The Van Buren press., 1895-03-02
EI7EsED TV DEATH.
Three Rerxsknl n fhe Fasnes It Rsa
kprinek, xrk.

Three Reslskel II fhe F1&nes It Hss
Springs AK
H0T SPRINGS. Ark. Feb. z2-
A disastnons IRE. causing the
desah Of three persons, aud pxin-
ful injuries TO others, enfaifing D
loss Of orer eI9gy coo. visited this
city this morning 81 4 o'clock
The following persisted in the
flames.
Mrs. Esmmon, who conducted
M apartment house
d. w. Wing, Of New York, an
exjoeke!.
Mrs Herox, hensekeeper of the
Oak Lawn.
Many Of the buildings destroyed
we're Boarding or furnished room
houses. and by miraculous efforts.
scores Of people escaped with
their lives.
The fire broke out In Leger-
woods bakery. On OnSehits
srenue. and ragged with gress fury
for more than two hours before
the fireman succeeded In checking
it, At the time . strong wind r&s
blowing from the north, which
greatly facilitated the destructive
work Of the flames.
Over the bakery where the FIRE
originated. there WAS a furnished
room house. the inmates Of which
had q narrow escape with their
lives, and one, Mrs. Sammon, who
conducted the rooms. perisbed.
The fire spread TO the four
story building adjoining. which
was owned by II. NJ. Hudgins.
and occupied al q fashionable
furnished room house. This also
burned so rapidly that the inmates
had barely time to get out, losing
all their personal effects. Mr..
aud Mrs. Bronson, of Macon, Mo-,
had rooms in this building, and
we're forced TO jump from the
sec0nd-story yersnda to save
their lives, receiving painful
injuries.
Across the street from this
building Was the Oak Lawn, a
large clearinghouse, which was
soon wrapped in flames by the
wind blowing the fire directly
against it. There we're some 20
guests in this house, all of whom
escaped. except ID. w. Wing, Of
New York, who was burned to
death. He was partially paralyzed,
and had returned to his room,
after first getting out, to secure
his purse, containing sl. 800, which
he had forgotten, after the build
ing was enyeloped in flames.
Mrs. Hecox, the housekeeper, ran
out with her clothing ablaze, and
burned to death before the eyes
Of hundreds Of people, no one
being able to reach her on account
Of the intense heat. These we're
all of the fatalities.
The fire continued to rage on
Ouachita avenue, famed to fury
by high wind, until the Ouachits,
Laclede, Illinois, Missouri, New
Orleans and Bloomington board.
ingh0uses were destroyed, to-
gether with all their contents.
Also large three-story brick
building owned by Mayor Williams
valued at $1,000, was destroyed,
together with about 70 cottages,
in addition to the buildings named
above, rendering many people
destitute and homeless. The
boardinghouses burned contained
from 20 to 40 rooms each and
were filled with guests, all of
whom lost their personal effects
and considered themselves lucky
TO escape death.
The fire ragged with such fury
and the heat was SO intense that
had the wind been from the west
the fire would undoubtedly have
wiped ont the business portion of
the city, including many hotels
and boardinghouses.
Several firemen were severely
burned while battling with the
flames, one corps being driven
away by The heat, and 1900 feet
of hose was burned.
d. w. Wing, of New York, who
was burned to death, was an
exjockey and was well known in
the East.
The property destroyed, will,
npon fair estimate, amount to at
least 100000, the greater portion
of which was not insured, and as
usual the property uninsured
belonged to people upon whom
the loss falls most heavily.