, 1886-11-27
A BIG B7AzE.
The Burning of the Pacific Hotel
Thursday Afternoon.
John mcElroy Killed by the Falling
EaveS.

@aNCo
About 80 o'clock last Thursday after
moor smoke was seen issuing from the
roof of the Pacific hotel, an alarm was
quickly sounded and the fire department
made its appearance upon the scene in a
remarkably short space Of time. The fire
had started in the upper story and in
about the center OF the building near the
of the roof, and was in such a place
as to render it impossible for the tiremeG
to reach il in time to eXtinguish ii. The
high wind and the absence of n strong
pressure OF water were also disadvantages
with which the iircmen had to labor
under; but all that mortals could possibly
do, was done ~ the fire department, an
efficient organization Of which our city
may Justly be proud Many in their anx-
lety aud determination to save the build
ing. were painfully injured. One man,
John McElroy. while laboring to save the
property, and in the act of cutting a hole
in the building on the corner where the
lunch counter was situated, was crushed
to death by the falling of the c%ornice,
which hung directly over his head. The
cry that a man was under the debris soon
caused many willing hands to remove the
burning timbers, and the ~lifeless body OF
poor John McElroy was cxtricated. Life
had evidently become extinct from the
head being horribly crushed and nearly
unrecognizablc. The unfortunate man
leaves a wife and three children, all girls,
the eldest OF whom is 10 years of age
The deceased has for several months been
in the employ OF the railway company as
section boss, and only last Monday he
was appointed superintendent of the
wrecking tram.
As the building continued to burn
it became evident that the superhu-
man efforts which were being made
would be of no avail. All that was
possible was taken from the building
while the firemen laborcd to keep the
flames under control. As it was, many
lost nearly everything which was in their
rooms in the upper story. Among
them is the proprietor, Capt. +.
h. Lasher and wife, who lost a
large amount OF their personal
property which was in their apartments
and could not possibly be saved. Finally
about ) o clock the flames were subdued.
but not until the building was almost Il
total wreck and entirely beyond repair.
The loss will amount to over 10000.
Fully insured.
y temporary building will soon be con-
structed for eating accommodations for the
passengers of the road. Capt. Lasher
has received a message from the company
saying that the hotel will be Immediately
replaced by a new and commodious bald
ing.
To Capt Lasher the burning OF the ho-
tel, Of which he was manager, is quite a
blow, as the captain has been man.
ager Of different hotels for the company
for a number OF years past, ard has al
ways made every house which he has ta-
ken hold Of Il model and complete cstab-
llshment, and Just as he was making the
Pacific hotel at this point one OF the best.
if not the best, on the road. and establish
ing for it and him self a reputation which
had never been granted the house before
his coming, it is burnt over his head.
The LEADER JOINS with the many friends
of the captain in extending to him their
sympathy and regrets. and predict for him
a great success and much prosperity ia the
new house when built.
SUBSCRIPTION LIST
was started yesterday by William VI. Mast
and \. ID. Kelley, for the relief of the
family OF John McElroy. who was
killed at the fire. The family WAS found
quite destitute and certainly in need Of
help. Governor q. W. Baxter headed
the list with a generous donation of $50,
and many other liberal donations were
also made. Up to last evening $500 had
been subscribed. The amount will be
placed in the bank, with instructions to
the cashier to give $50 monthly to Mrs.
McElroy until the amount is gone.
CARD or THANKS.
Capt. and Mrs. Insher desire To express
,b.,r .tu,.,. tI.,,ls a.. A. L.. Iu.