The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-02-08

d. .H... N------- '-#. I'.....
New YonK, Fob. IA disaster, ap-
palling in horror, bringing to mind tho
terrible occurrences in Park Place, still
freslhin the public mind, occurred in
this city early this morning. The
Hotel Royal, that we'll known landmark
which has stood for more than quar-
ter OF q century at the southeast corner
OF Sixth avenue and Fortieth street, was
burned to the ground, and n large num-
Der OF people were burned, suitocatcd
and crushed in the ruins. II
At the time Of the disaster there were
nearly $50 guests in the hotel. Tho
hotel employees, all told, number fifty
five. Oi this number OF people five have
thus lar been found dead, six are in the
hospital and sixty-threc have becn re-
ported alive. One hundred are still
missing. The number OF dead will
probably not be less than thirty.
The scenes were heartrcnding and
appalled, even the firemcn and police
men, who are used to terrible scenes.
Soon after the fire broke out ambu-
lances arrived from the various hospi-
tails. Many physicians whose resi-
dences are in the ncighborhood were
quickly on the scene and did all they
cou I'D to relieve the injured.
/. Nearly every one OF the 1ol rooms
which the hotel has on its five floors
was occupied 'last night by guests,
many OF them transient. In fact, all
the rooms save four had been taken at l
o'clock this morning, when Richard
Mears, the proprietor, went to bed.
When the flames burst forth from
some unknown origin. near the elevator
shaft, the shaft and the entire building
was instantly enveloped in flames.
;1.s,s4.s,;,. TIE DISCOVERY.
: AT sos O'Clock; Mrs. Isabella Mcarcs,
wife OF Mr.. Richard NIearcs, proprietor
of the hotel, awakened her husband,
telling him tho house was on fire. She
heard the cracking OF tho flames and
saw smoke coming through the creviccs
OF their bedroom door. Mr.. Mcares
had only retired at l o'clock and was
aroused with difficulty. lie sprang out
OF bed and ran into the hallway. Vol
umes OF smoke filled the halls and the
flames were making their way rapidly
up the elevator shaft. Their apart
ments were on the third floor and forty
feet from the stairway.
Ono glance at the situation was
enough to tell him the story. He ran
back to his wifc's room and shouted:
"Now you follow me-" snatched up
coat and again ran into the hallway.
He fought his way straightto the stair
case, supposinS that his wife was close
behind him. The passagoway was,
chnked with dense smoke which almost.
strangled him. Then throwing his
overcoGt oyer his head to prevent sulTo-
cation, bent his head low and groped
his way TO the bannistcrs, on which he
placed his left hand. Flames were
shooting up from below. His hand
which was on the railing was burned
and his hair singed. His situation was
perilous. Torun down the stairs for
two flights meant death and SO he,
swinging himself over the hand rail.
jumped twenty feet to tho ground
floor. He landed on his feet without a
broken bone and made his way 10 the
street.
MRS. MEAREs RESCUED,
Mr.. Ehicares was among tho first to
leave the burning building, and when
ho made his extinct fire engine had
q b J.. e z
arrived. utevcn in those few minutes
the flames had Cotton their grip on the
iatcd structure and fire was shooting
from all the windows OF the upper
floors. When Mr.. NIoarcs reached safety
in the street he realized that his wife
was not with him. At that moment
q hook and ladder arrived. A1earcs
implorcd them to save his wifc. A lad
der was quickly placed in position to
window which he said was his wife's
room.
Up the ladder Fireman Merritt ran.
The window selected was not tho right
room. twas IN unknown who quickly.
stepped out on to the ladder and was
carried down in safety. Then tic lad.
der was placed against the window OF
Mrs. Meares's room. A young man
ran nimbly up to help save the woman,
who had already stepped upon. the
ladder.
Mcares ran up the ladder too, and
stepped off to the roof OF tile veranda
over the entrance TO the Office to steady
his wife when she came down. She was
very nervous, and in making the descent
slipped and fell to tho sidewalk. She
was picked up with a sprained ankle
and several body bruises.
In the meantime, Policeman Gala
CHER had rung in an alarm, which was
followed by two calls for ambulances.
JUMPED TO DEATH.
The scenes atthe fire before the fro
companies arrived were heartrending.
One man whose name is not known
SDflnr from n thirl ctnru yrip,)nu. ard