The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1889-02-21
A HEAP OF RUINS.
A Brick Hotel at Hartford Wrecked
by an Explosion.
sixty PERSONS BURIED |
The Flames Add their Fury to the
Work Of Dssolation.
A FIRE AT FREDoNlA
Three Buildings With their Contents
Consumed-One Lifa Lost.

Uonsumed-0ne Lifa Lost.
HARTFoRT, Conn, Feb. 1s.-The
shock OF a tremendous explosion
awoke the residents for blocks around
the conner of High and Allyn streets
at about five o'clock this morning. On
that corner stood the Park Central,
five story brick structure about thirty
feet front and one hundred feet deep.
The 6rst to arrive on the scene found
the building a heap of ruins from
which issued smoke and steam ia
dense clouds and the spectators were
appalled, by the shrIeks and grOans OF
many human beings who were impris-
oned in the mass of timber and mason
ry from which flames were already
bursting. a general alarm summoned
the entire fire department and an lm-
mense crowd attracted by the eXplO-
sion and fire alarm soon packed the
streets. The flames prevented any
attempt to rescue the inmates and the
premises were flooded with water be-
fore any work could be prosecuted.
The force of the explosion
ing woman upon it far
into the street, while one of the heavy
doors landed a block away. BY 9 a. IN.
the flames were so far subdued that the
rescuers were able to get at some of
the victims. Some were penned be-
meath heavy timbers upon which rested
masses of masonry, rendering the
work of rescue extremely hazardous.
The house had accommodations for
about 100 guests. An intending guest
who applied for a room late Saturday
evening was informed that they were
full, so it is probable tnat at least
eighty persons were in the house, of
whom perhaps twenty escaped. These
were mostly employees, who occupied a
wing of the hotel which has not yet
fallen.
About six persons have been sent to
the hospital. Owing to the destruc-
ton of the register of the hotel names
of many guests cannot be ascertained.
The catastrophe is generally supposed
to have been caused by an explosion of
the boilerf although some doubt has
been expressed on this point, AS the
building had been supposed to be I'M
safe. 1t was built on made" ground.
The railroads heve furnished their
forces of laborers with jacks, erc., and
the work of searching for bodies is
now going forward Systematically. AT
10 q. N. the military call was sounded
on the fire bells, calling out the mill
tary companies to assist in preserving
order and assisting in the work of res
cue.
Max Galody. editor of the Hartford
Herald; George j. Engler, drug clerk
Harry Perry, night clerk of the hotel
and Mr., Bronson, wife and child, have
not been recovered George Ketchum
brother of the proprietor, is also in the
ruins. Mr.. Pendleton. of Indiana, whC
was soliciting subscriptions to complete
the monument of Thomas A. Hendricks
Is among the missing. Mr.. James. al
agent of the White Star line. was takeI
out at noon alive. not seeming to b.
very badly injured, although not abb
to stand. He says that Lord Ketchun
and wife were under where he laid anC
were still alive.
Buried in the ruins-John NJ. Hous-
man, of the Revere Rubber company
Boston; George w. Root. traveller fol
Waite, Williams Il Co., of Boston; A
f. Tillotson, traveller Tor the Merrill
Chemical company, of Chicago.
Taken out dead-GeOrge NJ. Gaines
night porter.
At hospital-Jacob Turpin. coloreC
waiter; Helen LapoinJe, guest; Jennie
Decker, UnIonvllle, badly bruised auC
both legs broken: Michael Kerrigan
UnioLVille, badly bruised.
The hotel Was built about fifteel
years ago aud cost, with furniture
1920 900. The soil was soft and al
though the building was CAREFUL.
butt it soon settled badly. About fiYI
years ago MIR. ketchun took the leas
and renovated and Tefurnished tn
house. The Insurance is S3S, 900.
1t is stated that no fragment of tn
boiler has yet been found, which mill
tates against the theory of IA boiler ex
plosioD.
About l o'clock, amid enthusiast
cheers from the crowd, Landlord
Ketchum and wife were taken GU
alive and able TO drink some hot coffe
with a relish, no small wonder, con
Bidering they had been imprisoned i
their night clothes III the cellar with
flood of water pouring in on them
The extent of their injuries cannot b
ascertained at present. They wer
taken to the hospital soon after. Wa
ter Gay, of New York, agent of tn
Wiggamam Manufacturing cOmpan
was taken out alive and sent TO tn
hospital. The dead body of j. G. Hill
a commercial traveller, who Occupie
room 20. had also been taken out. Oar
tel Morton, brakeman. and +. Haines
fiagman on the New England railroa
had rooms in the hotel and are un
doubtedley in the debris. No addition
al dead bodies have yet been IT
covered.
The force of the explosion shattere
all the glass in adjoining windows an
broke single panes in buildings bloc
away. Its cause IS still a mystery an
it will take some time to uncover II
boiler.
Mrs. Frank NELSON'S children al
reported to be in the ruins.
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