The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-10-17

OF her hands were lace at ID badly from
noldlng 50 tightly to the rope. Miss Tanner
saved her jewels aud $500 in cash in her
Jewel case. She tied it about her neck.
MISS Tanner was taken 10 the Vanderbilt
house and attended to in the ldies' parIor
The other members of her company are also
at the Vanderbilt house.
HAD NARROW ESCAPES.
Miss Dupree and Miss Klein, both of t he
same company, had narrow escapes. They
were on the fifth floor, and would doubtless
have persisted had it not been for the cour-
ageous boy who ran the elevator. They
CROPPED around until they heard shout to
come to the elevator. They followed the
sound of the voice and found the car. They
were taken down safely, although the
flames shot into the elevator at nearly
every floor.
STORY OF GUEST.
VIM. 7. Grover, acting manager for Miss
Tanner, who was filing an engagement at
the Grand Opera House, says: "Nearly, if
not all, of the young ladies In Miss Tanners
company, who occupied rooms oa the third
and fourth floors of the hotel, had retired,
but several OF the gentlemen were still out.
When the fire started threw few of my
clothes aud personal effects into
my trunk, but lost them
in the end. | was on the fourth floor.
NAoAChS O1ACAs O1 buSt uOOT W6I6 Hiss A1&
Dwyer OF the company. We met in the
hall and started in the direction of the
sound of the voice Of fireman, who was
showing the frantic men and women the
way to the stairs. All got separated in the
crowd in the halls, where the scene was
an awful one. The gas must
have been put out by the dense smoke, for
the halls were soon in total darkness I did
not see Miss Dwyer again until we met on
tba u6 A01.. 1Oat oil - ral
effects except my watch aud money!
FINDING SHELTER.
Hotels near by were thronged by those
who so recently had found comfortable
quarters at the Leland. The other otels
were filed with their regular guests, but
t heir doors were thrown open and quarters
shared, clothing provided for those who
lost their all until they could be provided
for, and this morning some of the guests
could hardly recognizs themselves in their
nondescript makeup.
How the fire originated is not yet def
nitely determined, and it Is doubtful if II
the flames. It is thought, however, that it
started In the bakery adjoining the
kitchen. John Brldgeman, the night
clerk, was sitting in the Office and the
first he knew was when one of the night
hands opened the rear door and the office
was filled with smoke. Toe bells were at
once set at work and every endeavor made
to awake the sleeping guests.
RAPID DESTRUCTION.
In twenty-five minutes from the first
alarm the northern side of the building fell
in, SO rapid was the progress of the fire.
Fifteen minutes later the center Of the east
ern wall fell with terrific crash. At 1:3C
o'clock the west walls fell, carrying
with them two .tyo-story brick building
on West Fayette street. occupied by the
Curtiss Manufacturing Company and
Charles NJ. Gibbs. The southeast wall fell
soon after. and when daylight broke all
that remained standing of the beautiful
structure was a section of the northeast cor.
nsr and the elevator shaft. Tho latter stood
like a monument, threatening to fall at any
moment.
PREVENTED FROM SPREADING.
Fortunately there was little or no wind
and the mighty volume of flame rose in the
air raining down showers of sparks and
burning embers on the vast crowds which
had assem- bled and endangering nearby
property. The freight department of the
American Express Company, located on this
north side of the Leland and adjoining the
Central railroad was demolished. Some OF
the freight was saved but much more de-
stroyed. The Central depot was on
huO oSfCAdh blhAOot dhQ Out
stores and property adjoining
on Franklin and West Fayette streets were
several scorched by the flames, and the
window glasses cracked. The Leland hotel
occupied the west side of Franklin street
from the Central depot to West Fayette,
and was built about three years ago by
George Everson of this city, who died be-
fore it was completed. The building was
about 200 feet square, six stories high, and
cost about $4,000.
INCENDIARISM SUSPECTED.
The horrible loss of life and property last
night is in all human probability due to fire
fiends. Richard Perry Of the in urance
firm of Bowen & Perry, was on the soene
among the first and made personal examl'
nation, aud from what he saw he believes
the place was set on fire by some one en-
ployed in the hotel.
THE LOSSES.
The probable losses are: N. y. Hickoh
10000, insured for $500; M. A. Shumway
| 81, 900, insurance $4,000; American Express
Company s2,50o, fully insured; Eversor
estate $780, insurance $4,000; LELAND
Bros. $4,000, insurance $4,000; Hiram
Wall S25, ,O00 insurance 81 200; Jay B. Doyle
S700, no insurance; William s. Orr 81, 900
insurance $l,S00; Curtiss Manufacturing
Company $4,000, insurance $4,000. Tota
loss 1916, 700; total insurance $l29, 900.