The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-02-19
THE WORK BEGUN.
willing Hands Removing the Dead
and Injured unfortunates.

HARTFORD, Feb. 1S.-The Park Central
Hotel was situated at the corner Of Allyn
and High streets about one block from the
Union depot and was principally patronized
by commercial men and theatrical people.
1t has just been learned that the special call
issued at 10 o'clock was for the city compan-
les Of the State militia for the purpose Of
aiding In the rescue OF the unfortunates Of
the accident, and also TO form a Gordon
around the standing walls which look very
threatening. The force .of the explosion
threw bed with a sleeping woman upon it
far into the street, while one OF the heavy
doors Of the house landed block away.
BY nine o'clock the flames were so far sub
at some Of the victims. Some were pinned
beneath heavy timbers upon which rested
masses Of masonry, rendering the work OF
rescue extremely hazardous. 1t was report
ed that the members OF the Hoodman Blind
Theatrical Company were In the ruined hotel
but this is incorrect. The company have
been all accounted for. Some Of the men,
bers applied to the hotel last night but could
not be accommodated. The body Of Dwight
III. Buell., jeweller, Of Hartford, was taken
out about 10 o'clock. The bodies Of Louis
II. Bronson, stove dealer. of Hartford, his
wife and child, were discovered at about the
same time. Harry Stiffie, commercial trav-
eller Of Philadelphia, who roomed on the
third floor was taken from the ruins c0nsid-
erably bruised, but he said he was "all
The house had accommodations for about
100 guests, and 1t was favorite Sunday
stopping place for commercial travelling
men.
A man who applied for a room late Satur-
day evening, was informed that they were
| full. So 1t seems probable that at least so
| persons were in the house at the time Of the
| explosion, OF whom perhaps 20 escaped un-
| injured. uThese were mostly employees who
occupied an annex which has not YET fallen,
| although 1t Is In a shaky condition.
Among those known to have been buried
| in the ruins are the Rev. DIR. l.. Perrin and
| wife Of New Britain, Andrew II. Whiting,
actuary Of the Hartford Life and Annuity
Insurance Company, and wife, and yelling
/ ton ketchum, proprietor OF the hotel,
wife and son. Six persons have been sent
| to the hospital. Owing to the destruction Of
| the register. the names Of many Of the guests
cannot be ascertained.
The castrophe Is generally supposed to
| have been caused by the explosion of the
| boiler, although some doubt has been ex-
| pressed on this point as the building had
| been popularity supposed to be unsafe. 1t
| was built on made ground.
The street department and the railroads
have furnished their forces Of laborers with
jacks. etc., and the work Of searching for
bodies Is now going forward In systematic
manner. Others now known to be in the
| ruins are Max Galody, editor Of the Hartford
Herald, George j. Engler, drug clerk
| Of Hartford, Edward Ferry, night
clerk Of the hotel. 1t Is understood
now that the bodies Of Mr.. Bron
son, wife and child have not been recovered
| George Ketchum, brother Of the proprietor
Is also in the ruins. Mr.. Pendleton Of lndt
ana. who was soliciting subscriptions to com
| plete the emOnumentt0 Thomas A. Hendrick:
| Is among the missing. Mr.. James, an agent
of the White Star Steamship Line. was
taken out at noon alive and not seeming 70
be very badly injured, although ne mas no!
| been able to stand. He said that Landior1
Ketchum and wife were under wnere ne lald
| and were still alive. John M. hansman Oi
the Revere Rubber Company, Boston, Geo,
w. Root, traveller for Waite, Williams 4
Co., Boston, A. Il. Tillotson, traveller for the
Merrill Chemical Company, Chicago, have
| been taken out dead.
George Gaines, night porter at the hotel
Jacob Turpin, colored waiter, Helen Sa
/ pOinte, guest, and Jennie Decker Of Union
Vile, guest, were all badly bruised, ant
Michael Kerrigan Of Unionville, was alst
badly injured.
The hotel was built about Is years ago anG
cost with the furniture S120,0OO The sol
was soft and although the building was care
fully built It soon settled badly. About fvl
years ago Mr.. ketchum took the head ant
renovated and refurnished the house. ThI
insurance on the building Is S3S,O00, on tn
furniture $4,000.
1t is stated that no fragment Of the boile
has yet been found which initiates agains
the theory Of boiler explosion.