The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-02-19
Many People Are Buried in the
Ruins and Killed.
SOMEARE BURNED TO DEATH
In View Of the Horrifled and
PaniC.Stricken Spectators.
The Terrible Disaster to the Park Cen
tral Hotel in Hartford, Connecticut,
Death aud Destruction Comes
Without a Moments Warn.
Ing to the Occupants.

W v HStANAASN7 SSAl''SSASA 0WpA0 Wv
residents for blocks around the corner
Of High and Allen streets at about Z
o'clock this morning. On that corner
stood the Park Central Hotel, a five,
story brick structure about thirty feet
front and one hundred feet deep, The
first to arrive on the scene iound'the
building heap Of ruins, from which
issued smoke and steam in dense clouds
and the spectators were appalled, by the
shrleks and groaus Of many human be-
ings who were imprisoned in tho mass
Of timber and masonry, from which
flames were already bursting, A general
alarm summoned the entire fire depart
ment, and an immense crowd attracted
by the explosion and fro alarm soon
packed the streets. The flames pre-
vented any attempt at rescuing any one,
and the ruins were flooded with water
before any work could be prosecuted. A
few dead or dying persons were taken
from the edge Of the debris, however,
within an hour after the explosion. The
force OF the explosion threw bed with
sleeping woman upon II far into the
street, while one Of the heavy doors
landed q block away.
MANY LIVES LOST.
By9a.. m. the flames were SO far sub.
dued that the rescuers were enabled to
get at some OF the victims. Some were
pinned beneath heavy timbers, upon
which rested masses Of masonry, rem
dering the work OF rescue extremely
hazardous.
A report that members OF the "Hood-
man Blind theatrical company were in
the ruined hotel was found TO be incor-
rect. Mr.. Monroe, the business mana.
ger, says some Of the company applied to
the hotel last hightior accommodations,
but could not get them. Tho fact that
they were refused accommodation does
not indicate that tho hotel was crowded,
but simply because that they, desiring
rooms for So or s., could not DO fur
nished on account Of previous engage.
ment OF apartments by Legislators.
The dead body OF Dwight Buell., jewell
er, was taken out about 10 o'clock. The
body Of Louis H, Bronson, stove dealers,
wife and child were discovered at about
the same time. Harry s. Stifile, com
mercial traveller Of Philadelphia, who
roomed ON the third floor, was taken out
severely bruised, but remarked that he
was Nail right" The house had accom-.
modations for about one hundred guests
and was a fayorite over.sunday stopping
place for commercial travellers. An In.
tending guest who applied for room
late Saturday evening was informed that
they were full, 80 II seems probable that
at least eighty persons werein the house
at the time Of tho explosion Of which
perhaps twenty escaped. These werc
mostly employes who occupied WING
OF the hotA which Las not vet fallen,
sovy ov MIR v,rrtws
so 80 " ."I y. ' ,4s
Among those known 70 DO purleu ~
the ruins are the Rev. DR.. i. Perrin and
wife. of New Britain: Andrew L. Whit
lin secretarv ~ ibo Hartford 1ife 1nsrr
III eev.o'aiy VI iue tt"..iViu ,, ,v ,,4,,,' ts.
ance company, ana Wile, anu "eihhg
ton KetChum, proprietor Of the hotel
w;io and son ,Tohn Nj. Housman. OF the
Revere Rnbber Compnny. Boston
George W Root trnvaller for Waite
Williams 4 Co., Boston; - Hill
room On fIrst Ioor. A. f. Tillolsor
tTSveller for Merrill Chemical Company
Sh;cavo. Max Cinlodv editor of Hart.
forI Heraii, GeorSe ] Enpler. dru,
clerk: Harry Perry, night clerk Of hotel
II Il Understood now that tho bodies O
Mr.. Bronson. wifo and child have moi
been recovered
Georve Ketchum. brother Of the pro
nrietor' Il aiso In the ruins. Mr., Pen
ileinn of Indiana. who was solicitint
SnhScrintions to comnlpte the monuneni
to Tho,nas a. .Hendricks. is among tht
missing, Mr. James an agent ~ tht
White Star line was taken out at noon
alive and not seeming 10 be yery badl,
iniured although not able 10 stand, HI
satI lint Landlord Ketohutn and VIII,
were under where he laid and were stil
nlivs
About six persons have been sent !,
the hospital. Owing, to the destruction
oi the register oi te m hoseI snS SS S,
eaa:tropbS sn is' isCs Generally m supposed Z
have been caused by an explosion o
| the boiler, although some doubt hal
been oxptessed on this point ns thl
buiiding lad been supposed to bc tln
sSin II w0S huilt nm 'dnada ground.