Connecticut western news., 1883-01-17
A TERRIBLE FIRE.
THE NEWHALL HOUSE, MILWAUKEE,
 BURNED TO THE GROUND.
A Large Number of Lives Lost-AfrtGhted Hotel Guests Rushing Through
 Smoke and Flame.

Hotel Guests Rushing Through
 Smoke and Flame.
 On Wednesday morning at an early hour the Newhall House, of Milwaukee, Wis, was totally destroyed by fire. The guests of the hotel were aroused from their slumbers to find the flames all about them. Many jumped from the windows and striking upon the pave ments below were killed at once. A large number of persons, including female help were burned to death ill their beds. About thirty bodies were taken to the morgue before six o'clock in the morning, and as many more were taken to offices in the vicinity. The scenes during the disaster were terrible in the extreme. The hotel was built in 1857, and has always been regarded as death trap.
 The loss of life is nearly 100, most of the dead being burned to death. The servants quarters, where elghty-slx of them were lodged, were in the northwest quarter of the building, remote from the place in which the fire was raging but all means of escape by the stairways were cut off by the flames. As the terrible roaring and cracking of the flames came to their ears they became panic stricken, and eight of them fol lowed each other, leaping from the dizzy heights to the ground in the alley. The jumping canvass was held for them, but it was powerless in the conflict with death and was clotted over with the vic tims' blood.
 Tom Thumb and his party and the Madison Square Theatre company were stopping at the hotel, A number of the members of both parties were burned to death. The veteran editor of the Eve'a- 6eg Wisconsin, Wm. B. Cramer, and his wife were both badly burned, but it is hoped not seriously.
 General Tom Thumb and his wife were saved by an officer, who carried them down stairs in his arms. Mrs. Blocker, wife of the manager, jumped from her window in the second story and received very serious injuries, although 1t is thought she will recover.
 John F. Antisdel, principal lessee, has gone crazy over the terrible affair. He ran up and down Michigan street moan ing and crying. ooh, oh, my God! Who set that fre!" Over his head was black cloth. He held his hand heaven ward as if invoking divine aid. When he came to the mangled body of one of his guests his rawlings were pitiful in the extreme All efforts to soothe him failed. He may recover his reason in time.
 THE BRIDE OF A NIGHT.
 One of the saddest facts in connection with this awful catastrophe is the fate of MT. and Mrs. John Gilbert. MT. Gilbert is connected with the Minnie Palmer "My Sweetheart" Company, playing the part of the gambler, while under studying to fill the rc'3 of Tony to take MT. Graham's s place on Monday in Chicago Just before leaving for Mil waukee MT. Gilbert married 8 young lady to whom he Was devotedly attached and who reciprocated the love bestowed upon her. On Monday morning they bound their lives together. On Wednes- day morning the fair young wife lay in the Morgue dead, and at the Franklin House, writhing in agony, lies the is not thought possible that he can be saved. Last night the happy young couple, in company with others, sat in House, after the play, until midnight, 1 UalhluS aDCut tllG LuIOpeon l1lp UllcJ We're to take in May with the com pany and of the happiness before them. The horrible change of the few hours 1t seems lmpos- sible to realize. Mrs. Gilbart's mother arrived on the first train from Chicago. Of course, the My Sweetheart" Con- pany immediately announced that their | advertised performances to-day would be abandoned. The company is doing all 1 possible for Gilbert's relief, but no hope Is felt that he can be saved. John | Gilbert's real name is John Demming. His wife's name was Sutton.
 IN THE MoRGUE.
 The Morgue, to which the bodies were conveyed, presented a hideous sight. Two small piers were soon filled with bodies, tightly packed, and then bodies of girls, women and men were laid prom iscuously on the stone flags, almost in q heap, as the patrol brought in the bodies three or four at a time. Thirty-twc bodies were soon in a ghastly heap or heart-rendine beyond description. A strong police force was necessary to keeI anxious inquirers in line. Nineteen bodies have been identified and eight bodies are beyond recognition.
 MIR. D1xoN's STORY.
 s. A. Dixon, of Chicago, who occupied a room in Michigan street front, gives a thrilling account of the fire. He was awakened by the crashing of some glass and opened the door to ascertain the cause. The hall was filled with an i'm penetrable volume of smoke, which i'm mediately filled his room, forcing him tc close the door. He then gathered ur his clothes and went into the hall, grop ing about until he found the way leading to the bank building Continuing, ht said:
 ''I looked back upon the Newhall, { dark k-looking mass of smoke envelopine it, with now and then lurid gleamt lighting up the opaque cloud. The scene was frightful one. After mo ment's hesitation, I decided to re-ente, the building in the hope of saving some poor creature.
 "The few clothes had recovered hastily put on and crawled back. I me 8 girl, one of the help, with a bundle O. clothes in her arms. The moment I say her she fell exhausted, and 1 carried he out into the bank building. The req portion of the hotel where I was was no then in flames, but from the other sid' great sheets of fire leaped up whirling ant flashing. I went back a second time ant met another girl. I do not know he name, but she was dining-room girl and waited on the table at which I sat She recognized me, but did not knov her. She was burned very badly Her hands were hanging by he side, cut open by fire, and the fesl hanging loose upon them. He arms and her face, too, were scared an' black with soot. Her scanty clothin'