Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1892-02-11

bedroom door MIR, Mears had only retired
at O'Clock and was aroused with diilrultY.
Vie Fprnng oHt Of he and ran into the hail
way olumc5 at smoke flied the halls and
tue iianes were mHsng tGeir way rapidly
up the elevator sha't. TEeir apartments
wero on the third floor und - feet from tn t
stairway.
Mr.. NcDres ran lnch to his room, shouted
to his wife, "uoW follow me- santchs UP
II coat AMI ran into tbe hallway. lie fought
MS Wey to the stairs, sdpposmS his wife
vas close baninl him. The p1ssacewnv was
filled with denso smoke which, almost
strr nclcd him Throwing his coat over his
her4 he rroie ell MS way to the banisters
OF which lie Iluccd his loft hand. FLAMES
were shooting NJ from below. Ills hand ON
the railing was burned md his hair WINS
slnSed. To run down the stairs for two
flights meant d. a,h and 80 swinging him
sell over the rnil, Mr.. Nioares dropped 20 fcot
to the Srcund floor, la1din4 on his feet with
out injury aud made hts way to the street.
Ar. Meares was among the first to leave
the building and this WINS before the first
fire engine arrived. Bnt in few minutes
fire was shooting from ali the windows Of
the upper floors. Mr.. Mcares, vino he'd
been half daaed, soon realized that ne had
not been followed out by his wife. At That
moment n hook and ladder company nrriv-
eu Aearas lmplorei thom to save his vito.
N ladder was quickly placed in position to 4
WinuuW wnicu 10 said VA, hi vile room.
TniY proved not TO be Mrs. Mearos's room
DUG an unknown woman quickly stepped out
'Lpon the ladder and was carried down in
, safety.
Then the ladder was placed against the
window OF Mrs. Meares's room. Ms Mearos
appeared at the win low. She was very
nervous, and in making the descent
slipped aud fell to the sidewalk and was in
jufed. One man jumped from a third story
window On the Sixth avenue side and ves
killed.
moment later another man leaped from
window on the 10th street side and was
/ instantly killed Shortly after, two women
jumped from windows on the sixth auenue
side. SCrEt Ward and Patroiman Philip
went into II room for the fourth
floor front and rescued Walker II Phelps and
wife They also saved SamUe! kuolf. who
was about to leap from window. Mrs. f.
Knapp OF Chicago had "A room on the fifth
! floor. She wrapped wet towel around
her head to prevent being suilocated, and
went to the window and waited until res
! cued 10y q policeman. Mrs. Kuepcr and
daughtor o, flemnRton \. j., occupied
room on the third floor. Ihy were taken
from their room down a lnddcr by the fire.
men, They lost all their clothing save the
night dresses which they had on. Mrs.
Nueper suffered from the shock and Miss
kucper's hair was slnged by the flames.
One OF the most thrilling escapes was that
Of J. Noonan OF Jersey City. Wien Noonan
was awakened he looked out of the window,
but no ladder was near him. SO he. with the
confidence of an athlete, swung himself from
! the window Sill to the window below and
! from one window to another he descended
till he reached the ground \ young man
named Levy slid down a rope tearing the
, flesh to the bone.
/ The news of the disaster spread through
I the city aud anxious friends of those wno
| lived IN the hotel hurried to tho spot Tbs
| Hotel Royal was built more than % years
| ago Mr.. Meares leased il IL years ago
| The house was the home of many persons in
| the theatrical profession and was patroriz-
ed chiefly by transients for night Many
! families, however, made 1t their permanent
residence. Heeman Israel u furniture deal
er here, owned the building, which was val
ued at from $780, 600 to 500, 900, well in
surei. Mr.. Meares says hi; own loss was
from $50, 900 to $50, COO, fully insured. a
arge force will be put to work in the morn =
ng clearing away the debris.