Bridgeton pioneer., 1885-03-26
HOTEL BURNED.

of life and physical injuries entailed,
than was supposed. 1t is now known
that at least five persons were killed
and four injured. Just before the
south wall of the hotel fell upon the
Faxon building, a number of persons
besides those of the fire insurance pa
troll were inside the latter building as
sisting to save goods. These, as far as
known, were Capt. Edward Sheppard,
James Boyd, Knute Thine, Patrick
Eullins, John Walsh, and Frederick
Jones, all of the fire insurance patrol;
William Bean, piano tuner, and John
Hennessey, clerk, both employed in
the building. Mullins and Thine, being
near the rear of the building, were
forced out through one of the windows
by the rush of air as the wall fell and
were not dangerously hurt. Capt.
Sheppard and Boyd were pinned down
by fallen timbers, and were rescued
alive at about midnight. Both are
seriously hurt, but it is believed will
recover. Walsh and Jones were taken
out at about 1 o'clock Saturday morn
ing, both crushed to death. Bean was
alive when found, but died in the
county hospital. Soon after the walls
fell the wreck took fire, and the firemen
turned several streams on the burning
mass to save their comrades from being
roasted to death, though at the immi-
nent risk of drowning them. The water
was ice cold, and drenched the poor
imprisoned fellows, chilling them to
the marrow.
Mrs. G. V. Belknap, who was killed
by jumping from an upper window,
was the widow of Col. Belknap, who
died some years ago at New Orleans.
She has many friends in Cincinnati.
The total loss by the fire, including
the hotel and furniture and the prop
erty of the guests, and the adjoining
building and contents is estimated at
$3.50, 900. The insurance on the hotel
is over 100000, and on other property
about $25,OOO.
Mr. and Mrs E. Hoole of Cincinnati,
both cripples, had most remarkable
experience at the fire. Mr.. Hoole can
hobble along with crutches with some
difficulty, but his wife, who is suffering
from paralysis, is wholly without the
power of locomotion, and is usually
borne around in an invalid chair. They
occupied room on the fourth floor,
Wabash avenue front. Mr.. Hoole is a
member of the firm of Snider & Hoole.
Mr.. G. D. Martindale, the cashier of
the firm, was an accidental visitor at
his room. The door leading into the
hall was closed. They gradually be-
came oppressed with a sense of suffo-
cation. Opening the door for relief, they
found the hall filled with smoke. Mrs.
Hoole uttered an exclamation of fhorror
as she buried her face in her hands and
fell back upon her pillow as though
she had lost all hope in an instant. Mr..
Hoole seized his crutches and prepared
to do his best to escape, but his wife
puzzled him. He was almost frenzied
''Save my wife," at length Mr.. Hoole
exclaimed, turning to Martindale, "and
let me go. We cannot all escape"
"Come along" said Mr.. Martindale;
''Ill save you both"
He lifted the woman from the bed
with one arm, and, seizing Mr.. Hoole
with the other, started for the elevator
with one under each arm. Nobody re-
sponded to the call for the car, but it
was almost opposite the floor, and the
door was open. Depositing his bur
den on the seat, Mr.. Martindale seized
the rope and started the car toward
the ground. In the haste and excite
ment he did not see that he was lower
ing the party in the midst of the flames.
This soon became apparent from the
intense heat. Tongues of fire seemed
to be bursting up the sides of the fue.
1t was hot enough at times to singe
the hair. Martindale then started the
car up the third floor, and sought to
escape there. The door was closed,
and fastened on the outside. Persons
above and below were calling for the
elevator. Some one on the second floor
had espied it as it went up and had
begged Martindale to stop. The door
stood hard and firm, and no hand ap-
peared to turn the latch. The flames
were roaring below, and the elevator
was as hot as an oven.
1t was perilous moment. The oc-
casion demanded strength, courage,
and presence of mind. Martindale
proved himself to be the man of the
occasion. Calming those who were
with him, he threw himself against the
door with all his might from the other
side of the elevator and the panel was
broken. Onlya holelwas madein it, and
the door would not slide. He thrust
his companions through and followed
them. He then seized them as before,
and bidding them take courage and be
| calm, made his Way through the suffo