New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-28
FIRE IN THE CASTLE HOTEL.
THE SOUTH SECTION OF 1T TOTALLY
BURNED OUT

CONSIDERABLE EXCITEMENT AMONG THE PEo-
rLE LIVING THERE. But THEY ALL GOT
orT IN TIME AND no ONE WAS HURT
THE LOSS ESTIMATED AT 100000.
| Fire broke out or the fonrih floor OF the
Castle Hotel, at Observation-Disclosures and
Amsterdam-ave., at $50 o'clock last night. and
,, before the flames were got under control caused
a loss OF fully 100000
The fire originated in the suite Of Colin j.
Forbes. the well-known artist. and was caused
by lacH curtain blowing into lighted gas jet
There were three alarms sen: in In quick success
sion. They responded to by twelve engines
and two water-tOwers under command OF Bat
talon Chief Cooney and Deputy-ChIef Purroy.
The fire discovered by william Reeves who
has apartments on the top floor. He smelled
smoke and traced It to the fourth floor. the
sou'i side. facing Amsterdam-ave.
The fire spread with great rapidty and before
the engine arrived flames shooting from the
fourth. fifth sixth and seventh story windows
As the wind was blowing a gale, 1t looked as II
the whole building was doomed. In the hotel
forty-thres families lived. aggregating $50 per-
sous. not including fifty servants.
EXCITEMENT AMONG THE OCCUPANTS.
When the cry Of fire ran through the halls
scene approxmatns a panic ensued among the
women and children. There was stampede for
the elevator and stairways. The elevator boy
had left the car at the ground floor and would not
run 1t up after he had summoned the police. Ex-
Captain Levi Dexter. formerly OF the Pacific Mail
Steamship Company. lived on the fifth floor d.
rectly above the suite Of the Forbes family. His
invalid mother lived with him. She was carried
down the stairs by the guests OF the hotel One
aged woman whose name could not be learned.
was helped out and after going out Of the en-
trance In One hundred and -third-st. became hys
tercal and fell to the sidewalk. She was taken
TO neighborng house.
The sick child Of Mrs. Lester on the second
noor was carried out through smoke and panic
by the elevator boy. The families living In the
south wing OF the hotel. far as could be
learned. Colin j. Forbes the artist. on the
fourth floor: adjoining him Ira Seeey. the hrst
Moor north. DR. Sheehsn: south, Peter Mitchell;
second floor. north. David Mitchell: south. H.
Gibson third floor. Levi Dexter first floor south.
William DEMO- north. r. w. Allen. and sixth
floor south. J. j. HabriOn.
The building. which ~ OF brick and seven
stories In height. is owned by Peter and David
Mitchell and was built four years ago az a cost
Of s275.o0o. The damage is partly covered by In
<urance
DIDN'T REACH THE MAIN PORTION.
The flames did not reach the main portion OF
the hotel and only the south wing was burned
Between the burned portion Of the building and
the part which escaped there Is a thick partition
wall which prevented the spread Of the flames.
Considerable damage was done however, even in
the portion of the hotel which escaped the fre
by the torrents ~ water which the engines
poured on the building.
7, was impossible 10 tell last night Just what the
damage 10 the tenants who were not burned out
would amount TO- but IL Will undoubtedly be
larye az many o, the suites were richly fur-
nisi 81 and several of the tenants had valuable
.tr-. nOoxs sul l1anuscrtpfs IN their rooms
The Are caused a sensation in all tnat part OF
the CITY and crowds gathered at the scene. Tne
means II escaping from the building were ample.
and though the nre-escapes and stairways were
crowded with people hastily fleeing for their lives
In two minutes after the alarm was given no one
was injured. Though the hre was entirely out IN
an hour after the frsi alarm was given. II was
long after midnight before the neghDorhood nad
recovered lts usual quiet. Most OF the guests
OF the Castle went % the Edinburgh Hotel. which
IL just across the way. for the night
BURNING OF 4 RHODE ISLAND SCHOOL.
Providence. Jan. 27.-The main building Of the
Rhod. Island College Of Agriculture and Mechanic
Arts Kingston was burned this forenoon. IL was
a atone structure four stories high and cost $1,000
Forfy-,wo students roomed the four floors. In
III. basem-u, were the carpenter shop and room
for teaching physics In addition TO the loss on the
building which belonged TO the State. there IL a
loss OF about s2Oo on furniture. books and per
sonal effects belonging to the students There was
no insurance on anything The FIRE was discovered
about II a m IN the elevator shaft. and az most
the flames had complete control The dining
hail. Only a few yards distant. was saved .wltn
dficulty by wet blankets ana bucket nryyaas h, %,
1--WE years ago The origin OF the hre Is mystery
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