The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-03-30
The Guests Nearly SuFocated and
Two Fatally Injured.
PROVIDENCE PEOPLE THERE.
The Fire Escapes wero Shut and One Man
Fell from the Third Story Into the Eic-
yator weli-The Adams House Alarmed
The Night Clerks Story.

Boston, March 30.-There was narrow
escape from a frightful holocaust at
Clark's Hotel on Washington street this
morning. AS 1t was several were badly
injured and two fatally. H. w. Perry OF
Ieomipster sustained two broken legs
and serious internal injuries. He died at
the hospital. Thomas Southworth of
Cambridge was fatally injured; both legs
were broken at the ankle and he was badly
bruised.
About 4:l5 o'clock the guests were
aroused by cries Of fire, and rushed TO
their doors. They found the building
filled with a thick, suffocating smoke.
Exit by the staircase was cut off by smoke
which by the time the occupants of the
building were aroused was well mixed
with flames. A rush was made for the
fire escapes on every floor.
IL took some few minutes before the ex-
cited thropg could get the escape in work
ing order. 1t was during this descent that
Mr.. Perry met with an accident. lie
either Jumped or was pushed from the
ladder when he had reached the level of
the third story. While rushing about in
search of an exit from the burning build
ing, ,Southworth mistook the opening OF the
elevator well aud fell down three stories,
lighting on the top OF the elevator, where
he was found in an unconscious condition
bv the fremen when they got into the
place.
. So rapidly did the flames spread that it
was impossible for the guests TO save any
thing, some of them not having time
enough to dress. In the attics were six
chambermaids, who were with some diff
fculty rescued by the tiremen, and as
sisted down the ladders to the street. In
ii, Adams House adjoining 800 guests
were asleep at the breaking out OF the
lire. They were promptly aroused, and
preparations made for removing them
and their effects.
Leo A. Bushnell of Room 10 was nearly
suffocated and was gotten out with diff
ficulty. n. /. Dinsmore Of Room 66 lost
$1,000 in costly samples. Albert Hardin
of East Bridgewater, was the occupant OF
16. He is given the credit of being the
man who opened the avenue of escape for
frightened guests. He was held out of
the window by his legs while he opened
the fire escape, which, II Is claimed, ala
not work very well.
Night clerk o. c. Townsend related his
experience TO press representative as fol-
lows:
Shortly after o'clock in the morning /
was sitting at a table in a corner of the
cafe counting checks. OF sudden de-
tected the odor of smoke but at first /
didn't pay much attention to 1t, thinking
that il was the fireman starting up the
fires in the Kitchen; but when L saw
smoke issuing from the crevlces of the
wall at my side, began to get thoroughly
alarmed, and so as it increased in volume
j knew that the house was on fire.
Furthermore / knew that my only duty
then was to alarm the guests.
Il rushed the outer Office and touched
the electric button, which set all the fire
gongs going on every floor of the hotel.
Among the guests at the house last
night were: Charles Selden, Providence;
W. +. Brett, DanDury, Conn; T.. q.
Allen, Spencer; p. p. Qusden, Hartford;
Bullen, Providence.
The fire is supposed to have started in
the engine room.
1890 A. M.-Perry is not dead, as re
ported, but will die
There were l40 guests, including several
women in the house. The loss may reach
$1,000; insurance $4,000.