The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-02-08
Presence OF Mind of Woman-Brave
Firemen and Policemen---A Rescacr
Loses His Iifc--Some Dashed to
Death on the Pavements Below.

pitaI and Sixty-three have been reported
alive, and 100 are still missing. The num-
ber of dead will probably not exceed. at a
later estimate, thirty.
The scenes were heartrending and ap-
palied even the tiremen and policemen
who are used To terrible sights. Soon
after the fire broke out, ambuIanees ar
rived from various hospitals. many physi-
clans whose residences are in the neigh
borhood were quickly on the scene and did
ali they could TO relieve the injured.
Nearly every one OF the I'll rooms which
the hotel has on its five tloors, was eccu-
pied last night by guests. many of them
transient. In. TACT all the rooms save four
had been taken at l o'clock this morning.
when Richard Meares, the proprietor. went
10 bed. When the flames burst forth from
some unknown origin, near the elevator
shaft. the entire building was instantly
enveloped in flames.
The dead, missing and injured are re-
ported rs follows:
DEAD
Unknown woman 20 years old, fractured skull
and burned about body.
Unknown woman about q, good looking,
light complexion, abundance OF jeweiry.
Unknown man about - years old, dark brown
hair, jumped from the window. head smashed
IN pieces.
Unknown man. good looking, about 4. years
Old, evidently Hebrew.
HENRY c. LEVY, New York.
INJURED.
CLARENCE W. KElS, 81 years old. lawyer, OF
Haz.eton. Pa.
WALTER l. GATES 50 years old, clother. Of
Philadelphia.
Nus. Isabella MEAREs. wife Of the proprietor.
NRRBEEr UAgDING. engineer OF the hotel,
SC Il n
MISSING.
William I. Armstrong, Thomas Kennedy.
Charles C'ose.
RESCUED.
". 6. Buchanan, &. S. Soncy, Rupert lamont
G.. Kramer, Z. b. Reynolds aud wife, g G. Cock
bury, o. ;. EPler, G. White. T. G. Harding, W II.
Scott and wife. Iaugdon smith. g. $ Mcesce.
James l. Corey, Mrs. J.'litus, Mrs. ). Knap OF
Chicago.
All these escaped from the burning
building and were taken to the Gedney
house. i. Taylor, II. p. Tompkins and w.
G. Pearce were rescued and taken TO the
Hotel Nctropole at 3 :o5 o'clock.
Not all OF the persons vino engaged
rooms az the hotel last night registered.
nor did all who registered put down their
true names for reasons best known to
themselves. \ few of the names as writ
ten are:
A. D. sonlin. city; T. r. Lennard and wife,
Philadel phia; T.. Leouaka, Ontario; W. TFai-
fcrd aud wife, New Rochelle; +. 4. Clark ard
wife Boston; j. G.. Price aud wife, city: l.. c.
and Mrs. Taylor Newark. \. g.. r. Lester and
WIFE, Boston J. X smith aud wife. Springfield,
Mass: John ParkersOa aud wife, Great Neck,
J.. t. Mr.. Mckco and wife, New lFaven G. 81.
White and wife, Nynek, ). y; J. e. Williams
and WIFE, Albany; II. O. Warren and wife,
Nyack: T. Marr0ng and wife, Boston; John
han qfti yyt q
cry; j. Luefel and wife. city; Mr.. White and
wife, Chicago, AIr Fanlker, wife aud daughter,
Connecticut
Those known 10 be dead whose bodies
were recovered we're not alI identified In
fact, only ono was identified with aay de-
gree of positiyeness. This is believed TO
be H. c. Levy.
II is feared that search Of the vast
smoking pile Of debris in the cellar will re-
veal many sAastly finds.
Reports up 20 a late hour tonight are to
the effect thatnoJess than 100 people are
still unaccounted for.
Mrs Isabella Meares, wife of the pro-
prietor of the house, awakened her has-
band telling him thag the house was on
fire. She heard cracking flames and saw
smoke coming through the crcvices of the
bedroom door. Meares had only retired at
I o'clock and was aroused with difficulty.
He spfang out Of bed and ran into
the hallway Volumes Of smoke filled
the halls and the flames we're making their
way rapidly up the elevator shaft. Their
apartments were on the third floor and
forty feet from the stairway. One glance
az the situation was enough to tell him
the story. He Ean back to his wife's.ro
and shouted: Vow y0n follow me. -
..o.-t14 ,,,. D. ......s ,,..4 ,.r,f,. -.
hallway, lie fought his way straight to
the staircase, supporting his wifs
close behind him The passaoe-
way was choked with dense
smoke. which almost strangIed him.
Then thro1ins the coat over his head 10
prevent suiIocation, he bent his head low
and CROPPED mis- way 90 the bannisters on
which he placed his left hand. The flames
we're shooting up from below. Ills hand
which was on the railing was burned and
his hair siused. His situation was peril-
ous. To run down stairs for two fights
meant death, and So swinging himself
over the hand rail, he dropped twenty
feet 70 the ground toor. He landaa on
his feet ithoat broken bones and made
his way 20 the street.
Meercs was among the frat 70 leave the
ba-ung building, and when he made his
exit NOS ire engine had arrived Bat
even in those few minutes the fire had
gotten a grip Oh the fated structure, and
tae flames were shooting from al the
windows of the upper aoors When
Aleares reached safety in the street he re-
allied that bis wife WAS not wifb him. At
that moment hook and ladder company
arrived. ladder was qtliceiy placed Ia
position % Tie window oi what he said
"as hls wiie's room. Tn the ladder went
Policeman Merritt. The window selected
aas not than ri the right room. Ia it WAS
an Unknown Woman, who quickly
stepped out on 20 the ladder end was
carried Gown in safety lhcn The
ladder vas placed against the window Of