Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-02-19
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
Probably Fifty Persons Go Down-A Few
of Them Rescued

HARTFORD, February Isth-Just before day
light this morning the city was startled by the
sound OF monster explosion, and Immediately
persons in that section near the Capitol were
further startled by the sound of crashing walls
and falling timbers, mingled with the screams
of women and shouts of men, coming from the
vicinity of High and Allyn streets which had
been the site OF the Park Central Hotel. Those
who hurried to the spot found a large pile of
stone and brick and splintered timbers, from
which white clouds of steam arose, streaked
and blackened by wreaths of smoke thatIapidly
grew more dense. Then tongues of flame leaped
out here ard there, gradually growing stronger,
until the ruin was a roaring heap. Cries and
moans came from the pile, which made the by
ISLANDERS sick with horror.
The fire department was soon on the scene,
and many streams of water were directed upon
the flames As caylight came on the helpers at
the ruins could see behind it the annex to the
I building in which were the house servants OF
the hotel, and which was spared. portion of
the tier OF rooms at the rear of the main build
ing lad remained standing, but the partitions
were torn awsy and the rooms opened to the
air The floors of many of them had partly
given way and tumbled the occupants and fur
niture upon the confused ruins below. The
frightened employees were safely taken from the
annex by ladders.
Finally the flames were mastered by the fire.
men, and sank down from sight within the
ruins, where the water yet hisSed and steamed
among the hot stones andbrick AS soon as the
ruins were sufficiently cooled hundreds of will
ing hands set about the herculean task of re-
moving the immense heap of masonry, and the
enormous throng which by this time had gath
cred waited and watched with breathless sus-
pense.
REscUING THE VICTIMS.
The first person rescued was George Gaines. a
eolored porter, who died soon after being taken
out.
Helen Leport. Jennie Decker and Jacob B.
Turpin were taken out and found to be ouly
slightly injured.
Rachael Craner jumped from window
breaking her leg.
At 0 o'clock Harris Stiille, a traveller from
philadelphia, was rescued from beneath the
mass OF timbers, with but slight injuries.
Near him was found the dead body of Dwight
Il. Buell., who had evidently been sufiocated.
BY this time the crowd of spectators had in
creas "a to such proportions es to greatly i'm
pede the work OF the Tescuers. Accordingly the
militia was ordered ont to aid the police, and
rendered excellent service during the day and
night by keeping the crowd within bounds
BY noon kilograms of anxious inquiry were
pouring IN irom every part OF the county, and
friends OF those supposed 10 be in the ruins
were arriving on every train, together with an
immense crowd OF curious people from sur
rounding towns The lower floor Of the large
wool warehouse was made
A TEMPORARY MoRGUE.
The bodies were taken there as fast as recovered.
and opportunity offered for Identification by
friends. Those not identified were taken in
charge by the city; The injured were promptly
sent TO the hospital.
Recovery of the bodies was slow. owing to
"a
nearly regular intervals one or two bodies were
found during the Afternoon.
This catastrophe was devoid of the narrowing
DETAILS haiT breadth escapes and thrilling res
cues attending an uncontrolled confiagrstiou.
One terrible crash, smoke and flames ouick
rushing streams OF water, and ell was over For
TINS reason the disaster simply overwhelms peo-
pie, and the magnitude OF the calamity cannot
be realized. In fact its extent is NOT vet knoygu
The register of the hotel is not vet found. and
Mf. ferny, the night clerk, is buried in the
hos ocsft ,af<a
obtained from the landlord and others, il Is
probable there were not far from fifty peopie in
the hotel proper.
Ofthese, perhaps Eve may have escsped nm
injured amid the confusion of the early morn
ing hours, which would leave forty-fye unac-
counted for. Ten are in the hospital, and up to
TINS writing tmidnighf} sixteen dead bodies
have been taken from the ruins leaving nine
teen still missing But there may be more than
this. -- =
II Is believed tonight that Mrs weason oe
Springfield was in the hotel with her five chill
dren and servant She has not been seen. If
this proves true. the aggregate loss OF life would
oe raised Dy the addition OF these seven victims.
The experiences of the survivors were re-
inarkable, and their escapes marvellous. Walter
A Gay occupied room adjoining that of land
lord ke ichuto. When he asvoke he found the
arg he found himself pinned down by the cell
ing ans timbers in such a manner that he was
unable TO move He soon heard the voices of
MIR. and Mrs. Ketchum and eoDxersed with
them concerning the chances of escape. Re-
fore they were rescued the wa.cr poured into
the ruins by fireman had nearly covered his
face. - 80
BODIES RECOVERED.
The complete list OF bodies taken out IN tn
midnight Is a. follows: Dwight H. Buell.: George
Gains. the colored porter. George Enrler Of
Hartford: Joh2 W. Housnan, q corn f1eacials
traveller OF Boston: ]. c. Hill. a couln,ersiai
traveller OF Buffalo; Louis H. Bronson, Secretary
OF the Hartford Stove Company, his wife apJ
child; George ketchEm, brother of the land
lord, George W. Root 4 commercial traveller
tsom Boston; Alfred Tiseson, a commercial
proprssser Of the Hagtford Htya'd, and his wife;