The Portland daily press., 1894-10-24


witness, who had assisted lin the man
agement of the hotel, testified as TO the
water works of the hotel, and the eener-
al arrangements. He said that in every
guests room on the door was notice
warning guests to deposit their jewelry
IN the safe at the office, and have their
wraps put in the check room. The
hotel proprietor disclaimed liability in
case this should not be done. The wit
ness testified that as soon as awakened
he rushed out with his pitcher, threw
the water on the fire, and then dipped
more water out of the tank. Witness
said that the fire made very little smoke.
After he found he could not put out the
fire, he carried down his own clothes
and helped his mother save her belong
ings. He could have helped the Taus-
siRs had they requested, but heSsupposed
they had got their things out.
HowardWillard, young man of Wood
fords, who was at the Waldo in 1888 as
assistant clerk, was in the Office until
1.30 O'Clock on the morning of the fire.
He testified that he walked about the
hotel after the firing of the crackers to
see that none of the fireworks set any
lire. He had been instructed by Mr..
Sea to look carefully to see that there
was no fire. He did not know that any
one was in the tower. Before he left.the
Office at half past one he went through
the different halls, putting oft lights,
shutting the doors and seeing that
there was no danger of fire.
Mr.. Charles F. Flagg of Portland was
next called. He was at the Waldo on
the evening of July Sd and attended the
dance, leaving it between o and 10 o'clock
and going out on to the back verandah,
where those of his party sat and sang
sometime. After leaving the veranda
witness was in the hotel office, and later
in his own room. Every late he returned
to the office to write letter, which he
was anxious to have go the next morn.
ing. Soon after writing the letter he re-
turned to his room, No. IL, Mr.. Wilson
having the next room. Witness was
aroused by the sound of feet and voices,
and by someone who said, Don't be
frightened" He put on his macintosh
and seized a pitcher of water aud the
blankets from his bed and rushed down
stairs. There he learned that the trouble
was above, and going up to the fourth
floor found the fire in the tank room.
He threw the water from his pitcher,
got m from the tank and threw that.
Then he took the blankets and began to
beat the fire. But this was unavailing,
and Mr.. Flagg went out and stood at the
head Of the stairs. There he saw MI.
Sea come and try to put out the fire.
Witness said it was hopeless to fight
the fire, and went to his sisters room
where he found her and the young lady
with her packing their trunk. Thinking
there was ample time, witness went to
his own room and gathered up lsolne Of
his things, which he took down the
broad staircase to the front door, where
the Taussgs were struggling to get
the door unlocked Witness tore door
open and threw things out onto the
grass. Then he returned to his sisters
room where he helped her and her friend
pack their trunk and also assisted in
other rooms, dragging the trunks out
and down. Mr.. Flagg illustrated the
calmness with which his sister proceeded
in packing her trunk by relating how,
when he carelessly threw something
into the trunk, he was told to throw
nothing more into that trunk.
Pending the cross examination OF Mr..
Flagg, the court ad iourned until 10 a..
m. today.