Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1893-07-08
Coll pse of a Hotel.

Fort SCoTT KAN, June 28.-At 8 80 a. m
the east side of the fremont house, on Wal
street, collapsed without warning. 1t was
followed by the three abOve-ground floors
which it supported, and all of their load OF
human life, furniture and fixtures.
The west half of the building remained in
tact from the ground up, and thus the lives
of many were saved.
The noise of the collapse and the shrieks of
the inmates of the house quickly attracted
an immense crowd of excited people to the
scene, who ventured dangerously near the
walls which remained standing, in their ca
gerness to render assistance to those who
cried for help from the windows above.
The disaster could not have occurred at @
more fortunate hour. as most of the occu-
pants Of the house had finished their break
fast and had gone out to their respective
duties. The walters Cf the dining room and
the chambermaids were those whose lives
were in most danger, except those of the
patrons of the hotel who had returned to
their rooms after breakfast.
The fire alarm was sounded and the fire.
men Immediately responded and with their
ladders began the work of rescuing the hor-
riied women from the third story first.
On this floor were the apartments of the
employees of the hotel. Thirteen women. al
most crazed with fear, lest the remaining
floors of the hotel should fall. were rescued
by the ladders. Fortunately there were but
two girls on this floor who were on the east
side of the building. They were chamber
girls. One was Essie Calwell. whose home
is in Kincade, Kan. She went down to the
ground in the crash, falling amidst the de-
bris about twelve feet from the foundation.
Her body, up to her shoulders, was buried in
the confusion of brick, lime and furniture,
and she was taken out unconscious by
score of men who risked their lives under the
mansard roof which dangled over their heads,
swaying to and fro by the wind, threatening
each instant to fall. She was carried to a
street. Miraculous rs it may seem, no bones
were broken and she was only bruised in
many places.
Ida Morgan, a chambermaid, was also at
work in the east side of the building on the
third floor. She had no premonition of the
disaster, whatever, but simultaneously with
the wrecking of the disjoining floors and
ceiling, she realized that she was descending
In the mass of furniture, plaster and brick,
and knew nothing more until she regained
consciousness at house near by.
Sherm Conner, the night clerk, had a very
narrow escape. He was asleep on the third
floor in the only room that remained stand
ing on the east side, part of which went
with crash. He escaped without injury.
Louise Price, a dining room girl, crawled
under table, which was buried beneath fall
ing timbers, and escaped without injury.
H. j. Pullen, a commercial traveller for a
Chicago grocery company, and his wife occu-
pied a room on the third floor, and in their
excitement lost $500.
Whether or not any one is buried under
the ruins is now question, but it is probable
that all have escaped.
The first and second stories of the fremont
house have been built many years, but the
third story was only added about two years
ago. The foundation wall gave way, which
caused the awful collapse.