New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-03-23
NARROW ESCAPE From FLAMES.
PERIL OF GUESTS IN THE LANG HAM HOTEL.


Mr. and Mrs. Z. Hoole of Cincinnati, had re-
markable experience. Both are cripples, Mrs,
Hoole having been paralyzed some years ago, while
her husband owes the loss of tho use of his lower
limbs to a railroad accident. He can hobble along
with crutches with some difficulty. but she Is
wholly without the power of locomotion and Is
usually borne around In an Invalid char. They
occupied room No. 142, on the fourth
floor, Wabash-ave. front. Mr. Hoole Is
member of the firm of Snlder & Hooe,o of thiscity,
aud would undoubtedly have lost his life but for u
ID. Martindae, the cashier of the firm, who was an
accidental visitor at his room. Mr. HooIe arrived
from Cincinnati yesterday. and Mr.. Martindae
allied to have business talk with him. The door
leading from the room into the hall was closed.
They gradually became oppressed with a sense of
sufocation. Opening the door for relief, they
found the hall filled with smoke. Death seemed TO
stare the invalids in the face. Mrs. Iooe uttered
an exclamation of horror as she buried her face in
her hands and fell back upon her pillow as If she
had calculated her chances and lost all hope In an
instant. Mr.. Hoole seized his crutches and pre-
pared TO do his best to escape but his wife puzzled
him. He was almost frenzied.
"Save my wife, ne exclaimed, turning to Mar
tindalc, " and let me go. We cannot oil escape.
save her for Gods sake dol"
"Come along said Mr.. Martindale, "Fll save
you both. Don't be frightened"
With this he lifted the invalid women from the
bed with arm and seizlng Mr.. lioole with the
other started for the elevator Nobody responded
to the call for the car but il almost opposite
the floor and the door stood open. Depositing his
charges on the seat, Mr. Martindae seized the rope
and started the car toward the ground. In the
haste and excitement be had not considered that he
was lowering himself and his companions into 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 flue. 1t was hot
enough at times SINCE the hair and death seemed
inevitable. Recovering his presence of mind, Mar
tindale drove the car up to the
third floor and sought TO escape there.
The door was closed and fastened on
the outside. People above and below we're calling
for the elevator. Some one on the second floor had
espIed it as it went up and had begged him TO stop.
The door stood hard and firm. The flames were
roaring below. and the elevator was as hot as an
oven MartindaIs. calming fhooe who wers
with him, threw himself against the
door with al. his might from the other side of the
elevator and the panel was broken. Only hole
was made in it, and the door would not slide. He
thrust his companions through and followed them
He then seized them before. and bidding them
take courage and be caITn made his way through
the suffocating smoke 10 the rear stairs. The way
seemed clear and without pausing for breath, no
proceeded 10 descend. lie was not strong enough
to carry the entire burden, but held the two firmly
under his arms, dragging their legs after him.
In this way they descended the three flights
of stairs and escaped into tho pure air
The escape of Mrs. j. A. Murray and her child
was so marvellous as to be almost Incredible
With her husband and child she had rooms on the
fifth floor. The husband was out of the city. Mrs.
Murray was not aware Of the danger TO herself
ol,;l holla al xutth nL.
She knew she could never find her way
down the stairway. survive the smoke. Awaken
ing the child she ran with him to window
the fire escape Bidding the infant clasp her
tightly about tho neck, she began the descent. At
each story there an iron grating with hole in
the centre too small to admit of the passage of
herself and child. She was therefore compelled
times during the descent to seat the chIld upon
the grating lower herself over the edge Of 1t to the
rounds of the escape below and reach up for her
boy. She reached the ground without assistance,
and when quarter OF an honr later had
wholly recovered from the effects of her terrible
experience.
Ii 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 number
of persons besides those Of the lire-Insurance
assisting to save goods, as no immediate danger
was apprehended. There IS no means of knowing
just how many of these volunteer helpers were III
the structure at tho time, but the excavations
have preceded to an extent which justIies the
hope that all the dead have been found. As far as
known, those aat work in the Iaxon Build
ii%fli9s hotel .. walls ss v r rcaStap EaysTi
Inns. John Walsh and Frederick Jones, all Of the
fire insurance patrol; William Bean, piano
tuner, ana John Hensessey, a clerk, both en-
ployed in the building. Mullins and Thine being
near the rear Of the building were forced
out through one Of the windows by the rush
Captain. Sheppard and Boyd were pinned down
by fallen timbers and were rescued alive about
midnight Both are seriously hurt but ~ is be-
lieved will recover Walsh and Jones taken
out about o'clock this morning, both crushed TO
death Beau was alive hen found and was taken
to the County Hospital. where he died at o'clock
cred at 6 o'clock tonight.
Soon after the walls fell the wreck took fire. aud
the frenen turned several streams on the blazing
mass 10 save their comrades from being roastei TO
death, though at the imminent risk of drowning
them The water was ice-cOld and drenched the
poor imprisoned fellows, chilling them to the mar
row.
The loss by last nights fire. including the hotel
adjoining building and its contents is estimated at
$500 900. The detailed list of insurance on the
$4,000; Firemen's of Baltimore So, 500; Wesiern
3f a9rGnse oSo; Grard Of Of P@6l.deIphia @ 0oo
Tofans 20 sSo onion Btih IL fRn
sN2So0; 6op%sres ;sa oao Sf Aba Albany $500
5000; Kings s County, I Of SswYoTk % $2soo @ef
Milwaukee Mechanics, So, 800; German of Feec-
port, 81. 500; Now-Hampshire. $500; Jefferson
So, 800; New-York Alliance $4,000; Rutgers of
New,York, $4,000; Merchants of Now-York,
$4,000; Peoples of New-York, $1,000;
American Exchange of New-York, $1,000;
Lafayette of New-York $4,000; Manufacturers
and Builders of New-York, $2,500j New-York
Fire, So, 500 Trades of Chicago, 300; CONNER
ton, $500; New-York Equitable, So, 800; Home
Mutual of California. $2 500; Amazon OF Cincin-
uatI, So, 500; Clinton of New York, 81, 800.
The Insurance carried by other losers given as
fellows: Keitz g. Co., $1,000; Harden Grenade
Co., 81 800 Forest Glen Floral Co., 81 ,200 i. H.
Hilger. $3 900; J. 4. Bryant, $1,000; Pierce q