The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-02-23
Fifty People Crushed.

Fifty People Crushed.
HARTFORD, Con-, Feb. iS.-A few
minutes before o'clock this morn.
ing the entire city Was shaken by a
tremendous explosion, soon followed
by an alarm of fire.
The Park Central Hotel, a FIVE
story brick building with stone trim
mings. on the corner of High and
Allyn streets, had practically disap-
peared, and in its place was a huge
pile of masonary, timbers and DEBRIS.
from which issued steam and smoke.
A portion of the tier of rooms at
the rear of the main building re-
manned standing, but the partitions
had been torn away and the rooms
were opened to the air, the floors of
many of them partly giving away
and tumbling out the occupants and
furniture upon the confused heap be-
low.
A few shrieks and means were
heard, and then all was silent. And
yet within that mass of debris were
imprisoned probably so human be-
ings, some of them alive. but many
undoubtedly killed instantly. The
fire department responded promptly
to the alarm, and the tongues of
flame which had begun to show
themselves were quickly subdued.
although it required several hours,
work to thoroughly cool the ruins.
Fortunately the building was heated
by steam, greatly lessening the dam
ger of fire.
The servants of the hotel occupied
rooms in an annex at the rear. The
explosion demolished the staircase,
but the frightened emplC yees were
safely taken out by the aerial ladder,
two or three excited ones, however,
jumping and receiving slight injur-
les.
AS soon as possible willing hands
set about the herculean task of re-
moving the immense mass of mason
ary. The first person rescued was
George Gaines, the colOred porter.
He was badly injured, and died soon
after being taken out. At about z
O'Clock Superintendent Lawrence, Of
the streetidepartment, appeared upon
the scene with large gang of labor
ers and the search was prosecuted
with renewed activity. Helen Lee
port, of New Britain, and Jennie
Decker, of Unionville, were soon
rescued comparatively uniniured, and
sent to the hospital. Jacob B. Tur-
pin, colored barber, was also taken
out early in the morning. Rachel
Cramer jumped from a window.
breaking her leg.
At 9 O'Clock Harris Stiffie. of Phil
adelphia, traveller for the Barnes
Safe and Lock Company, was liber-
ated by raising the timbers which
held him down. He was only slight
ly injured. At 1890 the dead body
of Dwight H. Buell., single. jeweler.
of this city, was recovered. The body
was not mangled. death having been
caused by suffocation.
In the meantime the crowd of
spectators had increased to such pro-
portions as to greatly impede the
work of the firemen and rescuers.
Accordingly, at 10 o'clock, "two
elevens" was sounded upon the fire
bell, calling out the five companies
of the First Regiment Connecticut
National Guard. stationed in the
city. The men responded with COM
mendable alacrity. and Gordon of
guards soon surrounded the vicinity
of the explosion. doing excellent SER
vices throughout the day and night
in keeping the crowd within bounds.
Passes from commanding officers
were required to get through the
lines and that portion of the city de-
cidedly reminded one of war times.
Previous to the calling out of the
military the police force had done
good work but their numder was in
adequate to the emergency.