The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1885-07-11
TINE FIRE FIRND.
BRrnInE of she Lake House
Hotel.


of FIRE, and they turned out almost e
naasse, and were Mortified to see tha
the flames had emanated from tn
Lake House Hotel, owned and run b,
Capt. Green Hall as a hotel and ba
room. The flames made rapid head
way, and in less than ten minutes from
the time of the alarm, the entire build
ing was wrapped in flames, and in
very short time was nothing but
smouldering ruin.
Our heroic citizens made haste ant
armed themselves with buckets ant
hand pumps, and fearless of any dan
ger, rnonnted to the roof of the ad ioin
ing building which is owned and oc
cnpied by J. w. Bryan as store anc
residence, and with a courage seldom
witnessed, commenced a battle will
the flames to save the building from
the fast approaching fire.
In the meantime, the fire engint
arrived on the scene and commenced
work; but owing to want of host
and the scarcity of water, did not dc
as effective service as it could have
done had it been supplied with the
necessary hose, and had there been 4
sufficient supply of water at hand
However, it did good service and
saved the Court House from destruc,
ton, which had taken fire from the
excessive heat of the burning build.
ing opposite, and contributed largely
in saving the BODYBUILDING of J. w.
Bryan.
Too much praise cannot be bestowed
upon our citizens for their noble con
duct on this occasion, for certainly
they labored faithfully and willingly,
and with a heroism that will ever be
remembered by those whose property
they saved from the ravages of the
fierce flames of that long to be re-
membered 4th of July night. And
as an evidence of their heroic deeds
on this occasion it is only necessary
to say that amid the fiercest of the
flames the piano and parlor furniture
in the hotel were safely removed, and
a billiard table in the bar room was
picked up by the strong arms of brave
men and carried into the Court House
square, a distance of about IS yards.
without breaking it.
The burning of this building is
heavy blow to our old and universally
feIlow-eitizen, Capt. Green
Hail, as it represented TO a large ex-
tent the labor of an industrious and
economical man for many years; and
we, along with every man, woman and
child in Lake Charles, deeply sympa-
thize with our friend in his loss, which
he informs US will foot up something
like $1,000, while the insurance on
the building, furniture and bar room
fixtures was only $4,000, which amount
would scarcely replace the furniture,
10 say nothing of the loss of all the
wearing apparel of the family, none Of
which was saved, they narrowly es-
Gaping 10 their night clothes.
The fire originated in the servants
room, just adjoining the main build
ing. 1t appears that the servant,
after completing her iabors about the
hotel for the day dressed herself and
repaired to y ball given by some col
pred people. In leaving the room she
allied 10 extiHguish the caRdIe,-Capt.
Hall not allowing the use of lamps
outside of the hotel parlor and the
bar room,--but left il burning, it is
too near to the window eur
ain, which must have been blown
lgainst the candle and took fire, and
rom the curtain the flames were com
nunicated TO the bar and bed, and
before the fire was discovered it had
made such Roadway that it was i'm.
possible to check it.
During the fercest and most dan
,erous time Of the fire, Mr.. Harry
ieary, who, in company with several
'thers, when the alarm was given,
ushed up stairs into the burning |
,urldiDg to do battle with the fire
lend, careless Of their personal safety, |
emained at his post too long, and
,eeame cut off from the stairway, and
is only avenue Of escape being to
ump from the upper story of the
house, we are sorry to say,
eeeiyed severe and painful sprain
+ the ankle in making bis exit. How
yer, we are glad to be able to say
hat be is doing well, and we hope to
&c him up and about soon. Mr..
line, the efficient clerk at Kaufman's,
lille doing noble duty, also received
,yere injury BY oyer-sxertioD, which
as confined him to his bed, but we
re pleased to say he is getting along
] tight now.
Our esteemed eOafrsgs Of the Com
.erciai, having failed 10 make good
is charge of extravaganza on the part
E A. DoI;oa Inrv ond haIyinor dod0aa |