The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1890-10-17
LELAND HOTEL FIRE,
The FrightfuI Disaster at Syra-
cuse, New York.
SOME THRILLING INCIDENTS
And Appalling Sccncs-iiow Many
Guests Made Miraculous Escapes
and Others who Met Death.
Cora Tanncr's Experiences.

SYRACUSE, N. Y. Oct. l6.-The mag
nitlcent Leland, the finest appointed
hotel in Central New York, is to-day
nothing buta mass OF smouldering ruins
1t was 1886 o'clock this morning when
tho fire was first discovered In the re-.
glon Of the kitchen, located on the sec.
ond floor in the rear OF the west side OF
the building. Inside Of fifteen minutes
the building was in flames, and before
thirty minutes had elapsed tho walls
had fallen with the exception OF the
northeast corner. The whole was ono
SETTLING furnace, to which was added
the horror thatmany lives were Involved.
At tirst it was feared that the loss OF life
was about thirty, but tho night wore
along and the number OF missing and
dead was reduced to seven or eight,
When the flames began to sweep through
the hotel, Night Clerk Jones set the au-
tomato fire alarm bells ringing and be.
fore tho rudely awakened guests could
realize what was the matter, the flames
and smoke rushed through the halls,
cutting off the usual means Of exit.
Each room was provided with com.
mon rope hre.escape, and by means OF
these many lives were saved.
AN APPALLING SCENE.
The burning hotel viewed from the
street presented 4 ecene which will
never be forgotten. It was agonizing in
the extreme. At many windows Of tie
live stories Of the burning building
could be seen men and women piteously
calling for help, or making their escape
by means OF rope appliances. In win
dow IN the filth story, Il man and woman
we're seen to be apparently struggling in
each others arms. The woman evident.
ly wanted to throw herself out the win
dow. Below them WAS sea OF flame,
Soon after they were lost to view. On
the fifth floor toward the Fayette street
SIDE tour women appeared at q window,
their screams for help being heard above
the din and roar. Tie fremeu shouted
to stay where they were and the hook
and ladder was put into position. The
evils OF overhead wires was again do.
The wires were in the wav
and prevented the raising OF the ladder.
Minutes seemed hours while one OF the
ladder men mounted the rounds and cut
the wires. Among the frightened
women at tho window was Annie Cum
ming, one OF the servants. Her com
panions tried to pursuade her from
jnmping heallong into the street.
Whiie tue ladder men were at work
hoisting ladders willing hands had hold
OF tho jumping net. The Cummings
woman jumped with the evident inten-
ton Of landing in the net. In her dc.
scent, she struck the wires and her BODY
bounded over. and over and she fell a
bruised and mangled heap seven feet
from the net.
BRAVE ACT.
Meanwhile the laddermen we're work.
ing with awill and succeeded in placing
the extension OF ladder against the
building. A cry OF horror rang out from
the spectators when it was found that
it was too short, but this was quickly
succeeded by cheer when one OF the
laddermen mounted u ladder and stand
lns. on the topmost round, reached up
and helped down the three women. It
was the work OF 4 hero. Had the Cum
mlng4 woman waited a moment or two
her life would have been spared. On
all s:des men and women could be seen
dropping from the windows, or sliding
down the tire escapes. In the center OF
the building was court yard. Here
was being enacted similar scenes to those
on the outside OF the building. Tho
guests in the rooms facing this court, in
many instances, had to make their es.
cape by this means. Some jumped
while others used the fire escapes. On
the roof Of the boiler house located ut
the west side OF the building, at one
time lay Six or seven persons uncon.
scious or injured. They were removed
BY hremen and others to places OF
safety.
The flames swept through the build
ing with unparalleled rapidity. Chief
Engineer Riley, OF the fire department,
says that when he arrived at the scene
ne and his men made for this portion OF
this building. Ho with couple OF
hose.men had reached the fourth floor,
when they could get no farther.
THE VICTIMS.
Following is list OF the dead, 80 far
known:
Annie Cummings, OF New York, aged
twenty-five, jumped from fifth floor,
fractured back part of head and knees
bruised; killed instantly.
William L. Harrop, Of Elizabeth, N.
j., aged forty, lowered himself by rop @
half way down from fourth floor, when
the rope burned of and he fell to the
ground; died at i a. m.
hose Schwartz, aged twen.y.three,
hotel domestic, jumped from fifth floor,
badly bruised a.l over body and died
from shock at s Il. IN,
Unknown woman about 25, hotel do.
mestic, jumped from fifth floor and was
instantly killed.
toilowlne Is a list OF injured:
Annie Campbell, aged IS, hotel do.
mes!ic, jumped from filth floor, left eve
smashed: compound fracture right
upper arm, compound dislocation right
ankle. severe shock; will probably live.
R. S. Drysdale, Of New York, aged IS
years, salesman, was on the fourth floor,
came down two and Il half stories on a
rope, when the escape refused to work.
He dropped to sidewalk, rupture OF
external ligiment, right ankle joint,
hands badly burned will likely recover.
John Dunn, fireman OF Company i,
toes crushed by falling wall.
Burnett Forbes, this city, suffering
from congestion OF lungs caused by
SMOKE hands badly burned from friction
OF rope. g, .,., ..,
F.W. Gilmore, OF Pawtucket, aged
thisty.eight, came down the rope aud
struck on coal chute. A nail in n
board ripped his back the full length OF
his spine, hands badly burned from
friction OF rope. .
Thno n,kkr;o J,;,o Co,,,,,.. ~,