The New York herald., 1879-03-30


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THE VICTIMS
The names Of the victims follows:-
MRS. HANNAH p. GIBSON, of Chester. VT. aged
S. mother of of the proprctors burned to death
in her room.
ANNA JOHNSON. chambermaid. aged 80; over
come by the heat and smoke tainted in her room.
and perishcd in the flames.
MRS. s. A. CHASE. pastry cook. aged As; burned
to death.
LYDIA MERRILL. waitress. aged ls; burned to
death.
CHARLES MORGAN, aged 22. boardcr at the
fremont House; burned to death.
MIR. MARVIN. clerk Of the fremont House;
slightly injured.
MRS. MARVIN. wife of the above probably IA
tally injured internally by jumping from third
story window.
WILLIAM BUTLER, of Brsttleboro. VT; ankle
sprained.
THE FIRE.
In the stiffness of early morning. at just one
o'clock, the inmates of the fremont House.
in this town. were startled by alarm of
fire. which was sent through the house with light
ming rapidity. Us quickly followed by dense volumes
of smoke. There forty persons in the house at
the time and Mr. Deming. who discovered the fire. at
once realized the terrible situation of affairs. On
through the corridors he rushed while the sitting
smoke almost choked his utterance He forced in
doors unccremoniously where response came to
his loud and hurried knocks. passed to the next
and called on all who could come forth to act as
volunteers in rousing the sleeping inmates who
slumbered unconscious of the horrible death
which lowered around theirs pillows. Half
dozen people joined Mr. Deming and pro-
ceeded to the second and third floors. to
give the alarm and thon flee for their lives. The
hotel was wooden building and old. SO that the
flames had plenty of material to feed on. and but
few moments were left for escape Tcrror-stricken
men, women and children rushed frsntcaly through
the binding smoke, half asleep and completely be-
wildered by the sudden alarm and the frightful
scene which met them as they emerged from their
rooms.
HOW TO OUT
There was no time to spare, however, and the in
stnct Of self preservation at promptly to
suggest q means of escape. There was only one
stairway. ana that and full of smoke and
fame after Ave minutes. so that it useless
avenue of egress. Windows thrown up only to
increase the draft and stimulate the flames. which
were now furiously kissing through the
frail structure Men and women jumped
to the i yard below in nude or
partly dressed condition, others appeared at
the upper windows uttering the most piercing
shrieks for aid in their terrible extremity 1t
awful spectacle and which will never be forgotten
by those who witnessed it. The two lower floors
were cleared Of their occupants. but the upper
stories still contained human beings whose chances
of escape from u fiery death were decreasing
pidly. .,.- t....
EFFORTS LIFE.
The town had become alarmed. and from all Sec
tions men and women poured in to render what as
sstance they could or to gaze on the terrible scene
which was being enacted. Ladders were promptly
put ND against the walls for the purpose Of extri
eating the poor people who were housed in by flame
and smoke. One man. whose room was on an
upper story, crawled out through the window,
seized lightning roi and coolly climbed
down to the ground with only blistered hands and
bruised limbs. He was loudly cheercd as he slowly
crept down. while men and held their
breath lest the rod would give way and throw him
heavily to the frozen ground. when his death would
have been as certain as If he had remained
in the burning building. Mr.. F. H. Glib
son. ono of the proprietors of the
house. with his wifo and child, escaped
from window of the second story. the pucky woman
holding the child aud clingng to the blind while he
obtained board upon which mother and child slid
to the ground in perfect safety. followed by Mr.
Gibson, who promptly re-entered the building to
lend what aid he could in rescuing the others.
BURNED DEATH.
Owing to some repairs Mrs. Gibson, mother OF the
same gentleman. had been placed temporarily in q
spare room and the son rushed frantcaly in search
OF her. but was unable to reach her in time and she
perished in tho flames. n
OVERCOME DY SMOKE AND FLAMES.
Anna Johnson chamber girl. whose room was on
the third floor tried escape from the hall through
the stairs but found a solid wall OF fire obsructing
her passage. She ran back to her foom, raised the
window and hung out far possible without fall
ing and screamed frantically for assistance
She was envelopcd in huge cloud
of smoke, which occasionally Lit up
by flashes OF flame as the fire worked its way up
ward. Half a dozen hands Immediately seized
ladder and ran 1t up against the wall. man voiun-
tcercd to climb up to the poor girls aid. but he
came back blinded with smoke and almost in
sensible. Another volunteer stepped into his place
and toilcd up the ladder but he. too. came down
without the prize so much coveted. Another man
stepped from the crowd, and amid the cheers of
the asscmblagc ran up step after step until he was
lost in the clouds of smoke which rolled out in dense
masses from the doomed building. He reached tho
poor, helpless girl, but could not pull her out
she had tainted and must have been caught by some
thing the inside. from which he was unable to de-
liver her. He came back without accomplishing his
mission, and 10 one else would venture. There she
remained until the wall fell in. and she boz e.me
charrcd mass amid the burning ruins. ..r.t
EsIoMpsD IN; THE BURNING PILE.
About the time Mrs. s. A. Chase. n pastry
cook in the establishment Lydia Merrill. table
GIRL and Charles Morgan, guest at the house, went
down with the tumbling walls. mingiing their
shricks with the horrible din and crash which pre-.
vailed within and without
LEAF LFE.
The clerk. Fred Marvin. and his wife occupied
room on the third floor. As the alarm
reached them they rushed out. and hnd.
ing tho corridor blocked by flame and
smoke closed their door and waited for
sistance. None came. and the terrible alternative
presented itself of pcrishng in the flames jump
ing to the ground. The latter was decided and
Mr.. Marvin sprang from the window. alighing
his feet. lie escaped with some bruises. His wife
followed, and although the stunned husband and
others tried to break the fall she sustained severe
,,iu xvhi Al