The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1890-10-23
DEATH IN THE FLAMES.
TERRIBLE LOSS OF LIFE IN A
HOTEL FIRE.
Between Twenty-Five and Fifty People
Burned to Death in the Leland Hotel.
at Syracuse, n. IA Scene of Wild Con-
fusion-GuestS Crazed with Fright.
Syracuse dispatch.

syracuse, N Scene
fusion-Guests Crazed with Fright.
Syracuse dispatch.
From twenty-five to fifty lives were
lost early this morning by the burning
of the Leland Hotel here, the largest
ing will prove total loss. An eye wit
ness says that he saw twenty-five people
lose their lives in attempting to escape,
and guest who narrowly escaped death
says that fully twice that number have
persisted in the burning building. The
fire started a few minutes after l o'clock
this morning, and almost instantly the
large structure was eGveloped in flames
from cellar to roof Every effort was
made to arouse the sleeping guests, but
the smoke in the halls was so dense that
it was found impossible to reach the up
per floors, and it is believed many per-
sons were Suffocated and their bodies
burned. A number of people jumped
from windows and were killed or in
iured.
The fire started in the kitchen near the
elevator, and shot up the shaft with al
most incredible rapidity to the sixth
story and burst through the roof. All
the fire engines of the city were quickly
upon the scene, but the fire continued
to gain Roadway, and it soon became
apparent that the building would be
destroyed. The firemen worked hero
ically to save the inmates of the hotel,
and number were dragged uncOn-
sciOuS from the first, second, and third
stories, above which the reScuerS
could not ascend on account of the
dense smoke which filed the upper sto-
rieS.
The scene was one of the widest con-
fusion. People were seen at the windows
on every floor, shrieking frantically for
help, which could not be given them.
Many fell back into the flames, fainting
and exhausted, while others hurled them
selves from the windows, meeting instant
death on the pavement. Many who es-
capped from the lower stories will die
from the effects of their injuries, Occa-
stoned by the flames and portions Of the
falling walls.
How many victims persisted will not
be known until the fire has spent it's
away. Indications, however, are that
at least fifty persons have lost their
lives, and probably a much larger num-
ber The hotel was we'll filled with
guests, and though many escaped, it
seems almost certain that the loss Of
life has been very large.
Five bodies partially hidden by bricks
are lying. in the alley, but cannot be
reached, owing to the intense heat. Two
of the victims were women, and are sup
posed from the location OF the bodies to
have been domestics who jumped from
their dOrmitOry on the sixth floor.
One woman was being lowered from
window by the aid of rope and had
reached point opposite the third story
when the rope became ignited from
burning sill. The rope parted and the
woman fell to the pavement. Her brains
were dashed out and her body f1attened
into shapeless mass.
So great is the confusion and excite
ment that the indemnity of those killed
and injured cannot be ascertained. I'm
dertakerS and ambulances are flying in
all directions, and the streets in the
neighborhoOd of the Inflated hotel are
thrOnged with excited crowds Of people.
Every physician in the city is on the
scene, and the wounded are being cared
for as we'll as possible.
Among those injured is Cora Tanner,
the actress, who was severely burned.
about the head and feet. She was play
ing an engagement at the Grand Opera
House and had a room in the hotel.
Frank Casey of Glens Falls, n. Y,
and Emil Forbes, prominent brewer OF
Syracuse, are among the dead.
Many lives were lost by people crazed
with fright jumping from windows.
One man says he saw six people jump
from different windows on the Fayette
street side of the building within space
of four minutes, and the sight sickened
him with it's horror, and he was compel
led to leave the spot.
The building was provided with both
iron fire escapes on the outside and
ropes on the inside, which were the
means of saving many lives. Burnett
Forbes, stock-broker, escaped into the
street almost naked. He was slightly
injured about the hanGs. He loses d
gold watch valued at $500 and all his
clothing.
One woman was found with a nursing
babe in her arms crOuched in stairway,
where she had been overcome by smoke.
She was removed by the firemen, but has
not yet regained consciousness, and 1T IS
impossible to say what her name or eX-
perience was.
Escape by the stairways was cut or,
and those in the upper stories were COM
RELIED to Jump. The clerk of the hotel
began sounding in the alarm by tele-
phone, but the flames spread so rapidly
that he was driven from the instrument
and compelled to jump to save his own
life Nothing is left of the building ex-
cept the elevator shaft and the chimney.
The New York Central Depot, which
is across the street from the hotel, was
in great danger, but was finally saved.
The loss will exceed half d million dol
lars. This covers the hotel and furni-
ture, the stores on the first floor and
their stocks. The insurance will prob
ably be about one-half the amount OF the
loss.
The hotel was one of the finest in
Central New York. 1t stood on one of
the most prominent corners of the city,
and was we'll known to the travelling
public Of the United States. There were
400 rooms in the house, and, owing to its
convenient location as regards the rail-
road depot, it had always been filled with
guests. The New York Central Rail
roads station adjoined the hotel Re-
Gently all the rooms and parlors OF the
house were redecorated and renovated.