Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-05-14
SCARED THEM ALL.
A Fire in the Willard House at
Washington.
MORRISON ASUsEs THE CROWD.
General Confusion Among the Guests Of the
HOteI--Taking People Out on Ladders
Bursting Trunks and Flying Hats
The Ridiculous and Serious.

WASHINGTON, May IA fire broke out
at Wizards hotel this morning. 1t origi-
mated in the room in the basement Just
north oRthe main office, and the flames
running between the floors reached the main
part Of the building then the coal elevator
aud up through the house Dense volumes
of smoke soon began TO pour through the
building and became sitting The boarders
were seen hurriedly packing their valuables
together, some fastening their boxes, Others,
assisted by servants, hauling their baggage
down stairs AT the extreme northwest cor
ner Of the sixth story appeared q colored
boy and three servant girls who
were entirely cut off by the smoke
from the stair ways. They remained
atthe window and kept their heads clear
until the ladders were raised for their escape.
On the north side of the building the fire
men took two servant girls out ofthe topmoSt
window and man from the third story.
4 gentleman named Post from Chicago,
who was sick in bed was carefully removed.
On the lower floor all was hurry and hustle.
The colored employees with handkerchief
tied over their mouths came through
the ladies exit dragging such trunks
as they could reach and great
many yaluableS were saved in this way
from injury From the porticoS ON the Four
teenth street side sheets filled with clothing
were tumblcd 10 the ground and taken care
r tL,rn ,phn rpp,atF,al 10, tho
ground bv means of ladders which were fur
uished in abundance.
He saved Them.
While the smoke was pouring out from
nearly every part of the building, the famil
lar figure of Mr. Joslyn, Assistant Secre-
tary Of the Interior, appeared at one of the
Fourteenth street windows, carefully carry
ING three ladies hats which he dropped
safely to the ground amid the cheers of the
crowd When the smoke grew very thick
gentleman appeared at one of the west win
d0ws opening on the alley. lie had evi-
IDENTIFY Just got up, having been wakened
by the noise and confusion. He quietly went
to work TO dress and make his toilet, and
when it WAS completed he packed his grip
sack and resting it on the window sill
waited patiently without SAYING a word un-
III a ladder was hoisted for his relief. There
was quite a panic among the guests, but all
reached the street in safety. The damage
bv fire is small, but the hotel was pretty
well deluged with water, and the loss from
this cause and smoke will probably reach
$4,000
Anxious Morrison.
Atthe street corner spectators were very
much Interested in watching Colonel MOrri.
son. representative from illinois. rescuing
his papers and personal property from the
supposed impending destruction. When
the first alarm came Colonel Morrison
seized a large trunk aud flung it from the
window on F street and the trunk bursted
as il rcbounded from the brick pavement
He then descended to the street and from
the outside directed the movements
of several men a. they pitched
his personal effects from the
window. The FIRE it appears originated in
the vault underneath the wash room, ad-
Joining the office. This vauh connects
With The dumb waiter, the shaft Of which
runs all the way from the basement to the
roof The fire Is said by some To have orig
mated from Oycrheatcd steam pipes located
near the woodwork Another is tnat a
bundle of oily rags in the vault first clught
Cre. The fire burned some time. it ap-
Tears, before an alarm was turned in, as the
,mployes thought they could put it ont