The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-08-20
UNITED IN DEATH.
Manager of the Gumry Hotel
and Wife
Found Clasped in Each Others
Arms Beneath the Ruins.
FIRE BROKE OUT
During the Night But Was Soon
Extinguished.
FIRE BROKE OUT

the Gumry hotel is still standing,
gaunt and sinister, constantly threat
ening to crash down upon those delv-
ing in the ruins at any moment. The
search for victims has been carried on
with the utmost energy constantly
since the explosion occurred. Flames
broke out afresh in the wreckage last
night. The list of dead and missing
now number twenty-five, making the
disaster the worst that ever occurred
in the city. Up to 1880 last night only
seven bodies had been recovered, be-
ing those of Manager Greiner and his
wife, clasped in each others arms;
George Burt, a Rock Island railroad
conductor; Mrs. George r. Wolfe and
daughter; Fred Hubbold and Will
Richards, the elevator operator of the
hotel.
Among the missing is now included
Elmer Pierce, the night engineer, who
is said to have re-entered the hotel
just before the explosion occurred. It
is to this mans carelessness that the
disaster is attributed.
The bodies of Peter Gumry and Cen
eral Adams are still in the ruins.
Judge James Glynn, who was at first
supposed to have been in his room at
the hotel, turns out to be at Holyolxe,
Col. where he was spending Sunday
Win IfleQQS,
A vast throng surrounds the build
ing on every side, pressing forward as
far as the fire ropes will allow. The
police are constantly guarding against
anyone slipping through the lines on
account of the great danger, that the
front Of the building may fall.
At 1920 p. m, the body of E. P.
McClosl1ey of Colorado Springs,
wealthy owner of Cripple Creek
mines, was taken from the ruins. This,
with James Murphy, who died while
being taken out, makes eight bodies
thus far recovered.
The fire has been almost extin-
guished, and 100 teams are now max
ing as rapid progress as possible re-
moving the debris, though at best the
work is painfully slow.
Following are lists of the dead, miss
ing and injured, so far as ascertained.
Dead:-Peter Gumry, owner of the
hotel.
h. &. Greiner, manager of the hotel,
sOn-in-law of Peter Gumry.
Mrs. R. G. Greiner, clerk of the ho-
tel, daughter of Peter Gumry.
General Charles Adams, Manitou,
Col.
A. L. Blake, Pueblo, Col.
Myron E. Hawley, Union Pacific
railroad clerk, Denver.
Y,
George Burt, passenger conductor on
the Rock Island railroad, Colorado
Springs.
Mrs. Wolf and daughter.
Two chambermaids, names I'M
known.
One bell boy, name unknown.
Missing: - Griener. father of E. c.
Greiner, manager of the hotel.
Bud Burnes, Colorado Springs
w. ]. Carson, Pueblo, Col
F. French and Burt L Larsch, Cen
trial City, Col.
E E. McCloskey, Canon City, Col.
Injured: Joseph Munal, cigarmaker,
Cairo, Ill, face and head terribly cut;
body bruised; internal injuries.
Michael c. Burgess, severely cut
about the face.
A. E. Irwin, night clerk, cuts and
bruises.
J. H. Letson, travelling conductor,
body badly bruised; internal injuries.
Fred Coleman, not serious.
Bud Hopkins, not serious.
No words can portray the scene
around the ruins. Women and chill
dren, maddened by the terrible sus-
Pense, hurried in anxious inquiry
concerning loved ones who are miss
ing. Strong men hard at work amid
the ruins quaked at the sickening
smell of roasting flesh and turned
with pallid countenances from the
scene. Never before has such absolute
wreckage and ruin devastated any
portion of tlhe state.
Abont IL o'clock a wOman's hanc
protruded almost unnoticed, from {
pile of laths, bricks and other ma
terial- With the precision of trained
corps of life savers, attention wa
turned by the rescuers to the delicate
member that almost beckoned TO
help. When the work of removing
the body was completed, it was fount
she was dead, Lying beside her life
less, yet tender affection, was thu
corpse of a small child, innocent
looking, even in death.
The latest obtainable Information
shows that a 17-year-old boy, Elme
Price, who was temporarily placed il
charge of the boiler, was directly re
sponsible for the accident. With tn
boiler almost at red heat he injected
cold water into the tubular affair
causing an immediate explosion. TIL
story of suffering amid the ruins
agoniziRg, and even repulsive. Few
other than tiremen, the hastily sum
moned rescue corps and policemen, re
manned near the scene to witness tn
excavation Of the horribly burned hu
man masses and distorted remains.