Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-05-03
The Imposing New Orleans
Hostelry in Ruins.
ONE MAN KILLED, THREE MISSING
All the Guests Escaped and
We're Uninjured.
Fire Destroys the st. Charles Hotel,
New prleGns, One of the Most Famous
in the Cuuntry-Fatalities Attend the
Disaster--The Loss VIII Exceed Half a
Million.

| hhdJGotiO ullhGllSlOlS anu CldSSlC afCDl-
lecture in the centre of the block, are
all that is left standing of the most
famous hostelry in the United States =
within whose walls Jefferson Davis,
Judah z. Benjamin and the other lead
ing figures of the Confederacy formed
the first plans for the establishment of
the newirepublic before they started for
Richmond; where no less than six Con-
| gressional committees have sat, trying
to solve what became known us the
Louisiana question after the war; where
countless political, railroad, commercial
and social meetings of national impor-
tance have been held; in whose famous
Parlor p, the King OF the Carnival had
his headquarters during his short reign
| in the Crescent City, and where Presi-
dents, Kings and notabilitles from every
nation on the face of the globe, who
have visited New Orleans, have been
sheltered.
FIERCE FIRE.
The fire that ragged behind those walls
from IL O'clock last night until 3 this
morning, was one of the tiercest this
| city has ever experienced. Starting in
| tho kitchens, which front on small
court in the very heart of the square,
not 10 minutes after the employees had
left them, the flames ate their way along
the woodwork with amazing rapidity,
and, owing to the inability Of the fire.
men to get at them, it soon became
manifest that their efforts would prove
! futile.
PANIC AMONG THE GUESTS.
The hundred or more guests had
about all retired, and, though many
had been awakened by the lusty shouts
of fire, Night Clerk Mason sent messen-
gers to every room occupied, and thus
there was no possibility of any of them
being cut of from escape, as the flames
did not reach the main portion of the
| structure for full half an hour after the
| fire was discovered. Panic seized upon
them. however, and they rushed about
frantically, most of them in their night
clothes, men, women and children, and ,
although there was ample opportunity
to.get down the broad stairways, it took
| all the efforts of the cooler heads to pre-
vent the more impetuous from throw
| ing themselves from the second, third
and fourth story windows. The only
man who did jump from window was
an unknown, who dropped from a third
story window on Common street to the
shed, but was not injured, as he got up
and walked off. .t.
All the time the flames were spreading
in the interior of the hotel and climbing
upwards the guests were being awak-
ened. Those who were out began rush.
ing in and asking for their keys in
order to get their baggage. Trunk after
trunk was rolled down the steps and
the limbs of the escaping inmates were
several times endangered. No one was
hurt.
AN EMPLoYE LOSES HIS LIFE.
The heartrending spectacle of the
unavailing fight for life that was made
by John Riley, employed as baker in
the hotel, was witnessed by many help
less spectators. He occupied room on
the fourth story of the rear portion of
the building. A number Of persons had
stepped into the open courtyard in the
rear Of the rotunda bar room and were
watching the progress of the flames.
A great flame uf fire suddenly burst
from one of the rooms, when scream
was heard, and from the door next to
the one from which the flame was seen
to escape man was discerned through
the glare. simultaneously cry of
horror went up from those witnessing,
for they realized that the man was in d
very dangerous position, with fire on
both sides of him. For an instant the
flames quieted, and the man made rush
for the mead of the spiral stairway. As
he passed the flame again flashed from
the door like the tongue of a fiery SER
pent Fortunately, however, the full
force of it did not strike the man, and
he made his way in safety to the spiral
stairway. A breath of satisfaction
escaped the witnesses, but, as he
stepped upon the spiral stairway he
stumbled and fell. Rolling several
times over as he came tumbling toward
the third story he finally rolled partly off
the stairway, and remained holding to
the broken palusters. He attempted to
regain his lost foothold, but it seemed he
was blinded by the heat, and was unable
to pull himself up. As he hung there
several of the gentlemen watching the
scene rushed out TO st. Charles street in
search of u ladder. But while they were
gone the poor unfortunate man fell SO
that he was holding only with his hands
TO the balusters, suspended fully so feet
in the air. AT last, after making several
efforts to throw himself upon the stair
way, his strength gave way, and, releas-
ing his hold, he fell with a crash upon
the stone pavement beneath. His body
scarcely moved after it hit the pave
ment. He lived scarcely a minute. He
was so years old, and leaves wife and
four children.
THREE PERSONS MISSING.
Bridget Mulligan, chambermaid;
Mrs. Ross, domestic, and John Finlay,
an assistant barkeeper, are the only ones
now missing. The hotel register was
saved and all the guest are accounted
for. The other hotel keepers Immediately
opened their doors to the unfortunates
and all were accommodated.
OTHER BUILDINGS DAMAGED.
The sparks from the burning building
did considerable damage. Tie barber
shop at 40 Gravier street was damaged
considerably. The Turf Exchange, the
Pacific Express Co., the Eagle Cotton
Gin Co., and a number of other build
ings were damaged. AT one time it was
feared that the Union National Bank, at
the corner of Gravier and Carondoiet,
was doomed, as the sparks fell fast and
thick upon it.
STORES UNDER THE HOTEL.