The record-union., 1892-02-08

room down ladder. They lost all their
clothing save the night-dresses which
they had on, and were cared for by Mrs.
| >. Knight of West Fortieth street. Mrs.
Aueper suffered from the shock and Miss
huepers long, black hair was singed by
/ the flames, which burst over her head as
| she stepped on the ladder.
Mrs. Knight dealt temporary hospi-
taIlty, and had no less than nine home
less people there at one time. Among
thoSe who accepted of her hospitality was
a young man named Levy, who slid
| bone.
These escapes occurred before the walls
OF the building fell, while the firemen
were doing their utmost to stop the
progress of the flames. which threatened
70 envelope the adjoining buildings.
W hen the walls fell people were seen at
several windows on the top floor crying
1or help, but they fell back, and were
soon
BURIED IN THE RUINS.
The flames of the burning building
| lliumlned the sky for miles around, and
drew TO the scene an immense throng OF
people.
The fire lines were strictly drawn and
maintained during the entire day, and
none save persons authorized to enter by
reason Of their official positions were al
/ lowed within the Boundaries
The news Of the disaster spread through
the length and breadth of the city. and
friends Of those who lived III the hotel
hurried TO the spot in fear and trembling.
One of the most thrilling escapes was
tilat OF young man named j. Noonan,
OF Jersey City. Noonan was recently
married, and had just returned from an
extended wedding trip. He came to the
tlty yesterday to celebrate The event with
his friends, and after night Of it went to
the Hotel Royal and took room on the
fourth floor. Noonan was awakened by
shouts of fire, and looked about for way
to escape. he flames filled the halls,
and he went to the window, swung him
self from the sill to the window below,
and from one window to another until he
reached the ground.
The hotel was built over TWENTY-FIVE
years ago. In 1882 it was remodeled and
an addition built on the south side. The
| house was the home of many persons in
the theatrical profession and was patron
lied chiefly by transients. Many fimilies,
however, made 1t their permanent place
of residence.
SEARCH FOR THE DEAD.
After the fire had sufficiently cooled
search was made for the dead and was
at once rewarded by the finding of a
charred body almost burned to a crisp.
1t was identified as that of Henry j.
Leroy. The walls we're in a dangerous
condition and IL was deemed necessary to
pull them down before continuing the
search for the dead. a force of 100 men
Will be put To work early tomorrow
morning clearing away the debris.
DEAD AND INJURED.
The dead, missing and injured are re-
ported as follows:
Dead-An unknown woman, 40 wears
old, fractured skull and burned about the
BODY: unknown woman, about Is wears
Old, good-looking, light complexion,
abundance Of jewelry; unknown man,
about 80 years Old, dark-brown hair
jumped from window, head smashed in
pieces; unknown man, good-looking
about 42 years old, evidently an Hebrew;
Henry {. Levy of New York.
Inc injured are: Clarence w. Klein, 80
years old, lawyer, Hazleton, Pa; Walter
l.. Yates, 60 years old, clothier, Phiiadel-
phIa; Mrs. Isabella Meares, wife of the
proprietor; Herbert Harding, engineer of
Inc hotel, fatally burned while trying TO
rescue woman.
Missiug-William e. Armstrong, Thos.
Kennedy, Charles Close.
THE Loss.
The loss on the hotel and furniture is
estimated at $250.0Oo. The building was
owned by Ryman Israel, furniture
dealer on the Bowery.
SCENES AT THE MoRGUE.
At the Morgue the same scenes were
re-enacted which characterized the Park
Place disaster. At S o'clock the first dead
wagon arrived from the scene of the
holocaust, bringing four unknown bodies.
At l0:l5 O'clock the body of II. J. Lew.
was brought in. Miss Mamie Flaherty
came with two of her friends to INQUIRE
after Kate Reilly, a chambermaid. who
she said had gone on the night watch.
and was without doubt dead. Eliza
Brady, of No. 40 Chambers street. came
to inquire for her sister Ann, employed
at the hotel. She failed to find her. and
left weeping bitterly. Several persons
called to see if Mrs. Van Norden was
among those whose bodies were recov-
cred. She was the wife of travelling
salesman.
THE HOUSE FULL OF GUESTS.
Richard Meares, proprietor of the Hotel
Royal, said to-day that he went to the
clerks desk about 1l:50 and ascertained
that ali but four of the 1l0 rooms and
suits in the house We're taken. He esti-
mated that there were about l30 or l4O
people in the house, all told, at that hour,
He learned later, he said, that .he other
tour rooms were taken before l A. NJ
lie told his experience as related, and
also various incidents connected with the
hre. Mr.. MeareS says when he reached
the street, in half-dazed condition. he
realized for the first time that his wife
was still in the room, and ran franticallv
up and down the street. No one was in
sight. Overhead the flames were leapinr
from the elevator cupola in great sheets.
Hurrledly engines began to dash up, and
then the air was filled with shouts and
cries of distress. The inmates of the
building had suddenly awakened to q
sense of their danger. Heads appeared at
every window, quickly followed by
volume OF smoke and tongues Of flame.
Amid the babel of voices Meares de-
tected a familiar cry. He appealed to the
fremen Of the ladder truck, and in an in
slant the top OF the ladder rested upon
window ledge. Pushing aside the fire
men the landlord reached the ladder him
self. He found he had mistaken the win
dow, but saved life, for he took down a
half-senseless, white-robed figure. and
then turned the ladder till it stood be-
meath his wite's window. This time a
slender young man, a stranger was too
quick for him, beating him to the win
dow by half length OF the ladder. Half
way down either the young man missed
his footing or his strength gave out. for
he dropped Mrs. Meares. HaIf-crazed.
the husband says he does not know
whether he fell or whether he clambered
down the ladder, but he started to find
his wife, when a big policeman with
heavy black beard, whose name he saws
he would give considerable sum to as
certain, stopped him and demanded TO
know his business.
Il am the proprietor of the hotel" he
said, land looking for nay wife,
st this, he says, the officer shouted to
a fellow policeman: Here's the owner
OF the building. Don't you think he had
better have looked after his house instead
of his wife?"
At this they laughed, and despite the
urgent entreaties he was not permitted
to follow Mrs. Meares, and it was not till
an hour later that he learned of her fate.
Said the S1aantn1,la 4z.-l....---