The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-12-31

the assembly received startling
baptism Of fire here tonight at the
Delavan house. That famous hostelry,
known from Maine To California, the
mecca Of politicians and the centre OF
all big state political events for forty
years, was completely destroyed. Fire
10 not an uncommon visitor, but fire
such as this tonight has seldom been
seen.
1t was hall past eight and the politi.
cal headquarters Of both Mr.. Fish and
Mr. Maltby we're filled with politicians
and newspaper men. State Factory In
spector Connolly, who had been in the
lobby with number OF people, started
to 60 up the elevator. He remarked
that he smeIled smoke and suggested
an investigation. Before it could be
begun there were cries OF fire from dit
ierent parts OF the house slmultane'
ously. The outburst of flames before
all alarm could be given TO arouse the
inmates OF the rooms, was something
appalling. Up the elevator shaft there
shot solid column Of flames, up the
staircase near this shot another column.
As the mass Of white hot flames reach.
cd each OF the five floors it branChed out
into tongues OF leaping destruction and
il seemed as though the whole interior
OF the structure was seething mass.
Fortunately the guest list was not
large, and the majority OF those regis
tered were politicians and were down on
the second floor, where Mr.. Fish and
Mr.. Maltby had headquarters. There
was a rush for the stairs in the front
and the servants stairs in tho back,
where the flames had not yet reached,
and in few minutes there was tumo-
ling mass OF humanity coming down
these few means OF egress.
THRILLING ESCAPES
Those on the two upper floors could
not avail themselves OF these exits, for
the flames were rushing along the cor
ridors and the people on the street.
who had not vet seen the flames, heard
a crash Of glass and saw figures come
tumbliug out OF the Windows. Within
10 minutes after the first note Of alarm,
at least twelve persons were dangling
on the insufficient rope fire escapes or
hanging on to the window sills.
The department arrived quickly, but
II took some time to get ladders up, and
in the meantime some Of the people had
dropped to the street. On the right
side Of the building there Appeared at a
window surrounded by smoke a man
and n woman. The man had hold OF
the woman trying to persuade her to
wait for help, but she broke away and
sprang ont. She struck a balcony and
rebounded to the street. The man
waited for ladder and was taken down
in safety. His name was II. A. Foakes,
and he represented q cash register COM
pany in Dayton, Ohio. The woman was
his wife, and she will probably die.
In ex-Speaker Maltby's room, which
was to the rear OF the elevator shalt
where the fire first appeared, there was
the greatest excitement About
twenty politicians were there including
Congressman Weaver ana Curtis, Sena-
tor Kilburn and Mr.. Maltby. A rush
was made for the stairs and when the
party landed in the street, the only in-
iured one was found to be Assembly,
man Robbins. whose hair and face was
badly burned.
BAGGAGE LOST.
In Mr.. Fish's headquarters there was
less hurry, because they wore near the
stairs. All got down safely, but the
majority lost their baggage. L. A.
Manchester. OF Auburn, postmaster OF
the assembly, ran towards the baggage
room for his grip. Returning he
found mis- way blocked with flames and
smoke, and rushed back TO window.
He smashed it out and slid down the
rope fire escape.
Although five stories high, thore
we're no outside fire escapes, and the
only means left for the people in tho
cutoff rooms was to use the rope fire
escapes, u. F. Holman, of Brooklyn,
was in the third story. lie opened his
room door az soon rs he heard the cry
Of fire. A burst OF flamo made him
look 10 tho window as the means Of es.
capo. In an instant ho had but two
alternatiyes-a fiery death or Jump.
He chose the latter and plunged through
the window. When no was picked up
from the sidewalk he was found to be
badly injured lilo will die. His wife,
who was in the room with him, tried
the fire escape, but it either broke or
else abe failed to hold to it. for she, too,
came TO tho pavement heavily. Her
right leg was broken, her left ankle dis
located and she was badly burned about
the face and head.
In less than fifteen minutes ottor the
FIRE started, the entire structure was
wrapped in flames. From the windows
of each OF its five stories smoke pourOd
in volumes and few minutes later tho
flames hslched forth. In twenty
minutes the building reSemblcd a
soothing crater and It was plain to the
thousands Of spectators vino had gath
cred that it would bo entirely destroy
ed. Edward Walsh, a porter, was
caught in tho hall. Before ho could cel
out no was badly burned and had TO be
taken TO the hospital.
a FAMOUS HOUSE,
The Delavon house is tifty years old,
and iq one OF the most famous hotols in
the country. Tho total loss ia estimated
Mt SjOO,OOO, with an insurance OF $780,
900.
At 1850 the east walls tel in, aud