Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-12-31
FAMOUS OELAvAA HOUSE,
Where New York Statesmen
Stopped, is in Ashes.
TWO oAUcusEs WERE UNDER WAY
When the Alarm of Fire Was Given Last
Night
'wo oAUCUsEs WERE UNDER WAY
At Least Three People win Die
From Injuries neccived--meavy
Loss--chattnpooEa Loses Her Fin
est chureh-rhe Fire Record.


cy OF the several men for the speaker
OF the assembly received a startling
baptism of fire here tonight for the Del
I. van house. That famous hostelry.
own from Maine to California, the
Mecca OF politicians and the center OF
all big state political events for forty
Years, was completely destroyed. FIRE
Is not an uncommon visitor but lire
such as this tonight hiss seldom haan
seen. 1t was $50 and the political
headquarters OF both Mr.. Fish and Mr..
Malby were illled with politicians and
newspaper men. when the ouiburst OF
flames before the alarm could be given
to arouse the inmates OF the rooms
was something appalling.
Up the elevator shaft there sho, a
solid column Of flames, up the staircase
nearby shot another column. AS the
mass OF white heat flames reached
each Of the Eve floors II branched out
into tongues Of leaplug destruction. 1t
seemed as though tho whole interior
OF the structure was seethlng mass.
Fortunately the guest list was not
very large and the majority OF those
registered were politicians and were
down on the second floor. whsro Mr.
Fish and Mr.. Malby had headquarters.
Within ten minutes after the first
note Of alarm at least twelve persons
were dangling on the insufficient rope
fire escape or hanging on the window
oil IA ,-tu
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 q window, surround
ed by smoke, man and woman. The
man had hold OF the woman trying
TO persuade her to walt for help, but
she shook away and sprang out, She
struck on a balcony and rebounded 10
the street He waited for 4 lndder
and was taken down In safety. His
name was II. A. Foakes and he repre-
scented a cash register company In Day
ton. The woman was his wife and she
will probably die.
In ex-Spealxer Malby's room, which
was to the rear OF the elevator SHAFT,
where the fire first appeared, there was
the greatest excitement. About twenty
persons were there. including Congress-
men Weaver and Curtis, Senator Kill
burn ard Mr. Malby. A rush was made
for the stairs and when the party land
ed on the street the only one injured
was Assanblyman Robbins, whose hair
and face were badly burned.
In Mr.. Fish's headquarters there was
less hurry because they were near the
stairs. All got down safely bat the
majority loft their baggage.
%. A. Manchester OF Auburn. post
master OF the assembly ran towards
the baggage room for his grip; return
Ing he found his way blocked with
flames yand smoke, and rushed back 70
a window. He smashed II out and slid
down the rope FIRE escape Although
Ave stories nigh there was no fire es-
capes, and the only means left for the
people in the cut or rooms were TO use
the rope fire escapes.
ID. II. Heilmnn OF Brooklyn was in the
third story. He opened his room door
as soon as he heard the cry OF lire, A
burst OF flame made him look to the
window as the means of escape. In an
instant ne had but two alternatives, n
fiery death or to jump He chose the
latter and plunged through the window.
When he was picked up from the side
walk he was found TO be badly IN
jured lie will die.
his wife, who was In the room with
him. tried the fire escape, but u either
broke or else she failed to hold 1t, for
she came 10 the pavement heavily
Her right leg was broken.
In less than 10 minutes after the IRE
.tarted the entire structure was WRAP
nad IN flames. From the windows OF
zach OF It's Ave stories smoke poured IN
yolumes. and a few minutes later the
flames belched forth.
In 70 minutes the building resempled
seething crater, and u was pniin
a. fhe thousands OF spectators VINO lli,n
c W thered that 1t would be entirely de-
SD Edward walsh, porter, was caught 10
rsu BEFORE he could get out he
20 ee,v badly burned and had 70 be
,oren 10 the hospital The department
,rith their steamers poured water on
Tho building. but could do apsolu'e'y
nothing at all TO STOP the nan's ,,.o,-
The hotel takes in the entire pioek,
.hont ITO by $50 feet. and this was "
~ ,nin,,tes seethlng caldron only
hound by the four wails. ... =.
~ mo hundred or more guests AT
49,. hotsl not one u known 10 have saw
~ moro than the clothes on hlA y, Iso ,i-
me nee burned fercely for we h9uis
and Is still burning. me ish's','' ~
amd others soon found quarters ~ tns
~ no,els ana Mr. Fish opened up
ethe' ,.n,naIun In the Kenmore, nut
anervthiug has been lost sight OF IN 'he
1 fire. ,,.a ts "a years Old.
n e,s ~ ne most famous in the co ,91
~ Il Il d part OF the eslatf y ~
w w "a Delavaf. Hurley Moofs, Ky
nroprietors. paid Ap,y9V -, 81 ir,nr6yr,
anu sa I, expectation Of a big WINTER
season, ~, ,oas ia estln'atei at $780,