The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1884-05-15
Tue Willard Hotel at Washington q
Sheoi OF Planes,
Bui Prompt and Eilelent work Pre-
yept a Horror.
Narrow ard Hilfbraadlh E'cape OF
irmates.
Origin OF Fire aud imouat OF
Damage.
The Cool and Daiibera;s aoIiOn OF
PrOminen, Men.
Colonel M0rrlson's Effects aud His
Directions.
Scenes aud Incidents of the Disaster

WASHINGTON, Msy IS.-[Presa IA fire
broke out At Willard's ho u this uofning.
| IL originated in room IN th6 basement,
Just north Of the main Office, and the flames
running between the floors, reached the
main part OF building, the coal elevator and
up through the housy. Dense volumes OF
snoRe soon began TO pour trtough the
building aud became oliling. The board
ers were seeG RnrrieGly packing
ihtir valuaHles together. some
fastening the boxes. Others assisted
by servants, hsultns taeir baggage down
stairs. At tho extreme northwest corner
OF the sixth story appeared a colortd boy
and three servant girls, who were entirely
cut off bv smoke from the stairway. They
remained az window aud kept their heads
clear until ladders were raised for their es
cape. From the north side OF the buiidink'
the fireman took two servant girls ou. OF
tho topmost window and man from ,hs
bird story. A gentleman named Post, from
Chicsgo, who was ok In bed, was carefully
removed. On the lower II Dor all was hurry
and b9stle. Colored employees with hand
kerchiPis tied over their mouths c'ms
through the ladies' exit, dragging such
trusks that they could reach, aud u great
many valuah'es wore saved 10 this wsv from
injury. From tho portcces, on Toe Fourth
street side, sheets filed with clothing we're
tumbled 20 the ground and taken care Of
Those who rcmsined came 10 the ground
| by means of ladders, which wers tur'
nshsd i abundance. While tne
| smoke was pouring out from nearly every
part Of tha building. The familiar figure
OF Mr.. Joslyn, assistant secretary oftn- in
| te.ior, appeaisd at one of the Fourth street
Windows, carefully carving three ladies
hats, which he dropped sately to the Rround
amid cheers from ,hs crowd. When the
smoke tirst gre& very thick, u .ent.cman
| appeared at one of the west windows open.
| ing on the alley. He had evidently just got
no, having been awakened by the noise and
confusion. He quietly went TO Dress and
make his toilet, ard when completed
packed his grip-ssck and resting II on the
| window 81 | waite i patiently, without say
ing wnrd, until isddar was hoisted tor
| his relief. There WAS quite Il psaic among
| the guests, but all reached the etreets IN
| safety. The damage by fire is small, bus
| the hotei was pretty vel delnged win
| water, and the loss from this
cause and smoke will probably reach
| $4,000 A. the street corners spectators
we're very much interested in Watching
Colonel Morrison, representative from Hi.
nois, rescaing his papers and personal
property flom the supposed impending
destruction. When the first alarm came,
Colonel Morrison seized u large trunk aud
threw it ouc Of the windo" on f. street,
the trunk bursting as IL rebounded
from the brick pavement. He then
descended TO the streets and from tia out
| side directed the movements OF several men
as they pitched his personal effects from
the window. The fire appears to have
originated In vault underneath the
wash room adjoining the Office. This vault
connects with the dumb wa ter shaft, which
runs all the way from the basement to the
roof The fire is said by some
to have originated from over.heated
steam pipes located near wood WORK. An
other statement Is that bundle OF oily
rage Ia the vault first caught fire. The fire,
it appears, burned some time before the
alarm was turned on, as the employees
thought they could put it out. When it
was sucked into the draft OF the long
shsit. however, it passed out of their con.
r,ui. The fire burned its way along the
shott, all the way 10 the root