New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-04-30
FAMOUS HOSTLERYlBURNED
DESTRUCTION OF THE ST. CHARLES
HOTEL IN NEW-ORLEANS.

HALF A MILLION DOLLARS.
New-Orleans. April 29.-The imposing front oi
the s.. Charles Hotel on St Charcs-st. with its
spacious portico surmounted by a dome OF ma
testic dimensions and classic architecture. in the
centre Of the block. is all that is left standing
Of one of the most famous hostlcries in the
United States-withn whose walls jefferson
Davis. judah F. benjamin and the other lead
ing figures Of the Confederacy formed the hrSt
plans for the establishment Of the new republic,
whore no less than six Congressional committees
have sat trying solve what became known as
the Louisiana question after the war; where
countless political railroad. commercial ana so
c,al meetings Of national Importance 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 whore Presidents
kings and notabiities from every nation on the
face of the globe who have visited New-Orleans
have been sheltered.
GUESTS SCRAMBLE FOR THEIR LIVES.
The fire that ragged behind those walls from II
o'clock last night until o'clock this morning
was one Of the Gercest this city has ever eX-
perienced Starting in the kitchens. which front
on a small court in the very heart Of the square
not ten minutes after the employees had left
them. the flames ate their way along the wood
inability Of the iremen to get at them 1t soon
became manifest tina, efforts to check them would
prove futile The hundred or more guests had
about all retired. and though many had been
awakened by the lastly shouts Of Fire. the
nigh. clerk Mason sent messengers 10 every
room occupied. and thus there was no posi-
biHty Of any of them having been cut off from
escape as the flames did not reach the main por-
lion Of the structure for fully half hour after
the fire was discovered Panic seized upon the
guests. however. and they tushed about fran
tically. most Of them in their night cothes-Inen
women and children-and although there was
ample opportunity 10 get down the broad stair
ways. it took all the efforts Of the cooler heads
to prevent the most mpetuous from throwing
themselves from the second. third and fourth
story windows The only man who did jump
from a window was an unknown. who dropped
from third-story window on Common-st TO
the she'd but not injured, as he got up and
walked off
A. F. Lomgleis father-in-law Of Colonel Rivers.
the proprietor OF the hotel was asleep in the
third story Just above the flames on the Gravier-
St side of the kitchen. When he walked into the
hall the smoke had cut off his view Of escape
but he held his hands over his face and rushed
through it, He began at once TO search for Mrs
Rivers and the women Of the house, who We're on
the same floor Major G. L. Han and his wife
O~cuDied rooms on the thru floor near the apart
ments Of Mrs. Rivers. When awakened, he
aroused the women and they hurriedly dressed
and rushed down the steps. Major Hall sent
them in a cab to the Hotel Royal and remained
upon the scene Of the conf1agraton.
KILLED WHILE TRYING TO ESCAPE.
The heart-rending spectacle of the unavailing
fight for l.fe that was made by John Riley en-
ployed as d baker in the hotel was witnessed by
bel IO oct n on,
the fourth story Of the portion Of the build
ing. \ number Of persons had stepped into the
open courtyard in the of the rotunda bar
room and We're watching the progress Of the
flames that were cracking and fast eating away
the upper stories and the banisters Of the small
gallery that connected tire rooms. great flame
OF FIRE suddenly burst from one Of the rooms.
when heard. and from the door
next to the from which the fame seen
10 escape man was discerned through the
glare. A cry of horror went up from those Wit
Messing For an instant the flames queted and
the man made a rush for the head OF the spiral
stairway As he stepped u9cn the spiral stair
way he stumbled and fell Rolling several times
over as he came tumbling toward the third story.
he finally rolled partly off the stairway and re-
NAMED holding TO the broken banisters He at
tempted TO regain his lost fOothold but it seemed
that he was blinded by the heat and was UNI
able to pull himself up. He fell with crash
scarcely moved after it hit the pavement He
lived hardly minute. At the morgue the dead
u man was recognized as John Riley. He was
sixty years old and leaves widow and four
children.
THREE EMPLOYEES MISSING.
Bridget Mungan. chambermaid; Mrs. Ross
domestic and John Finlay an assistant bar
keeper, are the only missing. The hotel
register was saved and all the guests
counted for The other hotel-keepers Immediately
opened their doors to the unfortunates and all
Were accommodated.
Patrolman Fitzgerald climbed to the second
story of the hotel on Gravier-st. and rescued
fourteen women who We're employees in the build
ing and who had their only avenue OF escape
cut off By the flames. Chief OCOnnOr took two
women off the Gravier-st side and other firemen
succeeded i'm saving number Of laundry women.
Among the guests who got out during he first
rush were Judge y. II. Mccormick. Of the, United
States Court of Appeals State Senator Martin, Of
Kentucky; r. NJ Shearer. Of Cincinnati. and II.
c. Miner. of Louisiana.
The Western Union offices near the fire were
rendered useless by heat and falling walls. The
buildings were destroyed completely for fifty or
seventy-fve feet back OF the hotel. The New
Orleans Electric Companys building was entirely
destroyed. and the rear Of he Union National
Bank building and the office building facing
Carondolet-st. The ive-story brick buildings
Nos. 1885, 15S and 100 Common-st were Quilted.
The Texas and Pacific general offices and the
Louisville and Nashville offices were completely
destroyed, with their contents.
THE LOSS HALF a MILLION
The total loss on the fire will reach half a
million dollars and may 60 over that amount
The hotel property. exclusive Of the ground. was
worth 100000 and was insured for $4,000 In
foreign companies Colonel r. T.. Rivers. the
lessee and manager Of the hotel had left here
for St. Louis yesterday morning. The ST. Charles
Hotel originally Incorporated in March. 1914.
as a stock company and passed into the hands
OF the present stockholders some ten years ago
The stock since that time was held by Messrs.
V,t,. 1 g~rfg nj go felr
Howard who held almost the entire issue OF
stock. The old St Charles. or Exchange Hotel,
as IL was generally called. begun in the
summer of 1885. costing 100000 to build. in addi
fion a he 400 0OO naid To- the grnmnd