The Meeker herald., 1895-08-24

At AidniEht the Boiler EIplod -, CnuatnR
the Rear Portion or the RuildinE to
Collapse - Fire Hrcaks Out In the
Ruins-seventy Guests wsrs In tho
Building, of Whom Doc More
Doubtless Lost Their Lives.
Denver, Aug. 19.-Thls city was the
scene of n terrible catastrophe at twelve
o'clock last night. The boiler In tho
Hotel Gumry exploded with terrific
force, blowing out the rear of the build
ing at the basement. and letting the
wall above fall down.
This collapse carried down TO death a
number OF the seventy guests that were
sleeping in the hotel Following the
collapse fire burst out and continued
until a late hour this morning, despite
the efforts of the fire department.
The true cause of the explosion is In
doubt. 1t was the custom of the engi-
neer. Frank Mccarthy, to bank his fires
ut eleven o'clock and go home. The
boilers are left with low pressure un-
der them as rule, just enough to hold
fire until the morning. when he returns
and again takes charge. Last night the
engineer had remained later than usual,
and this fact would lead to the BELIEF
that he had on hotter fire than Gus
tomary and had remained with it longer
In order to see 1t safe before leaving. 1t
is stated that the engineer was intoNi-
Gated.
As to the number of lives lost there Is
still doubt. Thirteen is given as the high
est estimate.
The death list will include the owner
Of the hotel, Peter Gumry: the manager.
Robert C. Greiner and his wife, who act
ed as day clerk. They are known to have
been in the rear of the building, and
could not possibly have escaped. Be
fore fire added to the horrors of the eN-
ploson. the tiremen We're appealed to
pitcously by men and women and babes
whose lives We're being crushed out in
the ruins. Then the fire broke out. and
that ended 1t. One man. Joe Munal Of
Cairo, Illinois, was rescued at $50 o'clock
after an hours work, and it is certain
that no more of the victims can be alive.
General Charles Adams Of Manitol
was one of the victims
The others who are believed to have
perished are as follows:
A. T. Blake, Pueblo.
Edwards, Boulder.
Myron f. Hawley, Denve
James Murphy. Denver.
Three chambermaids, names un-
known, are believed to have lost their
lives.
The explosion was heard over all the
lower part OF the city and the clang of
the fire gong turned the late pedes-
trians toward the scene of the cataS-
trophe. 1t was Il scene to appall the
stoutest heart and almost paralyze the
efforts of the department. The dust
had cleared away somewhat when the
firemen reached the place. There was
no fire to be seen then.
The noise of the explosion awOke the
guests In the front part of the house,
and by the time the first firemen reach
ed the scene they WGlfer me N.Y. y!
That portion of Lawrence street was
literally covered with broken glass
from the front of the hotel and wrecks
of awnings, doors and windows were
scattered in wild disorder all about.
The gaping. glasslcss windows and gen
eral dilapitated appearance of the
| front told that serious disaster had
occurred, but there was nothing to in
dicate from the front how badly the
damage was 10 the rear portion of the
| structure
On arrival the tiremen became a life
saving corps. and with torch and Ian
tern entered into all parts of the hotel.
| First to demand attention was Michael
| C. Burgess. who was walking along
| Lawrence street on the opposite side
from the hotel. The flying gless cut
him about the head and face in a fright
| full manner and he was taken to the
city hall in the patrol.
The firemen had put up the ladders
and were hastily running through the
standing rooms. knocking down doors
and searching for the wounded or dead.
Nearly all those found We're awaiting
some one to lead them from the house.
standing dazed and uncertain what to
expect next, while their rooms grew
more and more suffocating from the
dust of shattered plastering and debris
that was falling all about them.
Six persons, including woman and
baby. We're taken off the roof of the ad-
Joining building occupied by A. Lilly
blade.
The extent of the calamity was first
discovered by citizens who made their
way into the alley at the rear. The
firemen and officers were all at the
front and no one In that vicinity had
an idea Of the devastation at the rear.
The hotel is divided in about the GEN.
ter by rotunda or court. running to
the top of the building. though covered
Mt the second floor The building had
been split in two at this point Of diyis.
ion and the entire five stories back of
the rotunda were thrown into shape
less, awful mass In the alley. Five
stories Of brick, wood and iron, with
the human occupants. were made a
mere heap Of death-containing ruins.
The fragments Of the wreck on Law
renee street lowered up into the air, all
dark and yawning, while a great sec
ton Of roof hung In threatening suspen-
sion over the chaos below. Out of that
yawning mass above there came shrill
cries Of alarm and horror and here and
there white garment fiuttered. Out
of the dreadful accumulation Of brick