The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-10-16
A BABEL OF CONFUSION.

HeaFtrendtng Scenes vt tho FIr0-C0ra
Tanner, the Actress, Injured.
SYRACUSE, Got. 1913 a. m.1-Amou0
those injured is Cora Tanner, the actress,
who was severely burned about the head
and feet. She was playing an engagement
At the Grand Opera house and had q room
in the hotel Every physician in Syracuse
Is on the ground. Most of those killed
were on the fourth gnd fifth floors. At
this hour the hotel is still burn
ing. Vague rumors are afloat that the
list OF killed viii / number fifty persons. but
this fact cannot be substantiated and it is
believed the number will be less than twen-
ty-hve, the irst estimate. The guard lines
to keep back the surging crowds OF people
that are packed in the streets leading to the
Motel, and police are stationed all around
the building. The scenes and incidents con-
hec.ed ne With the rescue Of inmarts ars
women standing in upper windows
and Of the excited crowd below were deaf
eninR and added to the constant roar of
many fire enginef, created babel of con-
fusion and panioky excitement in and
Ground the hotel: Newspaper representa-
tlves are endeavorinR with all the energy at
their command, 20 obtain substantiated
Lists OF those who have lost their lives, but
have met with lutte success.
IN THE FLAMES
Several Instances Of Awful Death In View
Of the Spectators.
SYRACUSE, Oct. 15 4:25a. mat 1:l2 a. m.
man and woman were seen locked in
each others arms on the fifth floor at the
northeast corner of the building. Below
them was a perfect sea of flames. No pos-
sibility of escape except by the window was
open to them and that seemed
inevitable death. No assistance could
reach them. A woman seemed to be
anxious to jump, but her husband was
entreating her to desist; the
crowd below waited with bated breath.
The woman made one last effort to Jump.
but was restrained by her husband, and a
cry from the crowd signalled the awful end
that must have befallen them as they fell
backward into the room intn a mass Of
iames. At a window on the fourth
1Oor, almost directly under this woman
vas surrounded on all sides from the in
erior OF the room by fierce flames. She
he pavement or to face the fiery Toe that
vas fast encroaching on her liberty and life.
she stepped upon tho sill of the
y,ndow hn.,s and placed her hands
hut out the horrible sight that must meet
heir gaze should the woman jump to the
round. She seemed to be withheld either
y fear or feeling that escape would come
rom some other source. She stepped down
rom the sill into the room. but remained
t the window but an instant, when the
,hole room became enveloped in flames and
he sank back from view.
One of the firemen told this story of a
roman who was killed by jumping: "When
re nrst came we were hampered by tele-
raph wires on West Fayette street. Try
az to raise the ladder it became caught in
he wires. A woman stood in window cry
ag for help. The flames Ggere leaping out
oward her and she was frantic with fright.
went up the ladder to cut the wires. While
was doing this she jumped, thinking We
ould not reach her and the awful result
'as that she missed the net and was
illesl.'
II is now 4:25 O'Clock, and although the
otel Is still burning, the fire departments
ave the flames under control. There arc
,ur dead bodies lying at the different nm
ertaking establishments and one dead at
!. Joseph's hospital. These bodies az yet
re unidentified. It is utterly impossible
} learn definitely how many were burned
death and whose bodies will never bo
'und. p
A remarkable coincidence is the fact that
'-day meeting of insurance adjustera Of
10 state was to have taken place at the
,tel. Tho proprletors Of the hotel are
aFren Leland and Van Buren, Leland,
40 are also proprietors Of and ARE inter
ted IN various other large hotels In dt1Ptg-
= eities thSouaAout tho United 6tataA