Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1892-02-11
MANY CREMATED.
Horrible Holocaust in the
Hotel Royal, New York. "a
A Number of the Many Guests
Known to Have Perished.
Identification of the Charred
Remains Impossible
As MANY FICTITIOUS NAMES WERE
REGISTERED.

Many Were Not Registered as All-Those
Who Did Escape Skipped, Not Caring
to Make Their Identity Known-The
Bodies Taitsh from the Ruins, In
Almost Every Case, So Badly BuFned
There Are No Means of Establishing
Their Identity-origin of the Fire Not
Known.
New York, Feb. S.-Sunday morning
was ushered in by frightfuI catastro-
phe, the burning of the Hotel Royal. at
Fifth avenue and Fortieth street, in
which probably more than thirty persons
perished. There were about 115 guests
in the place and also thirty five employees,
making total of 150
TO the heroic efforts Of the fremen is
due the fact that SO many of the inmates
escaped fiery death.
Impossible to Secure Names.
The Hotel Royal, a five-story struct.
ure, usually had among its transient
guests considerable number of men
and women who registered under fcti-
tious names, such as John Smith and
wife, or did not register at all, and, con-
sequently, there will be much difficulty
in securing an accurate list of those per-
sons who perished. Most Of those who
escaped did not care to make their
identity known, and slipped out of sight.
This fact increases the difficulty in se-
curing the names of many who were
probably in the hotel, and whose charred
remains now defy recognition.
Many Thrilling Escapes.
The fire was discovered at 3:05 a.. m.
by Mrs. Isabella Mears, wife of the pro-
prietor. She awakened her husband,
and together they tried to escape from
the third story. Mears contrived to
reach the ground by dropping from an
outside window. His wife failed to fol-
low his example, but was ultimately
rescued by fremen.
In the meantime the alarm had spread
through the hotel, and scores of alright
ed people appeared at the windows.
The scenes then became agonizing.
Many in their terror leaped from the de-
vouring flames to death on the stoue
pavement beneath. Others, while not
killed by the terrible fall, were badly
mangled and crippled for life.
A guest in one of the upper stories.
named Kraemer, escaped death almost
by miracle. Springing to the window
of his room he opened his umbrella, and
tying shawl strap about it to prevent
it from turning upside down, he leaped
boldly out from the window sill, holding
the umbrella in such way that it acted
as parachute, and partially checked
his rapid descent. He landed on the
pavement without serious harm.
Many other thrilling escapes were seen
by the crowds of excited people and the
fremen gathered in the streets beneath.
The Hotel Royal was built more than
twenty-five years ago. Mears leased it
thirteen years ago. The loss on build
ing and furniture is estimated at $780,
600. The building was owned by Hyman
Israel, of the Bowery.
The Search for Victims.
There are immense crowds around the
ruins and the work of digging for human
remains is watched for with eager IN
terest. One hundred laborers are en-
gagged in the work which is going ON
steadily hour by hour. 1t is d difficult
matter to remove the outer surface of
the ruins and get at the interior.
Latest Estimates. s 9e
The best estimates, based upon the
police reports and the coroner's list,
show the following:
Dead-9. ,s"
Injured-24.
Missing SO.
Saved-S1.
Origin Unknawn.o hea aad
The origin Of the fire is unknown. It
started in the basement near the elevator
shaft and spread with great rapidity.
Sixteen Bodies Found.
NEW York, Feb. g. Up to 6 o'clock