The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1889-02-23
A HOTEL WRECK.
About Forty Persons Lose Their Live. -,
Hartford, Conn.-The Park Centra,
Ho,eI Collapses With Crash-The
Wreck 1akes Fire-A Boiler Explo.
sion the Supposed Cause.

eApiosIon theory seems the most prob
able.
Every winCow in the Earl House, op-
posIte, on Allen Street, was broken, and
the walls were smashed in many places.
The first TO arrive on the scene iound
tbs building a heap of ruins, from
which Issued smoke and steam Ia dense
clouds, and the spectators were appalled,
by the shrleks and groans OF many
human beings. who were Imprisoned IN
the mass OF llmter and masonry from
which flames were already bursting.
general alarm summoned 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
rescuIng any one, and the ruins were
Hooded with water before anv work
could be prosecuted. 4 few dead or
dying persons were taken from the
edge OF the debris, however, within an
hour after the explosion.
BY a. NJ the flames were SO tar SUBJ
dued that the rescuers were enabled to
get at some of the victims. Some were
pinned benz ath heavy timbers upon
which rested masses of masonry, rem
derng the work of rescue extremely
hazardous.
The following is partial list of those
who occupied rooms in the hotel and
ho are believed to be il the ruins:
LOUIS II. BRoNsoN, of Hartford.
Mrs. L. II. BRoNsoN.
ANDREW f. WHITING, this city
Mas. A. T. WHITING.
DWIGHT II. BUELL., jeweler, this city.
WELLINGTON kEICHUM, proprietor of
the hotel
Mrs. WELLINGTON kETCHUM.
EDDIE kETCHuM.
MAX GALoDY, editor of Hartforder
Herold.
GEoR0E ]. ENGLER, drug clerk.
HARRY PERRY, night clerk of hotel.
GEORGE kETCHUM, brother of the pro-
prietor.
JOHN VI. HoUsMAS, of Revere Rubber
Company, Boston.
GEORGE w. RooT, traveller for Waite,
Williams & Co., Boston.
- HILL.
A. +. TILLoTsoS, traveller for Merrill
Chemical Company, of Chicago.
GEORGE NJ. GAINES, night porter.
Mrs. FRANK W ESSoN and children.
Among the missing are:
REV. DR.. PERRIN, secretary Of the Con-
gregational Tract Society.
MRS. DR. PERRIN.
w. TILLoTsoN, commercial traveller.
MR. STlFFLES, sale agent.
Nothing had been seen or heard of
any of the above at $50, and they are
all believed to be buried in the ruins.
Nearly all the help of the hotel were
saved They occupied the sleeping
apartment in the annex, which was only
partially wrecked by the explosion.
Some l0rced their way out themselves;
others were helped out.
The entire main section of the hotel
is gone-only pile of brick and timbers
remaining.
Mr.. Pond, of Indiana, tie Democratic
speaker, was a guest at the hotel and 10
supposed TO be among the killed.
Amos Risley and Alexander Thayer
were in charge of the boiler. 1t was re-
ported first that they were both killed,
nut there are parties who say they
have seen both men since the disaster.
At 10 A. NJ. two special alarms were rune
in for assistance at the ruins, as a sum-
mons for q rescuing party. One more
person has been taken from the ruins IN
q dying condition.
\ report that members of the Hood
man Blind" Theatrical Company were
in the ruined hotel was found to be in
correct. Mr.. MunrOe, the business
manager, says some OF the company APP
piled to the hotel last night for accom-
mojations but could not get them. The
set that thew were refused accommoda-
ton does not indicate that the hotel
was crowded, but simply because that
they, desiring rooms for & or 50, could
not be furnished on account OF previous
engagement of apartments by legisla-
tors.
Among those injured and taken to the
hospital are Jacob Turpin. colored
waiter; Helen La Pointe, guest; Jennie
Decker. UnionvIlle, badly bruised and
both legs broken; Michael kerrigan,
Unionyille, badly bruised.
Owing to the destruction of the regis
ter of The hotel, the names of many
guests cannot be ascertalned. The ca
tastrophe is generally supposed to have
been caused by the explosion of the
boiler, although some doubt has been
EXPRESSED on this point as the building
lad been supposed to be unsafe. 1t
vas built on "made" ground.
at about O'Clock. amid enthusiastic
cheers from the crowd, Landlord ketch-
um and wife were taken out alive
and able to drink some hot cof-
ee with relish--no small wonder
nsidering they had been impris-
ned in their night clothes in the
cellar, with flood of water pouring in
III. 4
cannot be ascertained at present. They
were taken to the hospital. Soon after
Walter Gay. New York agent of the
uieganum Manu- 'acturlng Com pany,
was taken out alive and sent to the hos
pital. Tne dead body of J. {. Hill, a
CONNIE rcial traveller who occupied room
%, has also been taken out. Daniel
Morrison, brakeman, and Fred Halnes,
flagman on the New England Railroad,
had rooms in the hotel and are tn
doubtedly in the debris.
Up to 5 o'clock sixteen bodies have
been recovered from the ruins-eight
dead and eight still alive.
Mrs. ketchum, wife of the proprie-
tor. il is thought viii not survive, as she
5 suffering from severe confusion OF
tie spine.
Most of the bodies recovered have
come from the tier OF sleeping rooms on
the south side. The persons rescued
alive are naturally ID very exhausted
condition and the physicians refuse 10
allow them to be interviewed. They
were all asleep when the disaster oc-
Cured and of course knew nothing
except the horrors OF tn, imprison-
ment and miraculous escape.
II the disaster was caused by the
boiler, 1t was probably caused by the
night engineer going away about mid
night, drunk, leaving heavy draugIt
on the furnace and little water In the
boIier. 1he engineer probably turred
Cd the water when he came back ami
ca1sed the explosion. He ls dead, how
ever and nothing can be learned from
him. Itis said he wss of regular nab Il
and all sorts Of rUmors are atiost
The house had accommodations foi
about 100 guests and was fayorIlc over
sunday stopping place for c0mmercisa
travellers. An intending guest wEo ap
nLied for rnnm lata Saturday eTanina