The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-02-08

room, including $l2, 900. IN cash. several
checks and notes and other valuable
business documents. Among the mar
row escapes related Is that of William
G. Thornpkins, Of this city, who was a
transient guest. He was aroused by the
cry of fire and finding escape by the
stairs impossible coolly packed his things
and lowered himself to the ground BY
means Of the rope fire escape which he
found in the room. When on the ground
he gathered up his effects, which he had
previously thrown out Of the window,
and went elsewhere to finish his sleep.
A tall, handsome young man, climbed
down the Sixth avenue front from the
topmost window. He slowly climbed
from sill to sill until he reached the
ground. He WAS seriously burned and
bruised, bat alive, and the crowd
cheered him wildly while he disappeared,
unidentified, in the crowd. Mrs. Keuper
and her daughter, Julia, who occupied
q room on the third floor at the corner
of Fortieth street and Sixth avenue, and
who registered from Pennington, N. j.,
on Saturday, were rescued BY police
man and a fireman, who carried them
down q ladder. They lost all their
clothing save their night dresses, which
they had on. Mrs. Keuper suffered
greatly from the shock and Miss Kue-
per's long black hair was badly singed by
the flames, which burst out Of the win
dow as she stepped on the ladder to
safety.
Proprietor NTeares' Escape.
Richard Meares. proprietor of the
Hotel Royal, miracufously escaped death
with his wife. They retired at o'clock
and were asleep on the second floor.
They were aroused by the Waterman.
Saying follow me, Mr.. Meares, with
his overcoat over his head, clambered
over the banisters at the end of the head
of the stairs and dropped to the floor be
low Turning to catch his wife when
she dropped he was Mortified to see that
she had not followed him. The frantic
man would have rushed back up the
burning stairs, but the firemen seized
him and roughly fastened him out of
the building and handed him over to
policemen unhurt.
Meantime Mrs. Meares had acted for
herself with rare presence Of mind She
rushed to the window and leaped to the
roof Of portico and was taken down
by the Aremen. She sustained sprained
ankle, but was otherwise unhurt by her
thrilling experience.
Mr.. Noonan's ThriIIing Hscape.
One OF the most thrilling escapes Of
the night was that of young man
named N0on4n, OF Jersey City. Noonan
had been but recently married. Satur-
day night he came over to tins city to
celebrate the happy occasion with his
friends, and after q long and jovial sea-
SON he was taken to the Hotel Royal,
where he was soon put TO bed by his
companions IN a room ON the fourth
door. N0onRn was awakened from his
sleep by shouts of fire and cries for help
from women and men. For 4 moment
he WAS dazed, but in an instant he col
lected his scattered senses. He looked
out III the hall, hut there was no escape
there. He looked out of the window
and no ladder was near him, 50 he, with
the confidence of IN athlete, swung hiln-
self FROM the window sill to the Window
below, and from one window to another
he descended until he reached the
ground.
Fifteen laborers were put to work
clearing away the debris of the corner Of
F0rtieth street. They continued their
work until dark. Early this morning
100 men, under Contractor Galloway,
were put to work, and it is expected the
known. Coroner Hanley Who was early
on the scene arranged for the removal
of all bodies recovered, direct to the
rlorgue, where d description Of them.
will be taken aud they viii be placed III
collins for identification.
Comedian Powers Story.
James 4. Powers, the well known
comedian, who witnessed the whole of
the terrible conhagration and its accom-
panyilig horrors, was seen in bed at his
hotel hy reporter He was pretty sick
IN consequence Of the excitement he had
been through, but was willing to talk of
what he had witnessed. He said: II
called to the poor wretches IN the build
ing, Don't JUNO; wait for the firemen;
they viii be here in minute wait,
wait for your lives, wait. But it seemed
an age before the firemen got there. and
really believe it was ten minutes. Thea
the bniiding was one mass of flames. /
shall never forget the scene. 1T was
terrible to see the poor inmates, crazel
with fear, raise Che windows and 1UlIaD
hea4long 10 what seemed sure death.
shutsnny eyes so as net TO see them, but
/ heard them strike with ii sound that
made my blood run cold. ] saw a man
jump. from the fourth story. The poor
man clothes were ON IRE, and he ca1s1e
down like a stone ard struck the side.
walk only few feet away from nae.
When opened my eyes lie lay there Il
alangled corpse with his brains scattere9i
over tie pavement. a woman, entirely
nude, eage 4 sgs4tt garment appeared d
d tilsltl saasy window, climbed mp sd the,
window s5ii ;iaa rolled GIL. falling head
first to the Sidewalk and was Instantly
kiiEed. The OTHER persons. both men,
jumped from Ihe third story aud be-
lleve theg were killed siSw mas.
Toe, ut thetliirVl story window furtAest
toward Thirty ninth street take tlree
little girls and to d woman pass them
along theScornice into an adjoining win
dow N the next building Then ne fol |
lowed them. 1t was brave, herDic act.
and fearfally dangerous, but all were
saved There seemed to he more people |
on the third floor than elsewhere, and |
God only knows how many Of them
were burned. saw at least fifteen men
and women rush to windows, look out |
and then fall back into the |
flames. Whether any were saved / do |