The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-07-28
ALAMEDA.
stephen NJ. Hart Fatally Burned in the
InNaI Ok fel

stephen NJ. Hart Fatally Burned in the
Loyal Oak Hotel.
Residents in the vicinity of Park street
and Railroad avenue were aroused from
sleep about o'clock yesterday morning by
an alarm of fire. Volumes of smoke were
issuing from the roof of the Loyal Oak
Hotel, and as the fire had gained much
Roadway before the alarm was gwen a
serious confagration seemed imminent, as
Il big livery stable, in which several hun
bred tons of hay arc stored, stands but a
few feet from the hotel.
just rs efforts were being made to fight
the fire the large crowd of people who had
assembled were Mortified to sac man
emerge from one OF the lower rooms where
the fire was raging. He did not take time
to raise the window, but pushed himself
through 1t, taking the sash along. The man
wSS Stephen Nj. Hart, and the fire origi-
mated in his room. He was burned from
the abdomen to the crown of his head. and
presented most sickening sight,
After forcing his way through the win
dow he walked across the street, and burned
pieces of flesh fell from him with every step
which lie took. Strange to relate, he re-
tanned consciousness in his horrible con-
dition. The upper part of his body was
literally roasted. and the smell of his flesh
made many of the spectators sick.
"I Will be all right in little while" said
give me some water. l will dc anything
for you, boys, If you only give me drink
If water. | Ieel as if had fire inside of
me-"
William Tierney had taken charge of the
unfortunate and sent tor bottle OF sweet
oil, which he poured on the baked human
body still possessed with life. Despite his
begging for water it was not given him, but
instead oil was poured down his burned
throat.
In the meantime the fire was making
great Roadway and the hotel seemed doomed
to total destruction. But the Volunteer
Fire Department of the city had turned out
in full numbers and two streams were soon
pouring IN the cracking flames. The fire.
men seemed TO work with an unusual deter
mination and vigGr, and in less than half
Fan h0ar all danger of the destruction Of the
building was aytrt2d.
To relieve Hart OF his intense agony
morphine was injected into his body, but 1t
was evident that his burns had placed him
beyond all medical aid. He was placed in
an express wagon and taken to the Receiv-
ing Hospital in Oakland. The attendants
at that institution say that they never saw
more sickening sight, and the contortions
of his face showed how intense his suffer-
ingS were. He fingered until noon, when
death came to his relief.
Whisky and cigarettes are said to be the
indirect cause of the mans horrible fate.
11t W do d pdllllti D1 tIdue, years VI age,
but of late had been working as a common
Iaborer. He was engaged Saturday in dig
ging a side-sewer trench on Park street for
the new Petersen Building, and when he
received his wages proceeded to indulge in
liquor. At midnight he was seen on the
streets singing and apparently in very
happy frame Of mind. He was addicted to
the use OF cigarettes, and il is supposed that
when lie went to bed at the Loyal Oak Hotel
ne was smoking one. lie slept on q straw
mattress, and it is thought by some that
lighted cigarette set fire to the mattress.
From the manner in which his body is
burned from the abdomen upward, it is
supposed that he tried to extiuguish the
flames, but in his stupor, induced by liquor,
he was not able to cope with them, and
when his flesh commenced to roast he leaped
from his bed, jumped through the window
and sought refuge on the streets.
Deceased was n single man and had baen
a resident of Alameda about year. He is
a member of the Druids, and the local lodge
has taken charge of the remains and will
give them decent burial.