Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-01-07
TWOPERSONSPERISH
Fatal Fire Breaks Out in the Way
erly Hotel, Chicago, Mon
day Morning.
One Man is Crushed to Death in an
Elevator, While Another
is SuffOcated.
Dense Smoke Creates Terrible Con-
fusion, and the Guests Get
Panic Stricken.

CHICAGO, H., Jan. 4.-Early this
morning ire occurred in the Waverly
hotel at 262 Clark street and resulted
In the death of two persons and the
serious injury Of two more. The killed:
PAUL WOOD, aged II, an artist; crushed
while attempting to make his escape in the
elevator.
JOHN MEREDITH, surocatcd in his room
on the second floor.
The injured:
SAMUEL F. WOOD, clerk for the firm of Had
dock, Vallctte & RIccOrds, l01 Dearborn street,
and father of the dead boy; crushed by the
elevator
Mrs. SAMUEL F. WOOD, leg broken while il
the elevator.
The IRE originated in the rear of the
restaurant on the first floor. Before it
was discovered by the cook or wa tiers
it had gained good start, and large
volume of thick smoke was rolling up
the elevator shaft.
Clarence Latimcr, the night clerk,
first discovered the blaze. He called
the attention Of the restaurant en-
ploycs to it and rushed into the street.
lie mot cab-drivcr at the door and
told him to turn in an alarm of fire.
Latimer h2Stcned back into the hotel
and Logan awakening the guests.
Hc ran to the fourth floor and shouted
"Firc'' several times and raped at the
doors as he went along. The stairway
winds about the elevator shaft, and as
the clerk was on his way to the second
floor he heard people crowding into the
elevator and it soon gliGed past him.
When it struck the bottom there was
crash, and Latimer, supposing that it
had broken, paid no further atten zion
and continued to awaken the guests.
Followed by the Utmost Confusion.
His cries Of fire were followed by the
utmost confusion.
Men, women and children ran here
and there in their night-clothes, scream
ing with fright. Finally some of the
cooler headed opened the windows and
let the dense smoke clear away. After
q time the inmates became quiet and
returned to their rooms and put on
their clothes.
When the first cries of fire were
heard Harry Wood, brother of the
boy who was killed, was talking in the
restaurant with George IIinman, the
head waiter. He went to awaken his
father, mother, sister and brother, who
were sleeping on the fourth floor. He
knocked on the door and FASTENED
back. They did not come down as
soon as he expected and he started up
after them the second time As he
passed the second story he spicd the
elevator and getting in he ran it to
the top floor Gouring his way
through the smoke he arrived
at his fathers room and sue
ceeded in getting his father and
mother into the elevator. They were
closely followed by the brother and
sister just as they were starting
down.. E. Smith Jumped into the ele-
vator and, according to Harry Wood,
seized the lever and prevented him
from controlling the machine. When
the ground floor was reached he jumped
out, closely followed by his brother.
The elevator began to ascend then and
MIR. and Mrs. Wood were caught be-
tween the floor and the top of the door.
The elevator then began to descend
and it was then that Paul Wood lest
his life. 1t is supposed that lie was
overcome by the smoke and fell uncon-
scious into the pit of the elevotar shaft
When found he was terribly crushed
between the elevator and the door. His
clothes were torn into ribbons. Mrs
Wood was carried to drug store.
After the smoke had cleared away
the firemen found John Meredith on the
second floor overcome by smoke, and
Icat.
LArtR. .ue van supposed to he 2hr
Mer," i, has teen Identified as Rev. J
Il NJ" dith, Of St. Louis, temperance
lecturer