New-York tribune., 1886-04-04
SUFFOCATED BY SMOKE.
FIRE IN THE PLANTERS HOUSE, ST. LOUIS.
FOUR SERVANTS LOSE THEIR LIvEs-THE GUESTS
DRESS IN SNOW STORM
fBr TELEGRAPH TO TRIBUNE

FOUR SERVANTS LOSE THEIR LIyEs-rHE GUESTS
DRESS IN SNOW STORM
fBr TELEGRAPH TRIBUNE
ST. LOUIS, April 3.--In the midst of fierce
snow. storm this morning fire discovered issuing
from the fifth story OF the Planters House. Tho
ing was dark the binding and the wind bswns
gale beated reporter OF The Republican standing at
Fourth and Chestnut ats. observed column OF white
smoke ascending from the portion OF the hotel II
occurred to him that the hotel on fire. lie ran to
the rear and pouring out Of the windows OF
the fourth and fifth stories An alarm immediately
turned and supplemented by general alarm "a
soon department reached the ground. Meanwhile
five hundred peorle asleep n the great tencmers
and the clerk and watokmcn duty were unaware st
the danger. About the time the alarm was turned on
Rosa Sloan and Kate Dooey two scrub girls. encoun
tered the smoke hallway the linen on tho
third floor They down stairs quickly rs possible
AMI warned the cler6, who assisted by the night watch
man and hell boy, began TO rouse the guests Scenes
OF widest panic then ensucd. Men and women ran
shrieking through the halls atrcd only IN their night
clothes calling the OF friends, weeping bcseech-
ing, praying for aid. Whichever way a frantic guess
turned he WAS confronted by volumes OF thick smoke
which increased his terror
" Help me out Oh, please he'll ns TO save my cml-
dren." screamed a young mother carrying ehd anu
leading another Her appeals were ignored by the men,
who were saving themselves. There we're son'e
with the corridors and exits Tho women and childrah
were hurriedy conveyed in their night tcohes through
the storm to the all night liquor stores an restaurants
in tho neighborho,d.
1t was among the transient guests that the wildess
confusion occurred. They knew not which way to turn
but followed the crowd to the best OF their ability rhc
suffering in the streets rhe was four
inches deep and falling In clouds The hremen forced
open the doors several railroad offices Ia which brsht
fires were burning and crowded the women ana chidreh
into these place. The men compelled to make
their toilets on the sidewalk
One mau was noticed who did not betray the slightest
emotion When aroused from his the third hoor
lie gently inquired the OF the tronDe anc ai.er
beinp informed placed his broad-brimmsd hat Oh MS
heal threw his ,lothss his pulled on us oopes
and grabbing his yalisc walked carefully down stars
and out IN the snow After selecting nice art' no
proceeded get into his trousers one mah alPcal"'
at corner thrd-story window clad only IN MS sleeping
garb anu began throwing out his CLOTHES. Tue hs"
articles came first Then followed heavier ones suc'
cee,ed by picture which he grabbed from his dresser
Then came q heavy trunk which scattered the crowu
below and as it crashed to the ground was oa"y s''-
tered The snow-cristed telegraph wires and csvies
received some OF the wildly thrown articles ana he"
them for few seconds Until they dropped OH o' V"o"
own weight or were knocked OH % Do"s '"' ~
some other article.
n was on the fourth 1oor the apartments occupied
nv the help that the danger greatest Tne IRE was
raging beneath and beside these apartments Aoouo
tweaty fye girls managed to escape, msny succumons
in the corridors to the smoke ana neat four "o'o
n,ssnc when the final count was made and hiteen
i,ues er II was discovered that they hai been suio
Gated while irving to escape. In room No 2iO lay MARY
Coney chambermaid the fourth no'r, "uo na'
eyiicntly male frantic efforts to escape oy ru'"'H
through the Railways and down the stars sue was
foun living on her face In the hallway on the thfa uoor
and was carried into No 2i6. where every ehort wds
hor ruitno
,r,ed with smoke AMI on either side o. her neck tn'
skin and flesh were though In tho agony Oh
suaocation she had tried to tear the choNins seSon
from Ter neck Her right arm WAS bruised ana TORN QUO
there WAS a wound on her right ankle oul Mons '"'
enough 20 warrant ahy theory other than that u snoca
tion The victim was about twenty-five ye"'' VI 's'.
dark hair and eyes and had been iahfui einP" "
flo plsntar's Konse Tor many years Scarcely had 'io
discovery OF the body been anuon cei wneh t"o
more unfortunate women we're foouH loohe" !" o'-
others arms, sutocated. one proven 10 Vo ni'S
Cassidy age seventeen, tho othcr Mary 'oori'' "e'
twenty ve both employed in the huen depa'0inoh"
Kitty Cassidy was orphan and had SIS or ''hs VI
rho cit but no other known relatives. The next boy
found was that Of Maggie Reasdon age fof'y an epSo
n, te linen DEPARTMENT She bore no MARKS ipoh lsvo
a. a. trcm sud,cation She was steady. iniuslr1us
woman the support oil an aged mo1her '"" %" Inv
The fire department conned the flames to ha dohen
rooms in tho portion on tue tLlId anu 'Vus' our n Iii
Tha huildjng was Hooded with water and the oss Wnt
na consiaer.be It was todnd that tho fire had oeen
nv an oyerho sted coil IN the linen room On tho
third door Tt then spread the adjoining rooms some
OF which vacant. and bnaiiy 10 inc r'o' "'o''
rbe planters House butt in 1s+2 ar occnpied
rho bIock on rho west side OF Fourth St bet" o,n Che.t
nut and Isnerts 1t T. six stories hlgn uut ply ns
block deep. 10 is old fashioned. "np"t,,nss'"s
bnI'Iinv and in ante. .bellum ttys was c0hsleIe.a
,nonster in IL way. In lsi7 Charles Dcsens s.opPe.
there and mentions the hotel in complimen iy way ~
NJ - smcrcan Nates" Il Il owned by as ociaon Ok
,,cb The Inras h,irs OWE the majority ot To -hares
n "a leased by j. j. Jerafl & Co. who have e3ntroAeo
A. for n number of years 1t Is firs.class hote"