New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-12-06
THE GUESTS ESCAPED.
TIVE MoNoNGAHELA HOUSE IN PI1TsBURG
BURNED.
a HOTEL FAMOUS IN THE EARLY HISTORY o'
THE wEsT-THE FRIGHTENED fhoi LIZ
SET OUT WITHOUT INJURY
TRY TELEGRAPH TO THE TEisuNr.]

today 20 the extent ol doou' -
from NeNy-Yorlx and other cl'ieS ,''"
escapes. An immense throns u p1op'' "~S -
''0"P. emo for the hotel had national
~ &c Ionr ago as the days OF staSe-coach-
-. ,rder IFS walls were sheltered Henry
.n "a soores of other Western and Southern
,.u,or nm their way to and from Congress.
.hout 80 a. m. dense cloud of smoke
,o1an "a rise over the famous old hostelry, ana
a general alarm was sent out TO the hre Depart
mont Thomas OConnor, head porter 81" q
pnf Of smoke coming out of the freight elevator
shaft on the first foor and gave the alarm
Though hardly minute elapsed between the
discovery of the fire in the elevator shatt py
O'Connor, the sounding OF the alarm ana the
arrival of the department, the names had Dy
that time been drawn up TIE ele-
victor shaft clear to d,c top story, ana
were pouring out of the doorway on that noor'
causing CONSERVATION among the gues'S' VINO
gathered what valusbles they could IN thlr
rooms and then rushed frantically to the hre
escape, down which some of the cooler-headed
dragged their trunks. Messengers were sent 10
ell the floors to inform everybody that the hotel
was on fire. il being thought that some OF the
guests might be asleep in their rooms.
In a brief space of time the entire building was
filed with smoke. which poured in dense clouds
from all the upper windows The elevator easing
was soon ahame on all sides, communicating the
fire TO the several floors Streams of water were
directed into the cellar and lines of hose run up
ladders and up the stairways to the several noors
in an effort to cOnine the fire TO the elevator.
The progress made, however, was slow, owing 10
the dense smoke which made TIE interior OF the
building dark Egypt and rendered breathing
within il imposSibility. The greatest cAcne-
ment prevailed. Those having friends IN the
house rushed frantically here and there in an
effort TO find them Men, with faces mualed III
handkerchiels dragged trunks down the stair
way, and TO a great extent impeded the work OF
the fremen The water soon began rushing in
veritable torrents down the stairway md skylsht,
and the crashing of glass and the whizzng noise
made by the rushing OF air and smoke through
the rents thus made added TO the excitement
James Carnaghan, president of the San MARITIME
Silver Mining Company who resides at No. Ill
West Seventy-hIst-st.. New-YorlS. had a thrilling
experience. lie had made a business appoint
ment in his room, which was on the third floor at
ii 80, and was awaiting the appearance of the
other gentleman, when the sounds of confusion
in the hall attracted his attention. When he
opened the door terrible sight met his gaze.
number of people were collected IN the hall,
many of them women, who were moaning and
screaming in terror. Smoke poured through the
hallway. Realizing that if he remained in the
hall he would soon he sufocated he stepped back
into his room, closing both door and transom.
Hurriedly packing up his effects, he threw his
satchel to of the adjoining roofs some eighteen
feet below, and swinging himself from the
windowsiIl, quickly followed, landing safely. and
finally making his escape over the roofs of build
ngs for an entire block to Woodst., where. by
means of a hatchway in the roof of business
house he descended to the street.
DAVID Kaiser. of the firm of Lewis, Kaiser &
Luthy, diamond merchants. OF New-lOr<, was
in the house with big line OF diamonds. These
amounted TO over 100000 in value, but he was
able to get them all fixed in their cases and in
his pockets, and TO escape without losing any
William NJ. Post, of New-Yor,, another diamond
salesman, also got his sample, out in safety.
Another New-lorl who is thankful is
d. c. Mason. When his room was burst into. he
was in bed, and knew nothing of the raging fire
IN the hotel. He started for the stairway, only
TO he shut of from escape by flames and smoke.
Not to be daunted, he returned to hs room, where
le tore up the bcdclotheS, and tying them to-
gether securely, let himself down from his window
10 adJainlng trhding, from which he was
taken in safety by means of a ladder.
W. s. Hughes, who formerly clerk in the
Continental Hotel, Philadelphia but Is now trav
cling agent for the MarceauX Wine Company
was among the first to hear OF the fire. lie ran
TO all the rooms OH his floor and burst in the
doors.
Scarcely an article within the walls OF the
hotel that could be destroyed or damaged by
water was left untouched. 4 great food of water
the II my lines of hose which extended in per-
pcndicular clusters between the flights of stairs.
This immense amount of water found its way
through The floors and ceilings and rushed down
the Stairways, flooding al the lower halls and
rooms. Not room from the first to the fifth
hOor escaped the delUee of water Carpets, bed
ding. curtains and everything else were soaked.
The Monongahela House was 10 have been
sold this afternoon at 2 p. m TO Charles Holmes.
OF TINS elty The necessary papers had been
drawn up in readiness for the transfer of the
property and were TO be signed by both parties
st the ume named. The price which was 10 have
neeh laio Tor the property was. il is said. $780,
ooo. The original hotel was built siXtv-five years
ago by Thomas CroSsan. II was DESTROYED in the
great fire OF lS45, in which the entire business
portion OF Plttsburg was swept away. II was
rebuilt IN lsi6 10y Lyon. Sherb & Co.. the iron
msn9IacturVfs, ana the management was entrusted
10 Mcdonald, son of Thomas Crossan. lie held
the reins until his death in 1870 and was sue
ceeded by George GrlSc0m. for some time super
intendent OF the PtSburg. Fort Wavne. and
Chicago Railway, who retired one wear aqo heinz
succeeded by W. s. Anderson a. Co the nrcsnnf
lessecs. They recently rehtted the building al an
expense OF $1,000 General L. S Grant General
George B. Mcclellan. Abraham Lincoln and Dom
Pedro were some Of the noted men who have been
entertained at public dinners within its walls
The building was insured for 81 CO. 900 and the
iurn ture for $4,000 The loss is about equally
divided between the building and the outfit of
the lessecs. Charles j. Clarke. the millionaire
partner Of William Thaw Of the Union Trans
pofauon Line, Owns half Of the building The
fe'hnnlng half is equally divided between Florence
!. Miller, young attorney, and the estate OF Nc
IJohaid Crossan. The insurance risks on Mlcrs
,H,tIest include the following Bowery. New
HSi2rk, $500; National, New-York s2,5Oo;
Hhgara, New-YOrk, $4,000
flAIN" RESPONSIBILITY FOR A DISASTER
Mlnheapohs' hinn.. Dec 5.-The c0roner's jury in