The record-union., 1894-12-31
COSTLY BLAZE In new YORK.
The Delayan House at Albany
Destroyed by Fire.
FOR MANY YEARS THE CENTER OF
POLITICAL EVENTS
Rumors Current That Bodies Are Still
In the Ruins-Many of the Hum
dreds of People in the Burning
Building Have Narrow Escapes,
Only Saving the Clothes They Wore.

Building Have Narrow Escapes,
Only Saving the Clothes They Wore.
Special to the RECORD UNION
ALBANY On. ", Dec 3O.-The Delavan
House, the Mecca of politicians and the
center OF all big State political events for
1orty years past, was destroyed by fire to-
night. 1t was $50 when the political
headquarters of both Mr. Fish and Mr..
Maltby were filled with politicians and
newspaper men that cries of fire from
different parts of the house caused con-
sternation among the guests.
The outburst of flames before an alarm
could be given was appalling. Up the
elevator shaft shot a solid columD oF
flames, which spread quickly to each of
the five floors. Fortunately the burnt
list was not large, and the majority Of
those registered were politicians. and
were down on the ground floor. There
was a rush for the staircase in the front
and the servants stairs in the back. where
the flames had not yet reached, and in a
few minutes there was a tumbling mass
OF humanity coming down these two
means OF egreSS. Those on the uDper
floors could not avail themselves of these
exits, tor the flames were rushing along
the corridors, and people in the street who
had not yet seen the flames heard a crash
OF glass and saw figures come tumbling
out of the windows.
Within ten minutessafter the first note
Of alarm at least twelve persons were
dangling on the rope fire escapes
hanging on the window 'sills The de-
partmenU arrived quickly, but it took
some time to get the ladders up and down,
ana IN the meantime several people had
dropped to the street. On the right side
OF the building there appeared at the
window, surrounded by smoke, a man
and woman. The man had hold of the
woman, trying TO persuade her to wait
Tor help, but she broke away and Sprang
out. She struck balcony and rebounded
into the street. The man waited for a
ladder, and was taken down in safety.
his name IS Il. y. EoakeS of Dayton
ONO. The woman was his wife, and she
Will probably die.
In ex-Speaker Maltby's room, which
was to the rear OF the elevator shaft, where
the fire first appeared. there was great ex-
cltement. There were about twenty poll
tlclanS there. rush was made for the
stairs, and when the party landed in the
street the only injured one was found TO
be Assemblyman Robbins, whose hair
and face were badly burned. Although
five stories high, there were no outside
hre escapes, and the only means left for
the people to escape from their rooms was
to use rope ladders.
b. +. Dillmau of Bro okIyn was in the
third story. He opened mis- door as soon
as he heard the cry OF fire. a burst OF
flames made him look to the window as
means OF escape. He had but two
alternatlVeS-go through fire or a Jump.
tie did the latter. " hen he was picked
up from the sidewalk he was dying. His
wife, who was in the room with him
I'M oir
broke or else sne failed TO hold it, for she
fell to the pavement, breaking her right
leg, dislocating her left ankle, and was
badly burned abOnt the face and head.
Richard Walsh, reporter, was caught
in the hall ana badly burned.
In less than fifteen minutes after the
fire alarm was turned in the entire build
ing was Wrapt In flames, resem bling a
huge crater, and all hope of saving the
famous structure was given up.
The hotel takes in the entire block
about llOX45O feet, and this was in an
other fifteen minutes a seething cauldron,
only bound by the four walls. At 1880
the east wall tell in, and some of the fire.
men barely escaped being buried. At
1880 the Broadway wall fell out, and one
fireman was buried in the debris lie
was taken out and is not thought to be
dangerously hurt.
1t is rumored at this late hour that
there are bodies in the ruins, and that
quite number Of people did not escape
Ihe clerk says tonight that he is posi-
tive all the guests escaped, but does not
feel so sure about the help, of whom there
were great many. There is no way to-
night of finding out positively whether
these rumors are true or not, and it will
take a day or so to determine.
Mr.. Maltby said after the fire: at is in
conceivable how the flames obtained such
headway. The halls were mass of fire
before we received a word of warning"
OF the hundl eds of guests none saved
more than the clothes they wore. One of
the incidents of the fire was the escape of
Miss Martin of New York. She was in
the fourth story window on the Steuben
street side when a ladder was raised
messenger boy rushed up and broke the
window, thus freeing her. Mr., and Mrs.
Bradley Martin, Bradley Martin, Jr,
and Mrs. +. L. Martin were guests at the
hotel, having come here to bury the for
ner's son. They were on the second
floor, good way from where the fire
started, and escaped. Mr.. Martin, when
he reached the sidewalk, offered any body
5000 who would get his wife's jewelry.
Nobody accepted, and they were de-
stroyed. There was satchel filled with
jewels, valued at S5, 600.
The Delavan was fifty years old, and
one OF the most famous hotels in the
country. 1t is part OF the estate of Ed
ward {. DelaVan. Hurley d Moore, the
pIopIleIors, paIu S4O,uOu d year rentai, and
lately had made vast improvements, in
expectation OF a big winter season. The
total loss is estimated at $500, 900, with an
insurance of $500, 600. On the ground floor
Of the Broadway side of the hotel block
two firms had stores. One was that of
Heiser, Muhlfelder Il Co.. dealers in knit
tings, and the other that of Poiby IL Co.,
dealers in clothing. Both stocks were
ruined. The loss 10 each will be about
S2, 800; insured. The electric light was
destroyed, and section OF the city was in
darkness. The fire was not under con-
troll for five hours, and this morning is
not yet out.