The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1884-05-14
HOTEL FIRE.
Tho Willard Hotel at Washington a
Sheet Of Flames,
hut Promp. and Emclent Work Pre-
vent q Horror.
Narrow and uiirbreadlh Escape OF
Inmates.
Origin OF Fire aud Amount Of
Damage.
rhe Cool ard Deliberate Action or
Prominent Men.
Colonel Morrlson's Elects and His
Directions.
and Incidents of the Disaster.
hut Promp. and Enlclent Work Pre-
vent q Horror.
Narrow aud uiirbreadlh Escape ol
Inmates.
Origin OF Fire aud Amount O
Damage.
rhe Cool apd Deliberate Action ol
Prominent Men.
Colonel Morrlson's Elects and ILL
Directions.
Scenes aud Incidents OF the Disaster,

WASHINGTON, May l3.-fPtess.l-A fro
broke out at Wiliard's hotel this morning.
IL originated In a room In the basement,
lust north of the main office, and the Names
running between the hoors, reached the
main part Of building, the coal elevator ano
up through the house. Dense volumes OF
smoke soon began 10 pour Trough the
building aud became sitting. TIE board
efs were seen hurriedly packing
their valuanles together, some
fastening the boxes. others assisted
by servants, hauling their baggage down
stair,. At tho extreme north vest corner
of The sxih story appeared u colorSd boy
aud three servant girls. who were entirely
cut off bv smoke from the stairway. They
remained NJ window aud kept their heads
clear until ladders were raised for their es'
cape. From the north side oil the building
the fireman took two servant girls out OF
the topmost window and q man from the
third story. A gentleman named Post, from
Chicago, who wass'ck in bed, was carefully
removed. Ga the lower tl,or all was hurry
aud hustle. Colored employees with hand
krtchipis tied over their mouths me
through the ladies' ext, dragging such
truHks that they could reach, and great
many valuables were saved In this way from
injury. From the portion nes, on the Fourth
strstt side, sheets filed with clothing were
iumblrd TO the ground and taken care OF:
rnose who remsined came TO the ground
| by means OF ladders, which were fur'
nish,d in abundance. While tue
smoke was pouring out from nearly every
part OF tue building. The familiar lisure
OF Mr.. JDslyn, sgais,anG secretary OF tue IN
terror appeared at one of the Fourth street
windows, carefully carving three ladies'
hG;s, which he dropped safely to the ground
amid cheers from the crowd. When the
smoke frat grew very thick, gentleman
appeared At one Of the west windows open
ing on the nllsy. He had evidently just got
up, having been awakened by the noise and
make his toilet, aud when completed
packed his grip.sack aud resting II on tho
window sill waited patiently, without say
ing word, uutil n ladder was hoisted Tor
his relief. There was quite panic among
the guests, but all reached the streets In
safety. The damage by fire 10 small, bu.
ns hotel and was pretty o,s we fsSss0 so Ts shs
CAUSE and smoke will probably reach
$4,000, At the street corners spectators
we're very much interested in watching
Colonel Morrison, representative ffom llli.
nois, rescuing his papers and personal
property from the supposed impending
Colonel Morrison seized large trunk and
threw 1t out OF the window on Il. street
the trunk bursting as u reboundod
from tho brick pavement. He then
| descended to the streets and from the out
side directed the movements OF several men
az 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 waiter shaft, which
runs all the way from the basement to the
roof The fire Is said by come
to have originated from over.heated
steam pipes located near wood work. An
other statement is that a bundle OF ouy
rags IN the vault first caught fire. The fire,
alarm was turned on, as the employees
thought they could put 1t out. When it
WAS sucked into the draft u the long
shaft, however, IL passed out Of their con.
troll. The fire burned Its way along the
shaft, all the way to the root.