The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-08-19
FIRE ADDED TO THE HORROR
AND MANY WHO WENT DOWN IN THE
WRECK BURNED TO DEATH.
Firemen Beaten Back by Flames
While Trying to Rescue Some Of the
Wounded-Partial List Of Guests.

DENVER, Col. Aug. 19.-The Gumry
Hotel, Nos. 1725 to 1873 Lawrence street, was
wrecked by an explosion at 1910 o'clock
this morning. The rear half of the building,
a five-story brick and stone structure. went
with guests and many OF them we.
killed or burned as well as the entire force
of hotel employees. who were sleeping in
the portion Of the building that fell. On
both sides of Lawrence. from Seventeenth
to Eighteenth streets. and on Larimer, di-
rectly back OF the Gumry. the plate-glass
windows Of the business houses were blown
in and a number OF pedestrians
were injured by falling glass. The
fronts of many buildings in the
vicinity were badly wrecked. The hotel
structure for one hundred feet along the
alley and extending seventy-five feet toward
the front is a mass Of debris. Brick and
plaster are piled in heaps twenty
feet high. and from this mass
OF wreckage can be heard the means Of
the injured and dying. At 1926 five in
jured persons have been taken out. They
were all inmates OF the upper story, and
sank down with the floors. escaping more
fortunately than those below. who are
still buried in the ruins.
The fremen are working like beavers
and digging into the debris. and are MAX
ing little progress. The remaining portion
Of the building from which ths gaests
are being removed by ladders as fast as
possible, is expected to fall at any moment
and precautions to avert further loss Of
life adds to the difficulty in reaching the
dead and injured. By some estimates forty
people were In that portion Of the hotel
destroyed, nearly all of whom must be
dead.
BOILERS PROBABLY EXPLODED.
The cause Of the explosion Is uncertain,
but it is supposed that the battery of boil
ers in the hotel basement must have ex-
ploded. The sound of the explosion was
heard throughout the city, awakening peo-
pie in bed a mile away A cloud Of dust
was thrown a thousand feet in the air
and as there is not q breath OF air stir
ring. IT still hangs In the air like huge
column. Minute atoms OF powdered brick
and mortar are descending.
At 1880 the ruins are burning fercely
and the fremen have been obliged to re-
treat from the work OF rescue. Every en-
gine in the city is pouring streams into
the mass. but the flames cannot be pos
sibly gotten under control before many of
the injured have been burned. AS their
chances Of escape lessen, the cries of the
imprisoned people are increasing, heart
rending shrieks rising from every portion
of the great mass Of wreckage. Fears are
now entertained that the front portion of
the building, which seems to be tottering,
will fall and bury the fremen at their
work.
hose team ran away on Eighteenth street,
stampeding the great crowd OF spectators.
A number Of people were more or less
injured by being tramp,ed on and falling
in the broken glass which covers the street
and sidewalks in every direction. Electric
| light wires dangling from broken poles in
the alley added fresh peril to the firemen
| One horse was killed by coming in contact
with live wire.
ABANDONED TO THE FLAMES.
Two injured women had been almost ex-
tricated from the ruins ghen the flames
approached so close that the rescuers had
to abandon them for their own safety.
Both voices have now been silenced. fire
completing the work begun by the explo-
sion. The bodies of three women are also
to be seen in the back part OF the building,
but cannot be reached.
| At 1:30 a. m, the flames are still keep
| ing the firemen back from the work of
wall. OF those pinioned beneath under the
debris, only. two are thought to be alive,
both men from the fifth story. who are
still lying on their beds. Both are covered
heads and can hardly survive another half
hour. Almost no progress is being made
at releasing them for the smoke is blind
| ing The flames are only kept back from
their bodies by half a dozen streams of
water.
Thus far six other persons In the house
have been taken from the ruins. all badly
injured. In addition, four were severely
cut BY glass falling into the street. A piece
of the cornice OF the cheesman Block. at
Seventeenth and Larimer streets, fully a
bleck from ths Gumry Hotel was torn