Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1879-04-09
BURNED TO DEA TH.
1--WE PERSONS PERIsHED BY THE BURN
ING OF A HoTEI-wAKING BUT TO DIE.

ING OF A HoTEL-wAKING BUT TO DIE.
In the stiffness of the morning of
the 20 ult, at just ] o'clock, the inmates
Of the fremont house, the principal
hotel in Claremont, N. H were startled
by an alarm of fire, which was sent
through the house with lightning ra-
pidity, as quickly followed by dense
volumes of smoke. There were 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 al
most choked his utterance. He forced
in doors unceremoniously where no re-
sponse came TO his loud and hurried
knocks, passed on TO the next and call
ed on all who could come forth to act
us volunteers in rousing the sleeping
inmates, who slumbered on unconscious
of the horrible death which lowered
around their pillows. Half q dozen
people joined Mr. Deming and proceed
ed 10 the second and third floors, TO
give the alarm and then fee for their
lives. The hotel was wooden build.
ing, 80 that the flames had plenty of
material to feed on, and but few mo-
ments were left for escape. Terror
stricken men, women and children
rushed frantically through the binding
smoke, half asleep, and completely be-
wlldered by the sudden alarm and the
frightful scene which met them as they
emerged from their rooms.
There was no time to spare, how
ever, and the instinct Of elf-preserva-
ton was at work promptly to suggest
means Of escape. There was only one
stairway, and that was narrow and
full Of smoke and flames after five min
utes, so that II was useless as an
avenue of egress. Windows were
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 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 was an awful spectacle
and one which will never be forgotten
by those who witnessed it. The two
lower floors were soon cleared Of Their
occupants, but the upper stores still
contained human beings whose chances
of escape from a fiery death were do
creasing rapidly.
The town had become alarmed, and
from all sections men and womer
poured in to render what assistance
they could or TO gaze on the terrible
scene which was being enacted. Lad
ders were promptly put up against thu
walls for the purpose Of extricating th'
poor people who were housed in by
flame and smoke. Ono man whos'
room was on an upper story, crawlec
out through the window, seized q light
ming rod and coolly crawled down Z
the ground with only blistered hand
and bruised limbs. He was loudly
| -
chcered as he slowly crcpt down, whil'
men and women held their breath les
the rod would give way and throw hin
heavily to the frozen ground, whom hi
death would have been as certain as !
he had remained in the burning build
ing, Mr.. f. IL. Gibson, one Of th'
proprietOrs of the house, with bis wit
and child, escaped from a window o
the second story, tho plucky womaI
holding the child and clinging TO thu
blind while he obtained o board upor
which mother and child slid TO th'
ground in perfect safety, followed BY
Mr.. Gibson, who promptly re.enteret
the building 10 lend what aid he coult
in rescuing the others.
Owing to some repairs Mrs Gibson
mother of the same gentleman, hac
been placed temporarily in a spar
room and the son rushed frantically II
search Of her but was unable to reaci
her in time and she persisted In th'
flames
Anna johnson, chamber girl
who's, room was on the third floor
tried to escape from the hall througl
the stairs, but found q solid wall o
FIRE obstructing her passage. She RAJ
back TO her room, raised the window
and hung out as far as possible with
out falling, and screamed iranticaill
for assistance. She was soon envelop
ed in a huge cloud Of smoke, whicl
was occasionally ut up oy flashes Q