Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-10-23
A srEAoUsn nonooAusy

Iltiites Jump 10 Their Death
rye Number W0unded-sceucs
EH0rror-NarroNv Escape of tie
ne Error'' Company.
ihYRAousE, N. Y, Oct. 16.-The mag
sent LELAND, the most modern aud
q. appointed hotel In Central Now
X, N to-day nothing but a Inass Of
NEpuideriug iuins. 1t was 12 40 o'clock
Is morning when fire was first di5oov-
cd in the region OF the kitchen located
tn the second hlor in the rear Of the west
1e of thu building. Inside Of Is min
cH the building was in flames from end
end and before 80 minutes had elapsed
% walls had fallen with the exception
the northeast corner. The whole wns
- seething furnace to which wss added
sN horror that many lives were involved,
FIRE. it was feared that the loss OF
was in the neiShborhood OF 80, but
Spec day wore along and the number Of
Gising and dead was reduced to geven
den eight.
sexwhen the flames began to sweep
peirough the hotel Night Clerk Porter
~ 9nes set the automatic fee alarm bells
,,rjnging and before tho rudsly awakened
t)r1eais could realize what was the matter
fora flames and smoke rushed through the
willis cutting off the means Of escape.
clahe scene beggars description. Strong
then seemed to be paraiyzsd with fear and
ch1,aew not whit to do. Others more cool
'uErisdly donned some Of their clothing
ind girded about them the patent fire
sosoape with which each room was
Equipped. I. was nothing but risos of
nwebbing and rope, but by its means
l.many lives were saved.
Il The burning hotel, viewed from the
.oIstreet, presented soene which will never
sf,be forgotten. 1t was agoniziDg in the
extreme. at many windows Of the five
irs,ories of the burning building could be
c,seen men and women, piteously calling
e for help or making their esoape by means
of the rope appliance. In a window on
9 the fifth story q man and woman were
seen to be apparently struggling in each
others arms. The woman evidently
WANTED to throw herself out Of the win.
tidow. Below them was ssa Of flame.
aEoon after they were lost to view.
IL On the fifth floor toward the Fsyette
psBiKeet side four women appeared OF the
sfwindow. Their s5reams for help could
2 be heard above the din and roar. The
y flemen shouted to stay where they were.
The hook and ladder was put into posi-
ition. The evils of overhead wires were
o,gain demonstrated. The wires were in
,etSe way and prevented the raising of the
uaiadder. Minutes seemed hours while on
who ladder. Men mounted the rounds
az nj cut the wlres.
y Among the frightened women ct the
"A indow was Annie Cummings, one OF the
nj servants. Her companions tried 10 per-
xssuade her from jumping hesdlong TO tho,
street. While the laddermen wers at
prwork hosting ladders willing hands had
H'sold of the jumping net. The Cummings
! woman jumped with evident intention of
landing in the net.
In her descent the Cummings woman
bptruck the wires and her body bounded
hsover and over and she fell bruised and
nlmangled heap seven feet from the net.
veMeAnwhile the laddermen were working
pa,with will and succeeded In placing the
y extension ladder against the building.
q A cry of horror rang out from the
spectators whsn it was found it was
e7 short, but this WAS quickly succeeded by
t. Q cheer when one of the lRddermen
btsaoRnted the ladder and standing on the
~ topfnost wound reached up and helped
down theith.ee women. Il was the work
n OF herol Had the Cummings woman
3 visited q nIpment or two her life would
have been spared.
II On Gil sides men and women could be
th seon dropping from Windows or sliding
Sadown Are escapes. In the centre of the
til building was 3 court yard. Here WAS
10 being enRctt Einillar scenes to those on
!, the outside of the building. The guests
y \ in tho rooms facing this court in many
instances had to make their escape by
) this means. Some jumped while others
., used the FIRE escapes. On tbs roof OF the
boiler house located at the went side OF
the building at one time lay six or seven
y persons unconscious spd injured. They
were removed by hremen end Others to
J, places of ssf5ty.
b The flames swept through the building
4 with unparalleled repidity. Ohiet EnRi.
neer Riley of the fire department Gays
q that when he arrived at the scene be and
his men made for the upper portion OF
the building. he, with couple Of hose
plen, lad reached the fourth floor, wher
= they could go no further.
a Following is list of the dead so far Rs
known:
Annie Cummings of New York, aged
a a. jumped from the fifth floor, fractured
~ bsck part head, fractured knees, bruised
gsEsebout arms and hands; killed instantly.
William E. Hsrrop Of Elizabeth, N. J..
:, place of business 79 Worth street, New
York, aged 40, lowered himself by rop,
is half way down from fourth floor wher
I, the rope burned of and he fell to tai
I 81 und. Died at st. Joseph's Hospital q
I 4 .. N.
a Roae SchwRrz, 20 yaara, hotel dcnes
+ tic, jumped from fifth floor, right side Of
:, face smashed, compound fracture Of boil
. RrmG, wounds about head and face, dia;
from shock and internal injuries at Hous
j OF Good Shepherd at $50 a. m.
Unknown woman, ased about %, be
{ gan work Tuesday rs a hoiel domestic
=. Jumped from the fifth floor; back of hea,
Sb completely crushed in; fracture OF lei
thish; numerous external injuries; killet
instantly; was not dressed; has red hair
supposed to have lived in New Yorh
body is at morgue.
The misaing are:
Merry Doyle, q servant Of this city.
Robert 4. Mills Of New York, guesI
a. j. Van Houten Of Jersey City,
guest.
George 3. Hood of Dexter, N. y,
guest.
Following is list Of injured;
Annie Campbell, aged is, hotel d.
mestic jumped from ff;h story, left ey
mashed, compound fracture Of risl
I upper arm, compound disIocatior {
right ankle, severe shock, will probabl
survive.
II. S. Drysdale Of New York, aged A
salesman, was on fourth floor, can
down two and q half stories on rope whe
\ escape refused to work, he dropped
tts sidewalk, rupture of external lg
- "a