Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-10-29
TWELVE DEATHS
Caused by a Conaagration in Seattle
on Saturday.
Flames Rushed Along Hotel Corridors and
Cut Of All Avenues Of Escape.

SEATTLE, Wash, Oct. ga fire which
resulted certainly in IL deaths and the in
jury Of three persons broke out in the
West Street House at Columbia and West
streets, Saturday morning at 3 a. IN. All
the dead were burned beyond recognition
and the coroner decided to allow the dead
to remain where they were that the pro-
prictor could identify the bodies by the
location of the remains by the register.
The flames broke out so suddenly and SO
flerccly that occupants were taken By sur
prise and there was wild panic. men and
women jumping from the windows in all
manner of attire.
An explosion was heard in the kitchen
in the rear portion of the second story by
s. f. Butler, son of the proprietor, and
Immediately the flames began to spread
rapidly through the dry inner timber Of
the corrugated iron building, which is one
off range of 2story structures owned by
J. NJ. Coleman on the east side OF West
street. Butler raised q cry of fire, which
aroused the guests, with whom the house
was crowded, and a rush for life followed.
1t was not any too soon, for the flames
were rushing through the long narrow
halls like invading soldiers attacking a
city.
In the meantime, Officer +. f. Bryant
had discovered the flames and turned in
an alarm which brought the fire depart
ment to the scene Then he turned his
attention to saving the people who APP
pcarcd at every window with the flames
fast creeping upon them from behind. He
found Mrs. Susie Allen and her 2year-old
child at window on the West street side,
the woman crying for some one to save the
child
"Drop the Child"
shouted the officer. She did so, and he
caught it in his arms Depositing it on
the ground, he snatched Il plank and set
it against window. The woman slid
down it, and suffered no further injuries
than few scratches.
w. f. Butler, the proprietor Of the no
tel, was in bed when the fire was discov-
cred and escaped in scanty attire. His
son, :. L. Butler, was night clerk. He
says the fire undoubtedly originated from
kerosene lamp in the kitchen, which
was located on the second floor near the
rear wall The flames made such rapid
progress that before the inmates could
possibly be aroused the fire was upon
them. Then the people began to drop
from the windows on both sides of the
building, the flames closely following
them.
w. G. r.. Lewis, who was in room ''A'
at the corner dropped 20 feet to the
ground and escaped unhurt. Joseph A.
May, who was in room 81, tied the sheets
together and used them as q rope to slide
On. c. b. Glass jumped out of window,
but not until his hair was burned. He
struck on his back on tho ground He
was picked up and carried to the passenger
station and with two Others was taken to
II hospital. Ono poor fellow, whose
identity is not known, was caught in the
rush of the connGgration near the top of
the West street stairway and sank down
Overcome with Smoke and Flames.
The nrcmen fought to keep the fire away
from his body, but We're driven back, and
when last seen the victim right arm had
been burned to a blackencd cindcr
Two streams Of water were kept trained
upon this place, and the water fell in tor
rents on the stairway and was hot enough
almost to scall. 1t was only after the fire
department had gotten VOL to work that
the fun horror OF the affair began to show
itself, and by that time the building was
II mere shell,
There was much unaCcountable delay in
getting the water on owing to the SLOW
ness of the lirl holt in getting up steam.
When ut last the pressure did come the
building was raging furiously and all that
could be done was to coniinc the flames to
the block whore they started.
n,,,t ,.,l tal-n
n room over the Kill Syrup company's
store, aud was found with one leg III his
trousers and his shoes half laced. The
body was found with the head covered
with the bedclothcs under the bed, having
apparently hidden from tie flames so
lsldly burned as to be unacceptable, as
were all the other bodies