The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-02-19

ply OyerwhelmS. Inc magnitude VI 1nO
calamity cannot be realized, and, in fact.
its extent Is not yet known. The register
of the hotel has not been found, and young
Perry, the night clerk, Is buried IN tne
ruins; but from the best estimates tnab eau
be, procured from the landlord ana
were % not far "a from r. fifty people in the hotel
proper OF these perhaps five may nave
escaped uninjured amid the confusion OIL
the early morning hours. leaving 1orty:nve
and up to this writing-11 p. M.-slxteeH
dead bodies have been taken from the
ruins, leaving nineteen still missing put
there may be several more than this. Mr..
ford Life and Annuity Insurance Company,
and wife; Rev. DR.. Lavalette Perrin agent
of the Memorial Hall Association, and wife,
and Edward Perry, the night clerk, are
known to be still in the ruins.
The cause of the disaster was und0uDted-
ly the explosion of the boiler in the base
ment. This boiler of sixteen-hOrse-p power,
was built by the Pilkins, of this city. In
1882. 1t was not insured by the Hartford
Steam-boiler Inspection and Insurance
Company, but was inspected by an officer
OF that company, last August, and was then
pronounced all right No eng neer was on
duty at the time of the explosion, the
custom being for the night engineer to bank
his fires at midnight, and go to bed. Ha
does not sleep in the hotel. This engineer.
Alexander Thuer was arrested this after
noon ON an Indictment charging man
slaughter, and is locked up. at the police
station. 1t is cOnjectured that Gaines, the
colored porter, may have started the
pumps, throwing cold water into an over
heated boiler. But this is only conjecture,
and Gaines is dead.
People in all parts of the city were awak-
ened by the shock. Huge stones were shat
tered and iron pipes bent and twisted.
Windows in adjoining buildings and across
the street were demolished. and panes of
glass two blocks away were cracked. At
the new railroad depot, block away, a
huge pane of plate glass was cracked, and
many states were diSlodged from the newly
completed roof. Night employees in the
railroad station and offices fled to the street
In terror.
j is believed that Mrs. Wesson, of Spring
field, widow of Frank WesSon, who was
killed at the White River Junction railroad
accident, was in the. hotel, together with
servant OF two. People from Springfield
were. in the city, to-day, anxious to lind
her, knowing she stayed in Hartford over
Sunday, but her name cannot be found on
in the Park Central. If SO, her death and
that of her family would raise the aggre-
gate loss of life probably seven additional.
A New York drummer, whose home is In
Portland, Me-, and who slept last night in
the annex of the hotel, part OF which is
still standing, says he felt something Of
shock and heard a sound, but nothing like
what should accompany boiler explosion:
He did not believe there had been one, and
did not even deem 1t advisable to get up,
but the next instant he heard piercing
shrieks and felt the floor tremble. He
jumped out of bed and escaped in his night
clothes.
The experience of the survivors were re-
markable, and their escape almost miracu-
lous. Mr.. Walter NJ. Gay occupied a room
adjoining that of Landlord Ketchum and
wife. When he awoke he felt the bed sink
ing with him. Soon it became stationary.
by the ceiling. etc., in such a manner that
he was entirely unable to move although
his right arm was free. He did not lose
consciousness a moment throughout. He
Ketchum., and conversed with them con-
corning the chances of escape. Before he
was rescued the water, poured in by the
firemen, had nearly covered his face.
v' Mr. Enos James brother 3S w.t. Hf the New New
Line, occupied the room directly over
the Ketchums, and also heard
tbr voices When he was taken ia0s aSa 99tt the he
Kst.hu1ns were soon rescued. Their thir-'
teen-y ear-old son, Eddie, is still in the ruins.
All these persons were confined In the ruins
seven or eight hours, and are not any OF
them dangerously injured.
I. p: Robertson. the head waiter, gave
the following story: Il was awakened by
the shock and hurried my clothes on.
There was great commotion among the en-
ployes, the girls especially being Ss;te excited
heard loud screams from the ruins.
/ thought the hotel was on fire. and
made hasty preparations to leave. My
knocked about. Finding the annex was
all right, returned to my room, and after
finishing dressing, aided others In getting
ou.."
to 11:30 p. NJ. is as follows:
DWIGHT II. BUELL., jeweler. Hartford.
GEORGE GAINES, cOlOred porter OF the hotel.
j. GEORGE ENGLER, drug clerk, Hartford.
JOHN w. HOUsMAN, traveller for the Revere
J. c. HILL, Buffalo, n Y, supposed to be a
commercial traveller.
LOUIS III. BRONSON, secretary or the Hart
ford Stove and Plumbing Company.
WIFE AND CHILD of Bronson.
GEO. kETCHUM, brother of the landlord.
EDDIE KETCHUM, aged eleven, son OF the
GEORGE W. ROOT, Brockport, N. Y, traveller
| for Waite. Williams & Co., Boston.
A. H. TiLOTsoN, traveller for the Merrill
Chemical Company, of Cincinnati
MASTMfEPAN nHTIxS' GALopY, proprietor of the
| Hartford Herald, and wife. Mr.. Galody was for
some time clerk In the bureau of statistics
| Treasury Department, and purchased the Herald
| MRS. ANDREW +. WHITING. Her body was
| burned to a crisp.
| The victims at the hospital are all doing
well, most of the injuries being superficial,
although all are suffering from chill and
| exposure. The following is q complete
| list:
| Helen Leport, New Britain, scalp wounds
and bruises; Rachel Cramer, Avon, bruised
| and scratched; Jacob B. Turpin. colOred
barber; Walter NJ. Gay, Bayonne, N. j., un-
injured except by exposure, New York;
traveller, sprained ankle; Wellington Ketch-
um, proprietor of hotel, bruised; Mrs.
Georgia A. Ketchum. wife of above, gener-
broken leg; Michael COrrigan, Unionville,
bruised, not seriously; EnOs James.
Some of the bodies are much disfgured
and burned, but still the faces of many are
| not much injured, but wear ifelike ex-
preston. Extra electric lights have been
put in around the ruins, and the search is
| going forward and will be vigorously
| pushed through the night. All the trains
this evening have brought curious crowds,
| and the vicinity of the wrecked building
| has been thrOnged. Spectators are kept at
safe distance by a Gordon of soldiers.
The Dead List Will Reach Thirty-Five.
HARTFORD, Feb. 19.-2 A. M.-Charred re-
mains have been found presumed to be those
of Mr.. Whiting. The force of workers hos
been increased, and the search is being Wig
Orously urged. Following is a summary at
| this hour: Twenty-Five dead, eighteen at