Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1889-02-19
RUIN And DEATH.
A FrigLtful Early Morning Ca
tlStr0phe at Hartford.
CROWDED HOTEL BLOWN UP
The Park Central House Demol-
ished BY an Explosion.
AN APPALLING LOSS OF LIFE.

The Wreck Took Fire Instantly, and the
Register Was Destroyed, so that II is Im-
possible at Present to Obtain a Full
List OF The Gucsts--It is Thought that
at Least Fifty People PerisheL. Among
Them some of the city's Most Promi-
nent Residents.
HARTFORD, Feb. 1S.-A tremendous shock
awoke the residents for blocks around the
corner Of High and Allyn streets at about 5
o'clock in the morning. On that corner
stood the Park Central hotel, five story
brick structure, about so feet front and 100
feet deep.
The first to arrive on the scene found the
building heap of ruins, from which issued
smoke and steam in dense clouds The spec
tators were appalled, by the shrieks and
groans Of many human beings who were inn
prisoned in the mass Of timber and masonry
from which flames were already bursting.
A general alarm Immediately summoned
the entire fire department, and an immense
crowd, attracted by the explosion and the fire
dlaI1il, SDOn Iackeu Inc StFeSts.
At first the fire and smoke entirely prevent
ed any attempt to rescue the victims, and it
was not until a food Of water had been poured
upon the ruins that work could be begun.
A few dead and dying persons were taken
from the edge of the debris, however, within
an hour after the explosion.
By 9 o'clock the flames vSare so far subdued
4Lo4 49,, -,e,,.a4-- ,..,s.a 1,oIio1 - c,af 81
some of the victims Several were pinned
beneath heavy timbers, upon which rested
masses OF masonry, rendering the work of
rescue extremely hazardous.
Harry Stif1le, a commercial traveller, Phila-
delphia, who rooms on the third floor, was
taken from the ruins considerably bruised,
but he remarked that he was 'sall right"
The house had accommodations for about
1C0 guests, and was favorite over Sunday
stopping place for commercial travellers
The street department and the railroads
furnished their forces of laborers with jacks,
ETC., and the work of searching for the bodies
was soon going forward in a systematic man
ner.
AT 10 o'clock the military calln was
sounded on the fire bell calling out the MILF
tary companies to assist in preserving order
and assist in the work of rescue.
The scenes about the ruins were heartrend-
ing. In the center of the spot where the
building stood were man, his wife and little
girl No help could get to them, and they
finally fell back into the flames and persisted
in plain sight of the spectators. The child
cried for help, but the man and woman ut
tered no word Tightly clasped in each
others arms, they met death bravely.
The shrieks of another woman caused the
blood of the spectators to turn cold. They
saw her lying with her body half across
beam and look Of agony on her face. FL
nally the support fell and she dropped out of
sight.
The catastrophe is generally supposed to
have been caused by an 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 shock of the explosion blew out every
window in the south side of the Earl house,
Just north of the Park Central hotel Wom-
en-, their faces blanched with terror and
strong men pale with fright, rushed headlong
into the street in their night clothes.
A report that the members of the HoodInan
Blind company were in the hotel was put in
circulation during the morning. The report
is incorrect. Mr. E. p. Monroe, the business
manager, says some of the company applied
to the hotel Tor accommodations, but could
not get them, and went elsewhere He has
accounted for every member Of his company
and all are safe. The fact that they were re-
fused accommodation does not. indicate that
the hotel was crowded, because as they de-
sired rooms for two or three days, they could
not be furnished on account of previous en-
gagements of apartments by legislators.
An intending guest who applied for room
late Saturday evening. was informed thai
they were full; so it seems probable that at
least eighty persons were IN the house at the
time OF the explosion, OF which perhaps
twenty escaped uninjured. These were mostly
employees. Nearly all the help were saved.
They occupied the sleeping apartment in the
annex, which was only partially wrecked by
the explosion. Some forced their way ont
themselves, but by far the greater number
were too frightened TO help themselves, and
would probably have persisted had it not been
for the brave work Of ffremen and bystanders.
Owing to the obstruction of the register of
the hotel, the names Of many Of the guests
cannot be ascertained.
The dead body Of Dwight n. Buell. Of this
city, was taken out at about 10 o'clock. The
bodies of Louis II Bronson, stove dealer.
Hartford, wife and child were discovered at
about the same time.
Charles u. Webster, insurance agent OF
this city, is missing.
Mr. Pend, OF Indiana, the Democratic
speaker, was a guest at the hotel and is sup
posed to be among the killed
Amos RisIey and Alexander Thayer were
n charge Of the boiler. It was reported first
that they were both-kiIIed, but there are par
ties who say thsy havs sen bstsx naam simes
- sishs