Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1893-01-19
BURNED IN A HOTEL FIRE.
A DISASTROUS CONFEDERATION
IN DULUTH.
Two and Probably Three Persons
Perish in the Flames Which
Consume the Hotel ST.
Louis - Heavy FL
nancial Loss.
Totally Destroyed.

Duluth. Special. Jan. 14.-The st. LOUIS
hotel, on Superior street and Fourth ave-
l.ue west. was burned to the ground TO-
day, ard the Brighton hotel is damaged
to scmc extent. while the PhoeniN block
and Palladio building, on the opposite
side Of the streat, were also damaged
Ly the intense heat. which cracked all
tic windows in front of those buildings.
The fire started about 1915 Il. m. iii
the basement Of the st. Louis, and prob
ably caused by lcaky gas meter. near
which gas Jet was burning. There
WAS ;: slight explosion and in an in-
crcdibly short time the entire building
was filled with dense smoke. The fire
also spread with great raridity as the
building was regular fire trap and easy
prey to the flames Many of the guests
had great difficulty III escaping. being
nearly suffocatcl by the smoke which
filed all the corridors. There were ru-
morS that four or five people had
persisted. but it is now believed that
every person who was in the hotel cs-
capped. About forty came down the fire
escapes and ladders. among them several
ladies, who escaped in very light attire
and suffered intensely from the below
zero atmosphere The building burned
rapidly and ut noon ali the walls had
fallen in, and nothing remained but Smok-
ing ruins. The Brighton hotel was saved
by Il thick fire wall and hard work of
iircmcn. who poured streams Of water
on it necessarily. The American and the
Great Northern Express companies had
offices in tie st. Louis block and lost IL
large amount of express matter and all
the fixtures and supplies. The Omaha city
ticket office was also destro, cd with all
its contents. and General Agent Smith
lost personal effects valued ut 5000. The
Pioneer Fuel company lost all Office fix
lures ana furniture in their uptown Office,
The Security bank, in the Brighton
block. sustained SOM. loss by smoke,
heat and water. The st. Louis hotel
building belonged to the Realty company,
Il AlHlne corporation. and was valued ut
S'o,oOo. There was 100000 insurance.
Inc rentals were also insured for S1O,-
600. The Brighton hotel building is also
owned by the same company. 1t is i'll
Surcd Tor $4,000. The St Louis; hotel
WAS leased by Rulrllart & Mirhaud,
VINO lost all their furniture and bar and
billiard room fixtures. Their loss is about
%Aloeo: and they have $2O,mO irsur-
'.'''N' Nv lo>N VII iilt olll;lIlI lli'ktJ Oh
nee me express companies and the Pho
h'"f rHrl r"lnp;lny is covered by in
SurNnrr.
1t is now known that two people at
lI nHSt persisted in the St Louis hotel fire.
W men the South Shore train pulled out
Tonight Contractor Srlaeirr found that
huth his brakeman and baygrnan were
missing. They roomrd together at the
st. Louis and went to bed ut . o'clock
TINS morning. and were not missed until
tram time tonight. They undoubtedly
We're not aroused when the fire Snraad
through the bnilIin= and We're suf1'n,;,ted
ana burned to DEATH The brakeman was
Charles Preston. whose home was at
Marquette. Mich. The baggagrman was
named Beau'lry. but nothing is known
mere as t" his residence. but il is thought
to II" Marquette. There are rulnors that
Il scrub woman also persisted in the fire.