Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-03-26
THE nAseHAm norE1 FIRE.
Probabilities Fhat more Than five
Ifven Ware u.oas-luafdaufa.

AtNea were kOht-Auctdomtes
CHICAGO, March 23-I seems to be the
general impression this morning that mot
all the horrible details OF the Langham
Hotel fire have Jet been made public.
There are many who believe that when
the work Of clearing away the debris in
the interior OF the building 10 begun
II will be asceriaiped that more
than i've persons lost thelr lives. II
iH said that some OF the
guests and servants were asleep
at the time the FIRE occurred.
The hotel register WAS burned up
aud those inmates Of the hotel who
escaped scattered TO vAri, MS other hotels,
and went to different parts of the o,ty. II
Ia now considered more than probable
that when tina south wall above the
second story fsl', q few moments after the
dre started IN lhs laundry, and orept up
through the elevator shaft to the roof 1t
carried with It sections OF the two or
three upper foors. II thIr eupposition is
true and any OF The guests or the help
were upon those floors ct the time, escape
wss impossible, and they must have met
frightiul aud speedy death with the
halls filed With deuss black emoks aud
the gas shut OF by the explosion
Of the meters, as ia ol4imed by eoms OF
the sueats. II must have been almost
miraculous II those occupying rooms dis
tant from the stali ways or fire escapes,
succeeded In getting out Of the buildinR
alive. The case Of Miss Bslknsp lie Cited,
TO COT firm this opinion. She evidently
found all the pass ages so filled with fame
aud smoke that she dared not undertake
to 60 through them, Seeing herself In
imminent danger Of death II she re.
msiued in the building, she hurled her
sell from side window IN the upper
story, and, falling upon the Rilger Build
ing, broke her neck. Others may not
have discovered their dangerous pre-
dioament until 1t Was too late even TO
jump to the street.
Rumor has 1t that at least three guests,
got heretofore mentioned, perisheia,n the
flames. c, N, shkw, the msDagsr OF the
Lotel, and Mr. GsFrelt, his ossL Ter, state
that two middle aged met, whose names
they do not remember, came to tn, hotel
a. 30 p IN. and were assigned to room
No. 10 They were both inioxicsted aud
and said they wanted TO 60 TO bed and
slsep until they got sober. ~
have not seen Or heard OF
them SINCE" said Mr.. Shaw,
land should not be greatly surprised 50
hear that they did not get ont OF the
building slive, although they might
eAsily have done so II thsy we're awake
at the time. They are the only persons
that hm IN doubt Of The servants,
believe, all got ont have made In
quiries for guests that could think Of
and have heard Of none being missing I"
Another man supposed to have yer
ished ia named Joseph E ce. He was
about 80 years OF age. Was = travelling
salesman for New York upl1lstaripg
houss, II lie sAid. John Hollowell, whose
saloon is just toross the street fTorl the
LaDRhsm H5tel, says "About z O'Clock
Rice WAS in my plSoe, told him that
the hotel waa on fire. Rice jnmped up
and tald he must get his tiupk out. Hs
} asked Mr.. Hughes, OF the firm Of Beaver,
Hughes 4 Wiimole, to 90 with him.
. They both rushed eoross the street
; and into the building. A few Sniuutss
later Hughes came back with trunk, ]
aeked him where Rice VS., and be said he
+ guessed be VAS eli rig ht, that he cot pa
Q rated from htm because the smoke wss ca
E thick in the huildiDg they could rot Oh
each other. We ali expected Rice to turn
up, but h hRs no, been seen yet"
Mr.. shaw, manager Of the hotel, ssyi
0 tnGt be docs not bsllsye that Rios wal
caught in the building. "He paid hit
q bill, "Mr shsw says, land left she hons,
at O'Clock with bis trunk. He took 4
J to depot 70 get It checked for the ess
u he may have come back, however, aftel
O bis saschel which he left in his room. >