Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-10-23
Vanderbilt House and attended to in the

Vanderbilt House and attended to in the
ladies' psrlor.
The other members Of her company
are ais, at the Vanderbilt House. Miss
Duprse and Misc Klein, both OF the same
company had narrow escapes. They
were on the fifth floor and would doubt
less have persisted had it not been for the
courageous boy who rsu the elevator.
They CROPPED around the hall until they
heard u shout to come to the elevator.
Ths followed the sound of tho yoics aud
found the car. They were taken down
safely although tho flames shut into the
elevator at nearly every floor.
Willism 7. Groves, acting manager for
Mis- Tanner, who was filling an engage
meut at the grand opera house, says
NEARLY IL not ell OF the young ladies Of
Miss Tanners company, who occupied
rooms on the third and fourth floors OF
the hotel, had retired, but several of the
gentlemen wers still cut when the fire
started. 1 threw few Of my clothes and
personal effects into my trunk, but l lost
them in the end. was on
the fourth floor. Among others on
that f9or was Mlss Ada Dryer,
OF the company. We met in the hall and
started in the direction of the sound Of
the voice of fireman who was showing
frantic men and women the way to the
stsirs, We got separated in the crowd
in the halle, where the scene was an
awful one. The gas must have been put
ont by the dense smoke, for the halls
were socn in total darkness. did not
see Miss Dryer again until we met on
the ground floor. Lost all of my per-
personal effects, except my watch and
money"
+. W. Gilmore of Pawtuckst, r. l.,
aged SO, came down rope and struck
on coal shoot; nail in board ripped
his back the full length OF his spine;
hand badly burned from friction OF rope.
Theo. Outhier, fireman, company No.
1; face badly burned; taken TO mis- home.
Eagsie Giles, aged 90, hotel domestic;
cut about head and face; compound frac-
ture left leg; burned acsoHs back; fracture
right arm; LETT arm burned.
John Gowlstt, hrem IN, company No.
A, aged 81, completely buried By falling
walls, cheek bon9 broken, left side OF
face badly cut and bruised; will pSoba-
big recover.
Lizzie Loudere #, AGED 10, hotsl
domestic, jumped from f tn floor com
pound fracture knee joint, foot badly
crushed.
MsB. O'Connor, hotel domestic frac-
tu-e right arm, serious injuries about
face.
Max Rasenheim Of New York city, frac-
ture Of right ankle.
Annie schwarz, hotel domestic, inter
nal injuries by fall.
Mary linen, aged 20, hotel domestic,
compound fracture right arm, burned
about face; badly shocked.
How the frs originated ia not yet
definitely determined and it is doubtfalif
it ever will be, so rapid WAS the progress
Of the hames. 1t is thought, however,
that 1t started in the bakery adjoining
the kitchen
John Brideman, night clerk, was sit
ting in the offioe and the first he knew
was when one Of the night hands opened
year door and the Office WAS filled with
smoke. The bells were at once set at
work and every endeavcr made toawAken
the sleeping guests.
In % minutes from the first alarm the
northern side OF the building fell in so
rapid was the progress Of tae IRE. Fifteen
minutes later the centre Of the eastern
wall fell with . terrific crash. At 100
the west walls fell, carrying with them
the two-story brick buildings on West
Fayette street., occupied by the Curtiss
Manufacturing Company and Charles II.
Gibbs.
TIE southeast wall fell soon after and
when daylight broke oil that remained
standing Of the beautiful Leland struc-
ture was a section Of tho north-esat corner
and the elevator shaft. The latter atoOd
like a monument, threatening to fall at
any moment, fortunately there vas little
or 70 wind ana the mighty volume Of
flame rose high in the air rlining down
snowerH Of sparks and burning embets on
the vBst crowds which had assembled
and ondsngering nearby property.
The freight department Of the Ameri-
can Express Company, located on the
north eide of the Leland and adjoining
the Central railroad, was demolished
Some OF tho freight was saved, but much
mere was destroyed.
The Central depot was on fire several
timas, aud tha storsa and property ad-
| Joining On Franklin end West Faye;te
stTehts were severely scorohed by tie
flames and window rlass cracked.
The Leland Hotel wsa about 900 feet
square and six storiss in height. 1t con
tanned lS9 separate ROOMS ana was thor
ouebly equipped With fire egcapes, call
hellH, go.
A rough estimata of the loas to prop.
erty 10 tie best idea that up to the
present cen be gained. Probable losses
are Newton Hickok, SO 900, insured for
&3,50O; III. A. SUBWAY, loss 81 00G, in.
saraooe $4,000; American Express
Company, loss S2 SEQ, fully in
surch; Everhon estnte, which owned
tho building, Loss $4,000, Insurance.
$50 900; Leland Bros, loss, $3.50, 600; il.
sura.ce, $4,000; Hiram Walls, loss
2,5GG; insurance, 81, 200; jay b. Doyle
loss, 800; no insurance; William Il
Orr, loss, So 900; inHuranos, 81, 500
Qurtiss Manufacturing Company, loss
$40 000; Insurance, Sls geo; total loss
S2l6, 200; total ipsurance, &t29 900.