Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1895-08-21
HOTEL HOLOCAUST.
Forty or More Lives Are Lost
at Denver, Col.
The Gumrey House Wrecked by Boiler
Explosion.

Denver, Col, Aug. 19.-The Gumrey
| hotel, 1925 to 1888 Lawrence street,
was wrecked by a terrific explosion at
| 1910 O'Clock this morning. The rear
| half of the building, a ive-story brick
| and stone structure, went down with a
crash. The hotel was crowded with
guests and many of them were killed,
| as well as the entire force of hotel en-
plOyes who were sleeping in the portion
of the building which fell.
On both sides of Lawrence, from Sew
enteenth to Eighteenth streets, and on
Larimer, directly back of the hotel the
plate glass windows of the business
houses were blown in and number
of pedestrians were injured by falling
glass The fronts of many buildings
in the vicinity were badly wrecked.
The fremen worked hard but were
unable to make much progress because
of the intense heat. At the front end,
where the collapse was the worst, there
were bricks and plaster piled twenty
feet high and under this debris could be
heard the means of the injured and dy-
ing. At 1885 FIVE injured persons had
been taken out. They were all inmates
of the upper story, and sank down with
the upper stories, escaping more fortu-
nately than those below, who were still
buried in the ruins.
At 1880 a. m. the ruins were burning
fiercely and the fremen were obliged to
retreat from the work of rescue. Every
engine in the city was pouring streams
into the mass. AS their chances of es-
cape lessened the cries of the imprisoned
people increased; heartrendering shrieks
rising from every portion of the great
mass of wreckage. Fears were enter
tanned that the front portion of the
building, which seemed to be lettering
would fall and bury the iremen at their
work.
At 2 o'clock six persons had been taken
from the ruins, all badly injured. In adj
dition, four were severely cut by glass
falling into the street.
The fremen made brave effort to save
woman caught in the debris of the north
corner of the hotel. but were forced to
abandon the attempt. The spot where
she lay was then the hottest part of the
fire. None of the six persons thus far
taken out are conscious and Identification
is impossible.
Twelve dead bodies had been taken out
at 6 a. m. The fire is still burning but is
under control and confined to the hotel
More bodies are thought to be under the
ruins.
The Gumery hotel was a fve-story
brick, with stone front, and was built
about SIX years ago. 1t was of the better
kind of second-clasS hotels, catering large
ly to transient family patronage. Thus,
guests. The building was built as the
Eden Musee by the widow of Gen. Tom
Thumb. and was so occupied, later being
remodeled for use as a hotel Gumrey
and Grenier have owned the hotel for
several years. Mr.. Gumrey was prom
inent contractor and had done much of
the work during the building of the state
capitol. Mr.. Grenier acted in the capaci-
ty of manager. No meals were served
in the hotel and every guest entered on
the register occupied a room in the hotel
last night.
Twenty-Five people were registered.
most of them late last night, the list being
as follows:
Mrs Q. II. Knight, Lake City.
]. L. Kirk. Omaha.
J. c.. Brown, Omaha
Bud Buren,, Colorado Springs.
j. W. Roberts and wife, Colorado Springs.
Miss Jennie Howard, Boston.
Mrs c. w Williams. Boulder.
Miss Hattie H. Williams. Boulder
w. C. McClain, Huron, Kas.
Mrs. McClain and child, Huron, Kas.
Henry Sloan, Huron, Kas.
Mrs Henry Sloan Huron, Kas.
George Burley, Colorado Springs.
E. T; McCloskey. Cripple Creek. Col.
B. Lorah, Central City, Col.
w J. C0rson, Pueblo.
M. E. Letson, Denver.
The cause of the explosion is uncer-
tain, but it is supposed that the battery
of boilers in the hotel basement must
have exploded. The sound was heard
a mile from the scene. A cloud of dust
was thrown 1000 feet in the air and as
there is no wind it still hung in mid
air like a huge column. Minute atoms
of powdered brick and mortar descended
continually.