Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-02-08
AWAKENED TO DIE.
A Score Of Victims of a Gotham
Holocaust.
HEARTRBNDING SCENES AT A FIRE,

dhAh1hhND DlNG SUhNhS Al f F1RE,
Flames Take Possession of the Hotel
Royal While the Guests Are Bound in
SIecp-The Trapped Inmates, Their Es:
cape Cut Of by the Stairways, Crowd
the Windows ImpIoring for Succor-
Some Dare the Fearful Leap to the
Street and Death-Others Swallowed Up
in the Final Crash When the Walls Col
lapse-Twenty to Twenty-Five Dead and
Many Injured.
NEW York, Feb S.-A disaster para
telling in horror and probably exceeding
in loss of life the terrible occurrence in
Park Place, the remembrance of which
Is still fresh in the public mind,
occurred in this city yesterday morning.
The Hotel Royal, at Fortieth street and
Sixth avenue, was burned to the ground
and large number of people were burned,
sutlocated by smoke, or crushed to death
in the ruins. About 100 were reported
missing yesterday morning, but many of
the guests were 'transients" and may have
escaped and gone to their homes. They
are not likely to report their escape,
which will make it very difficult to get at
the real horror of the disaster
Discovery of the Flames.
1t was n few minutes after 3 o'clock
when the flames We're first discovered.
They never had better fuel The building
was composed of several old structures, all
amalgamated into the Hotel Royal years
ago. So far as can be learned the flames
kindled in the shaft of the elevator in the
basement, at about the middle of the
building. a ianitor was at work in the
basement at the time and was suddenly
frightened by the flashing of flames. lie
rushed to the street and notified the police
man on the Sixth avenue corner, who sent
in an alarm, while the janitor rushed back
into the building to arouse the sleeping
guests.
Afiame All Over in Fifteen HIinutcs.
In fifteen minutes the whole Of the six
story structure was ablaze. Flames shot
out of every window in the front of the
house, and people in the street could see
persons rushing frantically to and fro
oIi every lIpOi VI biC bIlilAIl3 btlA'AllEE5
One, two, three alarms went out in rapid
succession, and the streets and avenues
We're soon filed with fire engines and
trucks. Other alarms brought ambulances
from every hospital in the city. People
leaped out of the windows to the side
walks and were gathered up unconscious,
burned, manned and mangled by the fire
men and carried to places of safety. The
most heroic efforts of the firmen were i'm
potent against the devouring element.
Leaped from the Windows to Death.
An immense crowd gathered to view the
tragedy that was progressing. The win
dows were filed with people in their night
clothing, making piteous and heart -rend-
ing appeals to the people below for help,
while behind them was great sea of
flame. Indeed, these unfortunate beings
seemed to be actually in the fire. Harrow
ing scenes were witnessed by those who
were assembled i'll sight of the burning no.
tel. One unknown man sprang from a
window on the third floor, and was dashed
| to death on the sidewalk In a few min,
| utes this same scene was repeated in view
| of the horror-stricken multitude, another
| man and two women Ieaping to certain
death.
From other windows Mt the same time
dozens of persons We're leaping, rreferring
death that way-if death it must be--tC
death in the flames. Fortunately these
added none 20 the list of killed, but bruises
| and broken bones We're numerous, and
| ambulances and surgeons were kept very
| busy taking care of the victims.
| The hotel burned like tinder box The
flames raLrpd fiercelv bur above all couId
be IL. ..rd the cries for help from the un.
fortunates penned in the building Fire
men and spectators helped to rescue the
| imprisoned guests and employees Many
| were taken from windows where they had
sought refuge from the flames and the
| firemen dared smoke and flames to save
| life
Climax of the Holocaust.
Meanwhile the flames were eating out
the heart of the building and rapidly de
stroying the woodwork that braced the
| walls. Finally the grand catastrophe
| took place. While at several windows could
be seen frantic people crying for help that
was impossible, Il column of sparks shot
up into the air, rumbling crash was
heard and groan went up from the on
| lockers as the walls tumbled into ruins
and the holocaust had reached its limit
Those moment before seen at the win
dows pleading for help fell back with the
| walls and We're smothered up in the
flames that burst out and leaped skyward
for few minutes fercer than ever, and
then succumbing to the torrent of water
that was poured upon them, gradually
died away. 1t had done its worst; but
what was the worst?