The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-12-12
NEARLY A DISASTER,
A Graphic Story OF tho Sturtevnut M0.
tel fire III N. Y. City.


New YonK, December 1l.-A visit TO the
Sturteyant House this morning showed
there had been very narrow escape from
destructive con fagration and serious loss
Of life. The two, story and extension
building used as Il bake house aud the
kitchen was completely Quilted. Except
the floors and roof, every window case.
ment and window in the building was
burned Or broken and the ceilingand walls
blackened and charred by flame and smoke
Nearly all the windows on the first,
second and third stories Of the side Of
the Tweuty.nintl street wing OF the hotel
which look out on the lake house were
burned away and many lower roon,s COM
pletely ruined by fire. Mr.. N. I. Warner,
Of Easton, Pa, one Of the guests, said to a
reporter, 81 retired about 10 o'clock
last night to my room on tho fourtI, floor
OF the rear part OF the lotel,and was soon
asleep. About ] o'clock was awakened
by the sound Of an explosion, but as il
seemed to be at a distance paid no atten.
ton, and went to sleep again. In about
half IN hour l was awakened by
a commotion in the hall outside OF
my, room, and heard the servants voice.,
At first ! thought it was fight. But after
listening Il few moments unlocked the
door, and seeing n bright blaze coming up
through the wall hole over the kitchen, /
knew in moment what the matter was
Stopping only TO draw on my trousers and
coat, rushed toward the head of the stairs.
Looking down over the banisters it
seemed as though the whole place was on
fire below. Fearing my escape was cut of
l ran to room from which IL tire escape
could be reached, but found the door was
locked. l then, in spite of the smoke,
which was very thick, forced my way
to the floor and endeavored to cross to the
stairs leading to the Twenty-,iinth street
entrance, but was forced buck by the flame
and smoke, which entered the corridor
from the windows. Just then Il lady in
her night dress rushed up to the and said,
"For Gods sake, save met l said
to her, "Follow me. We shall ret
out all right" We both then
Wcul uoWn lHc IHtiIl SlalTC&lSe 10 the O1llCe.
I found the bar.room, office and reading
room thronged with guests, in the greatest
CONSERVATION, especially ladies', many OF
whom were in ysterics and Il few OF whom
Ind tainted. Several OF them wero in ex.
cecdingly scanty attire, and on going out
into the street. | found several there shiy.
ering in the cold, with nothing around
them but shawl or coat, gwen them by
some sympathizing on.looker, saw lady
with nothing but d shawl on her, placed ID
a coach by Il gentleman and driven
away to some other hotel. When I came
down stairs the tiremcn were bringing a
hose in through the front door. i must
say the proprietors did everything posi-
BILE under the circumstances. ii they
had not kept the good watch they
did on the premises, there would have
been no stopping the fire, and great
many OF those in the hotel would undoubt-
edly have been burned to death, as the
kitchen, where the fire originated, is SO
centrally situated, that the flames pene-
trated several parts OF the hotel ut once"