The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-10-27
LAST EDITION
twelve De EAD.
Horrible Result Of a Hotel
Fire in Seattle.
Three Persons Injured and the Dead
Burned Beyond Recognition.


SEATTLE, Wash, Oct. PA fire which
resulted certainly in IL deaths and the
injury of three persons. broke out in the
West Street House at Columbia aud West
streets, about 1 o'clock this m orring
and at a. IN. all the dead were
burned beyond recognition aud the
coroner decided to allow them to re-
main where they are, in hopes that the
proprietor could identity tho bodies
by the location of the remains and by
the register. The flames broke out
SO suddenly and so fiercely that occupants
were taken by surprise and there was q
wild panic, men and women jumping
from the windows in ali manner OF attire.
An explosion was heard in the kitchen
in the rear portion OF the second story by
s. +. Butler, son of the proprietor, and
Immediately the flames began to spread
rapidly through the dry inner tim Der Of
the corrugated iron building, which Is one
of range of two story structures owned
by j. nj. Coleman on the cas-. side OF West
street. Butler raiseda cry OF fire which
aroused the guests with whom
the house wss crowded aud rush
for life followed. IL was not any too
soon, for the flames were rushing through
the long narrow halls like invading
soldiers attacking city.
In the meantime officer +. Il. Bryant
had discovered the flames and turned in
an alarm which brought the fire DEPART
ment to the scene. Then he turned his
nj m ha IA. A
appeared at every window with the fiaraes
fast creeping upon them from behind. He
found Mrs. Susie Alien and her 2-yesI -old
child at window on the West street side,
the woman crying for some onet to save tho
child. "Drop the child, Shouted he officer.
She did SO and he caught 1T safely in his
arms. Depositing it on the ground he
snatcbed a plank and set it against .
window. The woman slid down 1t and
suffered no further injury thsn .
few scratches. w. +. Butler. the
proprietor Of the hotel, was in
bed when the fire was discovered and
escaped in scanty attire. His son, 5. 4.
Butler, was night clerk. lie says the fire
undoubtedly originated from a kerosene
located near the rear wall. The
flames made such rapid progress
that before the inmates could possibly be
aroused, stbe fire was upon them. Then
the people began TO drop from windows
on both sides Of the building.
w. G.. II. Lewis, who was ia room
A" at the corner, dropped 20 itot
a l..
John A. May WHO was in rooE 6t, ted the
sheets together and used them as u rope
to slide on. {. y. Glass jumped out os
window but not until his hair Was
burned. lie struck on his back on
the ground. lie was piaksd up
and carried to the passenger
station and mith two others was taken 10
a hospital. One poor fellow, wnoso
identity Is not known, was caught il the
rush OF the ccnhagration near the top
OF tine West street stairway and
sank down overcome with smoke
and flames. The firsmen fought TO keep
the ire awSy from his body but were
driven back and when last seen ths VIC
tim's right arm had been burned to q
blackened cin6er. Two streams Of water
were kept trained upon this place
AID the water fell Ia torrents on the
stairway. 1t wss only after the firs
department had gotten well 10 work that
the full horror OF the affair began to show
itself and by that time tne building
was mere shell. lhcle was macn
uuaccountsDlc oeiV In gestnk TIE
water on. owing TO the siOWuess ~ the
fire boat in getting up steam. When NJ
last the pressure did cOnle the iiro Was
raging furiously and alt that could %
sdone was to confae the flames TO tno
block where they started.
The iirst dead man Was taken ont from
room over the Hill shrub C0mrauy's
store and was found with ere a.. 30 n.s
trousers aud his snuc@ nall iatc-. 20
body was Discovers wish tss Ata4
covered with bed cl0t lcs under tho bed,
having apparently hidden from the flames,
and Was so badly burned ~ TO DO unrecogs
MIA ble As were all the other bodiess