attendance on court,
which is now in session there. AS the
bunrdcrs were aroused and they rushed
from their apartments the lower stories of
the building appeared sea CT flame, and
and many being strangers and unfamiliar
with the premises, looked in vain for some
other means of exit than the stairway and
hail. which had become chimney for the
,cething flame, up which they were sucked
in the furious draught. Returning to their
rooms many escaped from the windows by
climbing down tho balconies from post to
post others were rescued by ladders 9th.
crs sought to escape by ropes made ofthcir
bed clothing and others jumped from the
windows at the risk Of their lives, as to-
remain was certain death. Many of these
were badly crippled; others fell into the
burning mass and were dangerously in
jared The corpse of man with his
hands and feet burned off and otherwise
horribly manglcd was taken from the
ruins. 1t is supposed to be the remains of
Thos. TroXcll, Of Cumberland, who WAS
attending llagcrstown, MS n witness in the
case OF John c, Thomas ~. the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad. lie leaves wife and
six children.
The list of injured as far as asccrtaiucd
is as follows: F. b Sniycly, Shady Grove
Pa, supposed fatally injured, tendon ofthc
knee cut and body burned; Mrs. T. b.
Cushwa, ankle spraincd and foot cut by
climbing down the back porch; Miss Gca
ry, ankle sprained; J. Marshall Landis'
lately of Frederick, severely burned abou t
face and hands and lacerate1 by climbing ;
Christian Ifaniclia, of Cumberland, legs
broken and head and face injured Frank
f. Burgess, agent for Turner & Co, Balti'
, more, thigh broken in two places and bad.
ly cut: Michael Shannon. of Cumberland
both wrists and back broken JAMES II
Exlnc, OF Hancock, Md, hip broken; he
attempted to lower himself with bcdclothes
and whilst going down, the rope broke and
he fell from distance Of three stories
solomon jenkins, of Hancock, both ank les
broken and back INJURED; c. l[rnningcr
of Cumberland, ankle broken. 1t is sup
posed that some other bodies nle buried in
the ruins, though nothing dcfna,e can be
aScertaned, as the hotel register was dc
stroyc1,
In the panic many thrilling incidents oc
Cured. Mr.. Samuel H. Dorsey, OF that
city was burned about the face in resculng
his friends, Mrs Patterson. daughter and
child, of Baltimore, who were stopping
there. A little Child was thrown to the
ground by its mother from Il third story
window, but mrpcuously escaped unhurt
None of the guests saved anything but til,
scanty clothing in which they were res
cucd. One of the inmates, in cndeavoring
to escape from the fourth story by rope
of bed clothes. fell to the ground and was
badly hurt. The fire is supposed to have
been the work Of inccndarlcs, as every pre-
caution was taken to quad against fire.
The estimated value of the building was
s25 900, lis assessed value being $50 ,00o
The loss was almost wholly covered by in
surancc.- Bult0 Sun.