Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-04-22

many of its furnishings were already in place Whom tho fro reached it. it was believed for time that tho solid new walls would successfully resist tho flames. But this was not to he. Tho Grand Pacific was consumed along with every other building that stood ill tue advancing path of tho relentless flames
 Tho stones and bricks that wcro left of tho handsome now structure had hardly grown cold before a new Grand Pacific began tO riso from tho ruins. and in a surprisingly short time tho structure that has been tho Grand Pa cifio now for moro than n score of years was thrown open for the accommodation of the public. Of thoso who wcro car Hest connected with tho Grand Pacific mono is still alive. John E. Drake, who. as its bOnifacC, won for himself a reputation enviablo among hotel keep CTS, was the third of its presiding gen fuses. With him during the first of his reign woro associated the two Sans" Samuel Turner and Samuel Parker in tho capacity of clerks. To thcso men tho great hotel undoubtedly owed much
 
 her was not robust, and hc went south and died. but i'll due time Sam Parker came to ho a partner and the firm of Drake. Parker & Co, which has con ducted tho hotel for years. will probably continue the business i'll Chicago in an other location. Mir. Draku'S two sons, Tracy and John B.. Jr,, form the Co. of the firm, and it is said hy those who know that tho young men have the hotel instinct well developed.
 The banquots of the Grand Pacific were always famous Every year Mine Host Drake gave his friends game din- ner. which was perhaps oven moro fla nous than the hotels banquetS, and to receive an invitation to this annual gath ering of men esteemed by John B, Drake was enough to mark any ono as good follow and a gentleman. The meetings of the Sunset club, an organization fa- nous in Chicago, woro always held at tho Grand Pacific. and it was there, too, that tho Owl club gathered when 1t de- sired to extend the hoSpitalitlos of the town to any distinguished guest, This organization banquet to tho elder Sal vini was one of tho most notable gath erinGs ever held in the city.
 Tho Grand Pacific was also a great rallying place fNr Republicans, and almost every f. ous leader of that great political party was entertained within the hotels walls at one time or another. Four of these leaders became presidents-Hayes Garfield. Arthur and Harrison Zachariah Chandler, tho fla nous senator from Michigan, hreathCd his last in ono of the rooms of the hotel, being found dead ill bed on the morning | after he had delivered a stirring address | in Chicago somo l5 years ago. On the | following Sunday his funeral was held | from the hotel. and though it has been the scene of many extraordinary gather | ings this funeral was probably moro i'm preSSive than any other ceremony. grave or gay. ever enacted beneath its roof. But the noted guests of the Graud Pa
 sitic were not all politicians. From its | registers could be compiled a wonder fully complete directory of the eminent ones of the earth, and these same regis ters would be a mine for tho autograph | hunters. for the pages bear the sigSa- lures among others of the Duke of Ava. Henry Ward Beecher, Dr. Talmage, Prince Napoleon, tho Marquis of Lorne, the Marquis of Queensberry and the poor creature this compiler of rules for fist fighting has recently vanquished, Oscar Wilde. Many of the world $ greatest singers and actors have also been guests of the Grand Pacific. inclad- ing Patti. Mrs Langtry. Gerster. Nils son, Marie Roze. Clara Louise Kellogg. and so on, while of men of affairs and | journalists and writers and soldiers and scientists the list would be almost end | IrSS