The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-02-19
INTO ETERNITY.
Fifty Human Souls Transported
Into the Great Unknown Without q
Single Note of Warning.
A Mysterious Explosion at the
Dawn of a Newborn Day
Hurls the Sleeping Guests Of Hart
ford Hotel to Their Death.
The Building Takes Fire and Pre-
vents All Chances of Escape,
And Thirty-Five Victims of the Col
lapse Are Slowly Burned.
The Cause OF the Frightful Accident I'm.
explained-The Building Said to
Have Been Unsafe-Maj. r. ].
] G. Pendleton, Of Indian
apclis, Among the
Missing.
The Building Takes Fire ard Pre-
vents All Chances of Escape,
And Thirty-Five Victims of the Col
lapse Are Slowly Burned.

HARTFORD, Conn, Feb. lS-The shock
OF tremendous explosion awoke the resi-
dents for blocks around the corner OF High
and Allyn streets at about o'clock this
morning On that corner stood the Park
Central Hotel, five story brick structure
about thirty feet front and 100 feet deep.
The first to arrive on the scene found this
building heap OF ruins, hom which
issued smoke and steam in dense clouds,
and the spectators were appalled, 10y the
shrieks and gronns OF many human beings
VINO were imprisoned in the mass Of tim.
Der and masonry from which flames were
already bursting. A general alarm sum
moned the entire fire department, and an
immense crowd, attracted by the explosion
and fire alarm, soon packed the streets.
the flames prevented any attempt at res
cuing any one, and the ruins were flooded
with water before any work could be pro-
secuted few dead or dying persons
were taken from the edge oil the debris.
however, within an hour after the ex-
piosion.
The force Of the explosion throw bed
with a sleeping woman upon il FAR into
the street, while one ui the heavy doors
landed block away. By . O'Clock the
flames were 80 FAR subdued that the rcscu-
ers were enabled to ge at some Of the vic
Tins
81. SOME WE'RE PINNED BENEATH
heavy timbcrs upon which rested masses
OF masonry, rendering the work OF rescue
extremely hazardous.
4 report that members Of the "Ilool-
man Blind" Theatrical Company were in
i!lc ruins was found 10 be- incorrect. Mr..
: Muurow, The business manager. says some
OF The company applied TO the hotel last
night for accommodations but could not
get them. The fact that they were re-
fused accommodation does not indicate
that the hotel was crowded, but simply
because that, desiring rooms for - or 50,
could not be furnished on account Of pre-
yiuus engagements Of apartmcnisby Lesis-
lators.
The dead body Of Dwight Rhcl ,joweIer,
was taken ont about 10 o'clock. The body
OF Louis II. Bronson, stove dealer, wife
and child, were discovered at about the
same time. Harry $. Suillc. a commercial
traveller OF Philadelphia, who roomcd ON
the third floor was taken out severely
bruised, but remarked that lac was "ail
right"
The house had accommodations for about
100 guests and was iayoritc oycr.Sunday
stopping place for commercial travellers.
An intending guest who applied fora room
late Saturday evening was informed that
they were full, 80 II seems probable that
at least
EIGHTY PERSONS WE'RE ~ THE HOUSE
at the time Of the explosion. Of which per
haps twenty escaped. These were mostly
employees who occupied wing OF the
hotel which has not yet fallen. Among
those known 10 be buried In the ruins arr
the Rev. DR.. Perrin aud wife. OF New
Britain; Andrew 4. Within, Secretary o
the Hartford Life Insurance Co. aud wife
aud Wellington kcichum, proprietor o
the hotel, wife and son. About six per.
sons have been sent 30 the hospital. Owing
60 the destruction OF the register Of th,
hotel, the names Of many guests cannot
| be asccrlainod.
- The catastrophe Is generally supposed {,
have been caused by an explosion Of Oh,
boiler, although some doubt has been cx
pressed on this point, as the building ha,
been supposed 10 be unsafe. II was bull
on made ground. The railroads hay,
furnished their forces OF laborcrs will
jacks, etc. aud the work Of searching 70
bodies Is now going rdsysicmaiically
~ W y tlNNh w. We wv AlllINNIN VII VIZ
sounded on the fire bell, calling out th
military companies TO assist In preserving
order and assistance In
TIM WORK or RESCUE.
Max Galody, editor Of the Hartford Hd
AID, George j. Euglgr. drug clerk, an
Harry Perry, night clerk OF the hotel. an
George NJ. Gaines, night porter, are anon
the killed.
II is understood now that the bodies {
Mr.. Bronson, wife aud child have not bee
recovered.
George Kctchum. brother Of the propr
eior, Is also IN the ruins
Mr. pcndctou, OF Indiana, who wa
soliciting subscriptions 10 complete th
monument Of Thomas a. Hendricks,
among The missing
Nj James, an agent Of the White ST
Line. was taken out at noon alive, n,
seeming TO be- very badly burned, alihoug
Dot able 10 stand. lie said that lnndior
Nctchum and wife were under where /
laid and were still alive.
BURIED ~ TnE RUINS.
John NJ. llousman, Of Rcyer Rubb,
Company, Boston.
George w. Root, traveller for Wait
Williams & Co., Boston.
- Hill, room No. ~. fret floor.
A. L. lillotsOn, Traveller Tor Merl
Chemical Company Of Chicago.
AZ Hospital Jacob Turpen, cploro
waiter; Helen la pointc, guest; Jcnn
Decker, Of Unionvilc. badly bruised ar
both legs broken; Michael kcrrigan,
Unonyille, badly bruised.
Al about o'clock, amid enthusiast
cheers from The crowd, Landlord Kotchu
and wife were
TAKEN OUT ALIVE
aud able to drink some no, coffee vi
relish small wonder, considering th