The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-04-30
NEW ORLEANS FATAL FIRE
The Hotel Reduced to Ruins and -Four
Lives Lost.

sons-The Loss Estimated at $780,
600 to S4oo, 900, With Insurance of
s212. .soO-A Panic Among the
Guests and a Wild Rush for Life
without Stopping to Dress.
Nav Orleans, April ga few minutes
before II o'clock last night, fire broke out
in the kitchen of the st. Charles hotel.
large audience was leaving the st.
charles Theater at the time, and in few
,ofnutes the widest excitement prevailed
in the streets. AS the blaze was in the
court formed by the hotel, and near the
rear Of the building, the impression pre-
vailed that the fire was in one of the build
inps on or near Carondelet street, as the
raaection was thrown brightly
uoon the facade of the cotton
exchange, but in very few
minutes. the true state of affairs
became known. AS the fire was raging
in the interior of the court, the flames
made a comparatively small showing
from the street, and as the fire brigade
responded promptly, hopes were enter
tained for some time that anything like a
serious disaster would be prevented, but
those within the walls of the great build
inr soon realized that the whole building
was doomed.
FLIGHT OF THE INMATES.
CHESTS and employees of the hotel were
seen dashing through the building half
clad with such few personal effects as
could be snatched up in their hurried
exit from their sleeping rooms, and it
soon became evident that the whole in
terror of the court was doomed.
The streets were thronged with people
for two or three squares of, while the
corners where a view of the flames could
be obtained were packed with humanity.
Hundreds mounted the roofs of build
ings in adjacent streets, and these, look
ing over at the burning building, saw
what looked like an immense cauldron
within whose dark smoking sides ragged a
rolling boiling mass of red and white
flames, from whose surface fiery clouds of
sparks scared far up into the dark night
sky. while every few seconds ragged
sheets of flames would leap high above
the burning building.
The block which the St Charles was on,
was one Of the most valuable in the city
containing besides the costly hotel
banks, stores, railroad offices, one of the
largest turf exchanges in the country
and finely furnished offices.
-FOUR LIVES LOST.
As nearly as dan be ascertained, four
lives have been sacrificed. One man
leaped from the fourth story and was al
most instantly killed, while three men
and one woman were seen to leap from
the iron staircase leading from the rear
of the building and were lost to view in
the court, which looked to be almost a
solid mass of flames. One man made his
escape into the street, but nothing was
seen Of the others 1t is also reported
that child is missing, but this lacks
confirmation
The scene inside the hotel at this time
was one of terror and confusion that well
nigh defes description. Terror-stricl1en,
LaLtclad guests were flying from the
flames, which were roaring behind them
some We're dragging their trunks with
them and Offering eXtravagant prices for
nelp to convey their valuables to place
OF safety
ADVANCE OF THE FLAMES.
Meanwhile the fire continued to advance
Il toward the front of the building, the
facade Of which was still intact. St.
Charles street looked dark and somber,
though the upper stories of the buildings
opposite the hotel were lighted up with
The reflection of the flames. The front
windows were brightly lighted up b., the
curtains could be seen waving in the gusty
uSnt winds Presently there were
rudy flashes mingled with the
steady white lights of the incan-
descent lamps, tellingof the near approach
.. Jle destroying flames, and then
suddenly the electric current was cut off
ana only the flashing of the advancing
names, half hidden in black smoke
"Ieatns, could be seen through the sud
Il uehIy darkened window. Soon after this
stedI volumes Of smoke were pouring
through the front and side windows, tell
.IS Ihat the ire was at last sweeping
tAI0ugh the whole building
Ine upturned faces in all directions
tooAea awfully at the fearful havoc going
Ou within the fated square.
NO HOPE OF SAVING 1T.
inc hopelessness of the situation as far
as saving the hotel was concerned be-
fal4o evident almost as soon as the fire
ottohe out at the center of the west pile
VI Masonry which formed the hotel, and
GG.CCupled over half of the square in which
~ was situated, was a kind of cylindrical
C~i;IrIauIIheater, Cira built for the purpose of
ing air 10 those rooms which did not
fa o upon the street. Having gotten a
q sr,l START over the engines. the fire
~ f'eau ts with alarming rapidity. Biting
r,S S"e windows of the hotel the flames
fri. 1N4I way lnJO the rooms, and there
hnaG!s such inhammable material as
,rGiIS9lhg and light furniture increased the
rol 1u rlot Of its advance. Room after
NJ s5ns, 5DH, deserted by its terror-stricken and
Tra',aeAtng occupants, fell a prey to the
ra1, l-"% W ol the fire and added to the magnii-
fro,, frr pSTotechnic display which, throngs
syaat ya an parts of the city had gathered in
vast crowd to witness.
WALLS BEGIN TO FALL.
CrariLut CagGut a m portion of the wall on
Cor,'eI street, as well as section on
m ,'.'Lol street, fell in, and small portion
v,roai': NraVer street side fell outward.
IA SeChllIg about fifty telegraph wires. By
bTnII!!. lhe last of the interior of the
81 StuR mad tumbled in, leaving only tho
Idrles street walls intact.
inc H. "IaNler street, the flames were eat
Will way into the three buildings
8 of fLu ,L interviewed between the great wall
NaHou,,nlqQ nQVel and the old established Union
4 bTi%uaI Bank at the corner. These
piri KS on Gravier street were occu-
q rag,a ny number of firms en-
suTopoo IN the machinery and in
4 for ti, agency business. Fortunately
n tbein. .ue nc interests of these firms most Of
pearot otepresentatives or their clerks ap-
Al uabe tPo uPoh the scene and saved the val
N M looks and papers.
II New Ire mat has ever been known in
great CrIeans has been accompanied bv a
Fl csrr; shower of sparks which ware