Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-02-19
A HOTEL HORROR.
The Explosion Of a Boiler
Lays it in Ruins.
MANY OF THE GUESTS KILLED.
Terrible Scenes While the Victims
Were Being Dug Out of the
Burning Debris.
tAseociatedE Press DISPATCHES to the HERALD.

HARTFORD, Ccnn., February 1S.-The
boiler of the Park Central Hotel blew
up at 5 O'Clock this morning, wrecking
the entire front of the structure, which
was a fve-story brick building. The
entire fire department and police re-
serves were summoned. The ruins took
fire and the work of the fiIemen was
greatly impeded by the dense flames,
smoke and steam. The loss OF life is
estim at from forty to seventy, but
may be lees.
Hartford, Conn.,, February 1S.-The
main portion of the Park Central Hotel ,
facing on High and Allen streets, fell
this morning at o'clock, burying in the
ruins at least fifty people. The accident
is supposed to have resulted from the
explosion of boilers in the basement,
from the havoc created in adjoining
buildings. Every window in the Earl
House, across Allen street, was broken
and the walls smashed in many places.
The noise of the fall aroused the whole
city.
A TERRIBLE SCENE.
In few minutes large crowd was on
the scene. 1t was a sight of horror.
Flames completely enveloped the ruins
and the shrieks of the wounded and dy-
ing rose above the hoarse notes of the
firemen and the police. Following is a
partial list of those believed to be in the
ruins: Louis II. Bronson and wife, Mr..
Galody, editor of the German Herald
Andrew F. Whiting and wife, Dwight G..
Buell., jeweler; Wellington Ketchum,
proprietor of the hotel, wife and son
Eddie and his brother George, Rev. DR..
Perrin and wife, Secretary of the Con-
gregational Tract Society; w. Tillotson,
q commercial traveller, Mr.. Stiffie, safe
agent; William Seymour and William
Skinner, employed in the boiler room ;
Eddie Boyle, employed in the hotel /;
Charles M. Webster, insurance agent +;
Mr.. Pond, of Indiana, Democratic
speaker. The loss of life is believed to
be less than fifty, but cannot be stated
definitely, as the night clerk is among
the missing and the books are destroyed.
Nearly all the help employed in the
hotel were saved. They occupied sleep
ing apartments in the annex, which was
only partially wrecked by the explosion.
Some forced their way out themselves
others were helped out. The entire
main section of the hotel is gone, only O
pile of brick and timber remaining.
HORROR ON HORROR.
The scenes about the ruins are hor-
rible. In the center of the spot where
the building stood were a man, his wife
and little girl. No help could get to
them, anG they finally fell back into the
flames and perished in plain sight of the
spectators. The child cried for help, but
the man and woman uttered no sound
Embraced in each others arms, they met
death bravely. The shrieks of another
woman caused the blood of the spectat.
ors to turn cold, as they saw a young
lady lying with her body half across a
beam. look of agony on her face.
Finally the support fell and she dropped
out OF sight.
SPECIAL ALARMS TURNED IN.
10A. M.-The special alarms have jus:
been rung in for assistance at the ruins,
which is supposed to mean summons
for rescuing party. One more person
has been taken from the ruins in dying
condition. The Park Central Hotel was
situated at the corner of Allen and High
streets, about one block from the Union
depot, and was principally patronized by
commercial men and theatrical troupes
The special call sent in at 10 A. NJ. was
for o company of State militia for the
purpose of aiding in the rescue, and to
form q Gordon around the standing
walls, which look very threatening.
The force of the explosion threw bed
with sleeping woman upon it far into
the street.
THE VICTIMS REACHED
By A. N. the flames were 30 far sub.
duced that the rescuers were able to gel
at some of the victims. Some were
pinned beneath the heavy timbers upon
which rested masses of masonry, render
ing the work of rescue extremely hazard.
GUS. The report that members of the
Hoodman Blind Theatrical Company
we're in the hotel is denied. The bodies
of Dwight Buell., Louis Bronson, wife
and child, we're taken cut at 10 o'clock.
Harry S. Stiffle, commercial traveller,
was rescued severely bruised. The
house had accommodations for 100 per-
sons, and as guests were turned away
every Saturday night it is believed the
hotel was full. 1t is believed that at least
eighty people were in the building at the
time, of which about twenty, mostly
servants, escaped. Six persons have
been taken to the hospital.
THOSE BURIED IN THERUNs.
Those in the ruins are Harry Perry,
night clerk; John M. Housman, of the
Revere Rubber Company, Boston
George W. Root, taveler for Wade, VIII
liams & Co.; A. F. Tillotson, traveller for
the Merrill Chemical Co., of Chicago.
Taken out dead (additional) are George
M. Gaines, night porter at the hospital /;
Jacob Turpin. colored waiter; Helen La
Pointe, guest. Jennie Decker, Union
vile, badly bruised and both legs
broken; Michael Kerrigan, Unionville,
BADLY bruised. 1t is understood now
that the bodies of Bronson, wife and
child were not recovered.
Pendleton, of Indiana, who YVES
soliciting subscriptions to complete a
to Thos. A. Hendricks, is
among the missing. James, agent of the
White Star Line, was taken out not
seeming very badly injured. He said
Landlord Ketchum and wife were under
where he laid and were still alive.
The hotel and contents cost $l2O. 900.
RESCUED ALIVE.
i o'clock-Amid enthuastic cheers
Landlord Ketchum and wife were taken
out alive. The extent of their injuries
cannot be eascertained at present. Soon
after, Walter Gray, of New York, agent