Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1889-02-20

to be - The Ruins.
HARI ;, Conn.,, Feb. 1S.-The main
portion 81 the Park Central Hotel,
facing n High and Allen Streets, fell
down nis MOI lg G few moments be-
fore 5'clock, burying fn the debris at
least fifty people.
Ths cause of the accident is not at
present known, but it is supposed to
have resulted from the explosion of the
boilers in the basement, and from the
havoc created in adjoining buildings the
explosion 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 noise of the fall aroused the
whole city and in very few minutes
large crowd surrounded the scene. It
was sight of horror and one that will
never be forgotten by the spectators.
Flames completely enveloped the ruins
and the shrieks of the wounded and
dying rose high above the hoarse notes
of the fremen and police who had been
summoned by an alarm from the fire
department..
AT this hour 70 A. NJ it is almost i'm
possible to give detailed account, as
the people who escaped from an annex
are too frightened to be able to talk in
diligently.
The following is partial list of those
who occupied rooms in the hotel and
who are believed to be in the ruins:
LOUIS H. Bronson, of Hartford.
Mrs. L. III. Bronson.
NJ. GHoDY, editor of the German
Herold, this city.
ANDREW F. WHITING, this city.
Mrs. A. F. WHITING.
DWIGHT III. BUELL., jeweler, this city.
WELLINGTON KETCHUM, proprietor Of
the hotel.
EDDIE KETCHUM.
Among the missing are:
GEORGE ENGLER, drug clerk, of Hart
ford.
GEORGE S. KETCHUM, brother of the
proprietor of the hotel.
REV. DR.. PERRIN, secretary of the Con-
IT,, ~
Mrs. DIR. PERRIN.
W. TILLoTsoN, commercial traveller.
Mr.. STIFFLEs, safe 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 forced their way out themselves;
others were helped out.
The entire main section Of the hotel
| is gone-only pile of brick and timbers
remaining.
In the center of the spot where the
building stood were a 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 uttered
no word. Embraced in each others
| arms they met death bravely.
The shrieks of another woman caused
| the blood of the spectators to turn cold,
as they saw young lady lying with her
body half across beam, look of agony
on her face. Finally the support fell
and she dropped out of sight.
William Seymour and William Skin
ner were employed in the boiler room.
Neither could be found this morning
and they probably persisted.
Eddie Boyle was last seen in the ho-
tel. He is probably dead.
Women, their faces blanched in ter
ror, and strong men pale with fright
rushed headlong into the street in their
night clothes.
Charles NJ. Webster, the insurance
agent, of this city, is missing.
Mr.. Pond, of Indiana, the Democratic
speaker, was guest at the hotel and is
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,
but there are parties who say they
| have seen both men since the disaster.
At 10 A. NJ. two special alarms were rung
in for assistance at the ruins, as a SUM
mons for rescuing party. One more
| person has been taken from the ruins in
a dying condition.
I The Park Central Hotel was situated
atthe corner of Allen and High Streets.
| aboutione block from the Union Depot,
and, was principally patronized by COM
rmereial mem and .theatrical troupes.
III This is' the @fnost awful catastrophe
I 4 L L L