Milford chronicle., 1883-01-19
A TERRIBLE FIRE
THE NEWHAIL HOUSE, MILWAUKEE,
BURNED TO THE GROUND.
A Large Number Of Lives Lost-Anfighted
Hotel Guests Rushing Through
Smoke aud Einmc.

] Hotel Guests Rushing Through
Smoke aud ElRmc.
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 al
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 in
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 eighty-six 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
Tins 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 EUen-
ina Wisconsin, VIM. E. Cramer, and |
his wife were both badly burned, but tits
hoped not seriously.
General Tom Thumb and his wife
were saved by an officer, who carried
them down stairs IN his arms. Mrs.
Bleeker, wife of the manager, jumped
from her window in the second story and
received very serious injuries, although
it 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. "Oh, oh, my God
Who set that frel' Over his head was
a black cloth. He held his hand heaven
A u as if invoking divine aid. When
he came to the mangled body Of one of
his guests his rawlings were pltifiTl IN the
extreme. All efforts to soothe him
iailed. He may recover his reason in
line.
THE BRIDE OF MIGHT.
One of the saddest facts in connection
With this awful catastrophe is the fate Of
Mr.. and Mrs. John Gilbert. Mr. Gilbert
S connected with the Minnie Palmer j
MY Sweetheart" Company, playing the /
,art Of the gambler, while under
tudying to fill the role Of Tony
0 take Mr. Graham's place on Monday
a Chicago. Just before leaving for Mil
yankee Mr.. Gilbert married a young {
adv to whom he was deyotedly attached 3
nd who reciprocated the love bestowed
pom her. On Monday morning they
ound their lives together. On Wednes- S
ay morning the fair young wife lay in
he Morgue dead, and at the Franklin i
louise, Writhing in agony, lies the Il
but a step from deaths door. 1t
not thought possible that he can be
ayed. Last night the happy young {
ouple, in company with others, sat in h
Ianager Marshs Office at the Opera
louise, after the play, until midnight
liking about the European trip they
ere to take in May with the com
any and of the happiness before /.
ZEN. The horrible change of
le few hours it seems impos- :
bic to realize. Mrs. Gilbert's mother Il
rived on the first train from Chicago. a
{ course. the " Ny Sweetheart Com
my Immediately announced that their
lvertised performances to-day would be I
The company is doing all L
ossible for Gilberts relief, but no hope Il
felt that he can be saved. John al
ilbert's real name is John Demming
is wife's name was Sutton.
IN THE MoReUE. p,
The Morgue, TO which the bodies were IA,
nveyed, presented a hideoUs sight Ia
yo small biers were soon filed with
dies, tightly packed, and shen bodies
girls, women and men were laid prom w
,uously on the stone flags, almost In B
APP, as the patrol brought in the bodies !,
rec or four at time. Thirty-two g,
dies we're soon in a ghastly heap on w
e floor of n small room. 1t was
beyond description. A On
ong police force was necessary to keep /,
xious inquirers in line. Nineteen -
dies have been identified and eight as as
dies are beyond recognition. III
THRILLING FEATURE OF THE TRAGEDY II
The frantic fear with which dozen
tier girls flung themselves from the
History windows was the most thrill III
( feature of the tragedy. Their bed. WI
ms opened on an alley in the rear. gr
ere was one fire escape, but they were ou
terrified to think of it. Clothed only ~
3eanty night dresses they appeared at
windows. One Of them, wilder than
others, before the flames approached tit
=, leaped ont into the black space, and, St
irling over and over, fell a mass OF ab
neled flesh on the stones beneath Ia
thought almost, and before -
rnen on the street 'ts
'-'r0 place