The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-09-04
FIRE HORROR At DENVER
The Crowded Gumry Hotel Wrecked
by an Explosion.
MANY PERSONS CREMATED.

Ehs Ruins of the Building Burned---
Heartrendlng Incidents at the Scene OF
tho Holocaust-People Perishcd With
in Sight and Hearin: of Wouid-Be
Rescuers.
The Gumry Hotel, on Lawrence street,
Between Seventeenth and Eighteenth streets,
Denver, COL, was demolished by an explo-
sion shortly after midnight The explosion
took place in the rear portion OF the build
ing. To add to the horror the ruins caught
fire and many OF the unfortunateS who were
not killed outright by the crush were slowly
burned to death. Their screams and plead
sngs that they be killed to save them from
torture by fire were piteous, but the bystand-
srs were powerIess to render them any aid.
There were about sixty guests In the
house. This, with the help employed on the
premises. would make seventy-five persons
IN the building at the time of the explosion.
Probably twenty-five men, women, and chill
dren lost their lives by the explosion. Half
dozen others were injured. Eight burned
and crushed bodies were taken to the
morgue. Ten more were known to be buried
Sn the ruins.
The entire rear portion OF the building was
demolished. The rear and side walls crum-
Dled like toy house. Soon afterward the
mass Of timbers, brick, and furniture caught
fire, incinerating many OF the victims, who
10y pinned and helpless in the blazing mass.
The known killed whose bodies were i'm
nediately recovered were: George Burt,
Denver. conductor; Fred Hubbold, Lisbon,
Iowa; F. J. McCloskey, Longmort, Col;
Will Richards. elevator boy; Robert G.
Greiner. Mrs. r. C. Greiner, clerk Of the
hotel; -, unknown woman; -, unknown
child.
the only means of identifying the body of
che woman is by a gold band ring with the
initials III. B." engraved thereon.
The latest information Is that seventeen
year-old boy, Elmer Pierce, who was tenn
pornrily placed in charge Of the boiler was
responsible for the explosion. With the
boiler almost at white heat, he let cold water
into tho tubular machinery, causing an i'm
mediate explosion.
II. E. Letson, who was the first live man
taken from the ruins, slept on the third floor,
and when found was encased in mass OF NOR.
tar and bricks that barely allowed freedom OF
movement. Chief Roberts Of the Fire De-
lpartment first discovered him aud began the
removal Of the tons Of material that seemed
TO rest directly upon his body. In heart
zending appeals he begged for something to
end his life. The rescuers worked with
Will, and in two hours had succeeded in re-
moving enough plaster and bricks from the
apparently lifeless body to allow his re-
moval. His lower limbs were crushed, but
NE will survive the terrible ordeal.
Immediately after the explosion boy was
heard wailing in the corner Of room which
had nearly all fallen away. His parents had
gone down with the first crash. Afterward
the little boys cries became weaker and
weaker and when the flames shot up into the
building his voice was silenced.
Every engine in the city was called to the
scene, but the flames could not possibly be
gotten under control before many OF the in
jured had been cremated. As their chances
Of escape lessened the cries OF the impris-
oned people increased, heart-renderinS
shrieks rising from every portion Of the
great mass of wreck.
Two injured women had been almost ex-
tricated when the flames approached so close
that the rescuers had to abandon them to in
sure their own safety. The bodies OF three
women were also seen In tho back part OF
the building, but could not be reached.
The flremen worked with great heroism.
The heat was intense and the smoke
binding. Electric light wires dang
ling in the alley and tottering llsincreased
the peril. At one time the men almost man
aged to reach the interior, whence proceed
cd cries for succor, but as they crossed the
Threshold the walls in the rear fell and ex-
posed to view the inmates making frantic
struggles to escape.
Mrs. Greiner, wife Of the Assistant Super
intendent of the State Capitol. with her hus-
band, were burned in the ruins. The firemen
saw the woman appealing to them from be-
hind q fruec that pipiOnad her fn fha floor OF
the of1ce'whence she had tried to escape.
At $50 q. m. several OF the victims were
still alive, but death reached them before
aid. At S.15 o'clock workmen on q pile of
debris in the centre Of the building uncov-
cred the fingers of human hand. The de-
hris was removed and the body Of man,
probably weighing 200 pounds, with short
BLACK curly hair and short black
slightly dishgured in face and body, which
was in doubled position and clothed only
in an undershit. Sutfocation had probably
oyertaken him while asleep and death had
come without suffering.
The ruins were twenty feet deep, and
under them were buried at least twelve
bodies.
It was thought that the entire force of en-
ployes in the building were killed, for they
were sleeping in the portion which fell, and
Ino KeludiuluS WILLS lOppieu oNer upou tueu,
burying them beyond all hope Of rescue.
I The Gumry Hotel was 1ve-story brick
structure with stone front, and was built
about six years ago. 1t was Of the better
kind OF second-class hotels, catering
largely to transient flmily patronage.
Many women and children were among
the guests. The building was built as
the Eden Musee by the widow of Tom
Thumb, and was so occupied, later being
zemodelled for use as hotel Gumry and
Greiner have owned the hotel for several
years. MIR. Gumry was prominent con-
tractor, and had done much Of the work
during the building Of the State Capitol.
Dir. Greiner acted in the capacity Of man
Ager.