Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-05-22
HOTEL SCORCHED'
Wizards Hotel, in Washington.
Damaged by Fire and
Water.
Narrow Escape of Some or the In
mates--A LudicrOus Incl
dent, Etc.

WASHINGTON, May 12.-Fire broke
out at Wizards hotel this morning.
1t originated in a room IN the base
ment, just north of the main office,
and the flames running between the
floors reached the main part of the
building, then the coal elevator and
up through the house. Dense volumes
of smoke soon beran to pour through
the building and ecame sitting The
boardsrs were seen hurriedly packing
their valuables together, some fasten-
ing the boxes, others, assisted by ser
wants, hauling their baggage down
stairs. In the extreme northwest cor
ner of the sixth story appeared a col
ored boy and three servant girls, who
were entirely cut off by the smoke
from the stairways. They remained
at the windows, and kept their heads
clear until ladders were raised for
their escape. On the north side of
the building, the hremen took two ser
want girls out of the topmost window
and a man from the third story. A
gentleman named Post, from Chicago,
who was sick in bed, was carefully re-
moved.
On the lower floors all was hurry
and hustle. Colored employees, with
handkerchiefs tied over their mouths,
came through the ladies exit, drag
ging such trunks as they could reach,
and great many yaluables were
saved in this way from injury.
From the sporticos on the Four
teenth street. side, sheets filled with
clothing were tumbled to the ground
and taken care OF, and those who re-
manned came to the ground by means
of ladders which were furnished in
abundance.
While the smoke was pouring out
from nearly every part of the build
ing, the familiar figure of Mr.. Joslyn,
Assistant Secretary of the Interior APP
peared at one of the Fourteenth street
windows, carefully earring three
ladies hats, which he dropped safely
to the ground, amid the cheers of the
crowd.
When the smoke first grew very
thick, a gentleman appeared at one of
the west windows opening on the
alley. He had evidently just got up,
having been awakened by the noise
and confusion. He quietly went to
work to dress and make his toilet, and
when completed packed his gripsack,
and, resting it on the window-sill,
waited patiently without saying a
word until a ladder was hoistea for his
relief.
There was quite panic among the
guests, but all reached the street in
safety.
The damage by the fire is small but
the hotel was pretty well deluged
with water and the loss from this
cause and the smoke will prabably
reach $15, 900.
At the f street corner spectators
were very much interested in watch
ing Colonel Morrison, Representative
from Illinois, rescHing his papers and
personal property from supposed inn
pending destruction. When the first
alarm came Colonel Morrison seized
a large trunk and flung it out of the
window on + street., the trunk burst
ing as it rebounded from the brick
pavement. He then descended to the
street, and from the outside directed
the movements of several men as they
pitched his personal effects from the
window.
The fire appears to have originated
IN the vault underneath the wash
room adjoining the office.