The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1883-01-18
A MILWAUKEE DEATH TRAP.
Burning Of an Immense Hotel and
Fearful Loss of Life.


Fearful Loss OF Life.
MILWAUKEE, Jan. 10.-The New
hall House, SiX-Story brick building,
corner of Michigan street and Broad
way, was burned to the ground this
morning. The fire was discovered at
four O'Clock. and in less than half an
hour the whole building, long desig-
mated as death trap, was in flames.
a scene of the utmost terror pre-
vailed. The inmates of the doomed
building jumped by dozens from the
upper stories, covering the stone side
walks with lifeleSs bodies. The
shrieks of the unfortunates filled the
air IN a heart-rending manner, people
below being unable to render any aid.
Quite a number of terrified guests
and employees of the hotel appeared
at the windows, and, seeing the dis
lance to the ground, fell back to
perish in the flames. The employees
OF the hotel-which accommodated
500 gueStS-numbered eighty-SiX, and
were mostly lodged in the sixth story.
Exit by way of the roof was cut OFT
by the fire, and two StandpipeS with
ire ladders were not available for the
same reason, and but very few were
saved by jumping on the canvas of
the stores and offices on the ground
floor, which, with the contents, were
destroyed.
VIM. 5. Candle, cashier of the
Manufacturers bank, carried the cash
box Of the institution, containing
money and papers to the amount OF
S60O,OOO, out of the flames. The in
surance agencies and general offices on
the first floor scarcely saved any
papers.
The loss is scarcely to be estimated
at this hour, but will reach $4,000.
There were comparatively few
guests in the hotel.
The register was burned and the
exact loss of life is not determined,
but will reach fifty or sixty deaths
and twenty or thirty wounded. So
far twenty-three bodies are in the
morgue and nine more in places
near the ruins. Indentitica-
ton comes in very slowly.
1t can safely be said that sixty persons
are dead and thirty missing.
The mayor called meeting in the
Chamber of Commerce to organize a
salvage corps to search the runs.
About one week ago the secretary
Of the local board of underwriters
was applied to to make a rate on the
building, so that local agents might
take risks. The building was con-
sidered death trap and risks were
refused.
The scenes at the morgue where 80
bodies are now lying in CHASTITY heap
on the floor in a small room, are heart
rending and beyond human descrip-
ton. A strong police force was
necessary to keep the anxious enquir-
ers in line. Nineteen bodies have
been identified, and eight are be-
You'd recognition. Mrs. John G. Gil
DerSt's body was positively identified.
1t was touching scene as the bride
of night was laid upon the cold
marble, charred and bruised
The hotel was built by Mr.. Daniel,
at a cost of $4,000. Total loss, in
Guiding furniture, $277OOO. VIM. Z.
Cramer, of the Evening Sentinel, was
saved through the heroic efforts of
Charlie Greshing, a Sentinel typo.
Chief Clerk Tice, who had a narrow
escape, says ITO boarders and ninety
employees were in the house. So far
hfty-six are unaccounted for. The in
Surance for a number Of years has
been placed on the Newhau House by
5. f. Covington, of Chicago, who says
the present insurance is $685. 900, of
which $500 is in companies of Chi
cago, and the remainder in Pittsburg
and New York.
CHICAGO, Jan. 10.-The Western
Union wires between here and Mil
waukee are undiSturbed, but from
Milwaukee to the northwest all are
down, and very little additional to the
press reports of the Newhall House
fire was received here up to 1890. A
severe cold hampered the firemen and
caused them great suffering. Three
steamers went from Chicago at $50.
in response to call from the mayor,
together with two men and 1000 yards
OF extra hose. The train bearing
them went over the Chicago and
n Northwestern, consisted of five cars,
and went to Milwaukee, ninety miles,
in only little over an hour. 1t is re-
ported here that the Minnie Palmer
troupe, which was at the Newhall
House, was lost, but this is not con-
frmed.