The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1895-08-20

impossible to state, but is known that
several who were in the back portion
of the building managed to escape III
some manner. The occupants, as de-
termined by the clerk, are as follows:
Counted Among the Lost.
General Charles Adams OF Manitou,
Colo, occupied Room IL. in the rear of |
the hotel, and over the boilers, the Sec
ton in which the havoc of the eXplo- |
sion was hardest.
Mr. Rubbe, believed he was i'll his
room
Ex State Auditor August Schwan-
beck, brother Of Mr.. Adams, was
early at the scene of the disaster and
inquired eagerly tor him. He said that
it was his brothers. custom to retire
early on Sunday evenings. If it is true
that Mr.. Adams was in his room, he
is undoubtedly among the dead.
A. L. Blake OF Florence, Colo, was
sleeping in the room directly over the
boiler, and Mr. Rubbe places him
among the dead
Myron L. Hawley, clerk IN the
freight department Of the Union Pa
| citic railway office. roolned in the rear
end, and had been IN the house fora
long time. He had gone to bed early
and is counted among the lost.
James Murphy, a contractor, was
regular boarder, and also roomed III the
destroyed portion. Mr.. Rubbe says he
was in his room and he also must be
among the dead
| Whole Rear Half Demolished.
The whole rear half of the hotel was
blown to atoms and the front portions
are merely shattered and burned frag-
ments OF a house. The force of the
explosion was SO great that for two
blocks on Lawrence street and for some
distance on Larlmer street every WIN
dow in the business blocks We're shat
tered into pieces on the pavements. 1t
was a catastrophe complete and pltiless
in its horrors.
The dust had cleared away some
what when the firemen reached the
place. There was no fire to be seen
then. In front of the house there was
sound of glass falling and people
were rushing in night clothes IN horror
from the doors and appealing piteously
from the windows for help. The ex'
plosion awoke the guests in the front
part of the house and by the time the
tiremen reached the scene were ready
to be taken from the windows. The
firemen, with torch and lantern, en-
tered into all parts of the house.
First to demand attention of the
ambulance corps was Michael Z. Bur
CESS, who was walking along Lawrence
street on the opposite side from thu
hotel when the explosion occurred
The flying glass cut him about tn
: head and face in frighteul manner
His injuries are very serious, thougl
not necessarily fatal. He is painte
from Custer City, S. d.
= Bud Hopkins, bartender at tn
y Gumry, was found on the floor of tn
hotel, unconcious and bleeding fror
many cuts. His injuries are no
serious.
Joe Munal was found in the base
}, ment, dressed only in his under clothe
y and was completely covered with ashe
. and dirt. His injuries, though severe
y are not thought to be fatal.
4 These three are the only injured pei
sons who had been taken to the count
r, hospital up to "a. N.
Six persons, including woman an
baby, were taken off the root Of tn
building adjoining the Gumry, occr
pied by A. Lillyblade.
Divided in the Center.
10 The hotel was divided about the Gel
10 ter by rotunda or court, running
~ the top of the building, though covere
IL at the second floor The building ha
IL been split in two at this point of dlvl
er ION and the entire five stories back {
re the rotunda We're thrown into a shap
j, less mass in the alley. Five stories
Or brick, wood and iron, with the huma
as occupants, We're made mere heap
to death-containing ruins. The fra
or ments OF the wreck on Lawren
street lowered up into the air, dal
40 and yawning, while a great section
&c the roof hung III threatening suspe
US sion over the chaos below. Out of Il
IS pile of brick, wood and iron belo'
there came feeble means and piteO
cries for help.
nd Cries for Help Ceased.
ed A fireman clamberlng up the mou
in tain of ruins telt his feet crun
,,. against human flesh. He reach
-, down and touched with his hand
arm protruding from the mass benea
VI him. There still seemed to be no fiji
NY The blaze had been smothered by t
falling building and the tiremen {
Ter voted their efforts to the work of r
m cuing. And then suddenly the fan
fe. broke out and the workers were driv
,re away and the voices ceased to cry
.bo help. The great mass was from tt
moment nothing but grave. I
''o most that the fremen could do, VIII
the flames shot up fiercely and smc
OF drove them back, was to fight tierc'
ap- for the life of one poor fellow, Jose
lep Munal, whose head and shoulders p
ng truded from the burning mass.
fire was finally taken out, but may die
Joe of his injuries.
At times the cries of babe and
means OF men and women could