Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1883-01-20
burned 10 Death.

~ 'S"oe MY PC'Pie were pui''eh w
death. The sight was one TO make thu
stoulest heart quail. Guests awakened
from their sleep 10y the terrible heat on
the bursting of the flames into Their
rooms were forced TO the windows,
where their heartrending cries rang in
the ears OF the e eat crow d of people
gathered in the street, powerlesS /"
render aid Men who, in the dali,
walks of life, have been accounted heart
less and nnteeling, wrung their hands
in despair, running about in bewilder
mrnt aud exclaiming: "My God This
is horrible!" A black object would APP
pear On the outside of the windows,
driven out by the smoke ard fame, a
piercing scream would rend the air, and
a heavy thud would announce that
human being had dropped to death on
the pavement below.
AT one time there were six persons
hanging from one windOw-sill at the
fifth story, crying in agouizing tone for
the help that could not be rendered
them. Que after the other they lost.
their grip and met their fate. One man,
by letting himself down at arms length
from "A titth-story window, put his feet
through the window below and reached
the fourth floor in safety. The opera
ton was repeated and the third floor
was reached, each point gained in his
perilous descent being greeted with EN-
couraglng cheers from the crowds OF
bystanders. As he was putting his
feet through the top nfthe second story
window his hands slipped from the sill
above and with wild shrek he fell
back wards aud turning over several
times struck the pavement on his head.
He was mangled beyond recognition.
Another man jumped from the fifth
story window, struck the telegraph
wires on Michigan street, bounded up
and came down a mangled mass of flesh
and bones A number Of people drop
ped ont of the different stories on the
jumping canvas, but i'll many cases they
were killed outright or received injuries
from which there is little hope OF recov-
cry.
During the progress of the fire two
meh appeared at window in an upper
story, aud as they looked down upon
the scene below the floor Of The room
gave away and with an agoni2ing
scream they fell back ward into the vor
tex of flames. Allen Johnson and his
wife sprang trom fifth story window.
lie was caught il the .jumping-canvas.
but sustained Injuries from which he
died at 6 o'clock the next morning. Ills
vile struck OF the telegraph wires,
bounded aud vas also caught, but was
80 badly injured that she survived her
husband but AN hour.
While these scenes were beng en-
acted on the Broadway aud Michigan
sides of the i'll fated building, one of
still greater horror was being enacted
in the alley at the rear. The servants
quarters 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 starways were
cut off bv the flames. As the roaring
aud cracking of the flames struck upon
their ears the servants became panic
stricken and eight Of them followed
each other in leapng the dizzy height
to the ground in the alley. The jump
| inc canvas was on hand, but it was use
less and it was clottrd over aud over
with the blood Of the victims.
AT this nrclnre the cool.headed hero
OF the day appeared on the top of the
building directly opposite the servants
quarters, with a ladGrr in ishand. For
a moment the long, unwirldly thing
poised IN mid-air and then descended
with a crash through the window OF the
hotel. 1t formed bridge across the
allev, however, and before it became
steady in It's position the man had
crossed over into the hotel; then, amid
the cheers of the multitude below, the
man dragged the helpless creatures
across the slender bridge, until fully a
dozen were rescued. All were in their
night.clothcs and many were badly fro
zen before they could be taken to shell
ter.
A woman in an unconscious condi
ton, unable 10 help herself in any way,
was dragged across the ladder in safety,
but at one time the whole OF her body
was hanging clear of the ladder, while
the brave man held her by one If her
ankles The people below held their
breath in suspense, expecting TO see the
ladder turn over or break beneath The
srain The man. however, was equal
To he emergency aud by hercnran #
fort pulled up on the slender bridge aid
finally placed the woman ont of danger,
while the crowd, which had endured
the most painful suspense Tor fully ten
minutes, burst forth with round after
round OF applause.
When the citizens began TO learn of
the fire and those who had friends or
relatives began to gather, The scene was
more terrible if possible than a, first.
AS many of the mangled bodies az could
be reached were taken to the Morgne,
each load being followed 10y halt crazed
mothers and fathers looking after THEN
children who had been working in the
hotel, and relatives of guests and reg.
ular buarders. Around the Morgde
from that time until nightfall poor be
reft creatures hovered, trying in vain 20
identity lost loved ones.
1t is said that there were $50 persons
in the botel at the time, and i; is be-
ieved that the number who last their
lives will not tall far short of 100. Men