The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1895-08-28
BLOWN UP AND BURNED.

|
AN UNPRECEDENTED HOTEL HOR-
ROR IN DENVER.
The Gumry Hotel Wrecked by a Terrific
Boiler Explosion, and the Ruins Burned
% Men, Women and Children Perish.
DENVER. COL, Aug. 19.-Probably
25 men, women and children perlshed
by an explosion of the boiler in the
Gumry Hotel on Lawrence street,
shortly after midnight this morning,
Half a dozen others are injured and
at the hospital. Eight burned and
crushed bodies are at the morgue. Ten
more are known to be buried in the
| ruins.
With deafening sound and terrific
force, the entire rear portion of the
building was demolished. The rear
and side walls crumbled like toy
house. Soon afterwards, the mass OF
timbers, brick and furniture caught
fire, cremating many Of the victims
who lay pinioned and helpless amid
the burning pile. Their piteons ap-
peals for help could not be responded
to because of the flames.
The latest information regarding the
catastrophe is that a seventeen-year'
old boy, Elmer Pierce, who was tenn
porarily placedi in charge of the boiler,
was responsible for the explosion.
With the boiler at almost white heat,
he let water in, causing an immediate
explosion. He escaped uninjured and
tonight was being hunted by angry
people.
Few people other than firemen, the
hastily summoned rescue corps and
policemen remained near the scene to
witness the recovery of the horribly
| burned and distorted bodies. NJ. Z.
Letson, who was the first live man
taken from the ruins. slept on the
third floor, was encased in a conical
mass of mortar and bricks that barely
allowed freedom of movement. Chief
Roberts of the fire department, first
discovered him and rapidly began the
| removal of the tons Of materials that
seemed to rest directly upon his body.
In heart-rending appeals he begged for
something to end his life. The res
cuers worked with will and in two
hours had succeeded in removing en-
ough plaster and bricks from the ap-
parently lifeless body to allow his
removal. His lower limbs are crushed,
but he will survive his terrible ordeal.
About 10 o'clock a woman's hand
protruded from among a pile Of build
ing material. A space was cleared
around it and when the form was re-
moved, it was discovered she was dead.
Lying beside the body was the corpse
of child. The fremen kept bravely
at work, superintended by Mayor
McMurray and Police Commissioners
Holge, Church and Wilson In the
afternoon women volunteers came
with refreshments for the workers.
Ats a. m. the body of an unknown
man was recovered and taken to the
morgue. It was thought to be that OF
f. ]. McCloskey. Half an hour later
the remains of Conductor Burt were
discovered. Earlier in the morning
were found the bodies of Mr.. and Mrs.
r. G.. Greiner, clasped in an embrace
of death amid tons of debris. They
had undoubtedly died from suffioca.
ton, as their features were .clear and
their limbs in repose. The left arm OF
Mr. Greiner was thrown across his
wife's face, his forefnger raised like
danger signal. Excitement in the city
tonight is at high pitch. Throngs of
people crowd police headquarters and
the morgue to search for missing
friends.
Ropes were stretched around the
scene of the disaster, but they and
extra police failed to keep back the
excited friends of missing people, and
thousands of curious bystanders
There is much conjecture tonight con-
cerning the case of the accident, but
Coroner Martin is firmly convinced
that it was caused as stated. The has
tilv organized surgeons corps under
Police Surgeon Jareckl did noble
work. With fifty feet of brick wall
tottering over their heads, they wend-
ed their way early along corridors,
down stairways, by shaky partitions,
to aid the injured. Medicine was pass
ed from one to another along line,
and while Mr.rLetson was.being res
cued, his head was swathed in damp
bandages and stimulants administered.
About o'clock this evening severe
wind storm came upon the city, and
work was extremely hazardous with
the weakened walls.
To add to the confusion and dismal
scene, rain began falling in torrents,
and what few workers who were. not
drenched by the streams of the fire
| engines were wet by the cold rain. At
s o'clock the rain had ceased falling,
but the clouds of sitting smoke con-
tinued to arise from the mass of wreck
age, and more engines We're called.
Their services were not needed, how
ever, as the wind died away. The boy
| who was in charge of the boiler at the
time of the accident had attended a
picnic during the day and was under
influence Of liquor when he went on
duty. as several reliable persons have
testified. How he ever managed to
turn the injector cock and escape
without injury is mystery. The
boilers are said to have been in ex-
cellent condition.
The terrible destruction wrought by
the EXPLOSION is evidenced everywhere
within three blocks of the scene.
Stores in the neighborhood have their
fronts demolished or windows dam
aged. On Marion street, in the rear
of the building, there is
not whole plate glass for a block,
and Lawrence street, in front of the
hotel shows the same effect of the ex-
plosion. An estimate of the financial
loss is difficult, as the insurance pa
pers were lost in the fire,
but the loss will hardly ex
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