The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1897-12-24
THE FIRE FIEND.
The Auditorium Hotel and Theater at
Kansas City Burned.
THE FIREMEN GET RATIFIED
Some Guests at the Hotel Lose Their Ef.
fects-Net Loss Nbout 100000 and
Insurance on Building and
Furniture $4,000.

KANSAS CITY, Mo-, Dec. 22.-At one
o'clock this morning a man rushed in to
the Auditorium hotel from the street
| and told the night clerk that the build
ing was afire. He had seen it from
the street through one of the windows
on the top floor. The night clerk
turned in the alarm to the fire depart
ment. but the flames had gained such
Roadway and the fire service was SO
poor that little was done to save the
building. When the sun came up this
morning the Auditorium theater and
hotel, from roof to cellar, was smok-
ing pile of ice and ashes and crumbling
walls The fire destroyed entirely the
beautiful building, one of the most
perfectly appointed theaters in the
United States.
In the southeast corner of the build
ing, just under the cornice, were the
servants quarters, and it was here
that the fire started. No one knows
its origin, but it is supposed that two
electric wires became crossed and
threw out little sparks which set
aflame the furniture of one of the I'M
occupied rooms. The fire must have
begun before midnight. 1t smoldered
for an hour, worming its way about
the unoccupied room, devouring quietly
the woodwork, the bedding and the
furniture, gathering strength for the
onslaught.
In the street, six stories below. a
man stood out in the snow and looked
up at the window. A sudden tongue
of flame darted along the window sill.
The man rushed into the hotel office
and told the night clerk of what he
and looked up at the window, then ran
hastily back, turned in the alarm and
set the bells and servants to work
rousing the guests.
Through every corridor and hall of
the big building the cry rang out,
Fire! Here! get up and save your
goodsv A few guests were aroused
instantly. They put on their clothes
and rushed out into the halls. They
did not lose their senses, but set about
rousing the guests. Women, children
and men scrambled out of bed and
rushed to the door at the knock and
the warning cry, but were told to take
their time about dressing, as the dan
ger was not immediate.
At the first alarm hose company No.
5 rushed down the dark street at gal
lop, the horses slipping on the icy
pavement. BY this time the whole
neigh borhood was aroused with the
rush of the heavy wagons, the sound
ing of the gongs and the shouts of the
people in the street. A second and
third alarm were turned in and every
fire department in the city was sum-
moned to the burning building.
The little flame COLLINS melted to-
gether, and then with mighty up
heaval raised themselves through the
roof and flashed out a spinning column
of flame so feet in the night air. 1t
was the signal that the fire had won,
that the building was conquered.
There was no hope for it after that.
By this time the fremen had set to
work on the south side of the build
ing, and with hose and water tower
were driving the flames not from the
inside of the building outward, but
from the theater straight toward the
hotel, which. was not yet aflame.
Firemen came in the hotel office and
the parlor and told the guests that
they need have no fear, as the build
ing would soon be saved. They did
not seem to realize the extent of the
fire. When they did realize it they
lost their senses and rushed frantical-
ly about, without direction or control.
They swarmed up and down the
steps in the smoke and dark
ness, shouting and screaming Or
ders that no one needed or under
stood. They stamped and raved like
mad men at times, and when guests
who knew the hotel told them where
the fire could be got at best. they told
them to mind their own affairs and the
fremen would take care of the build
ing. The guests in the hotel numb ered
1875 and many of them lost their effects
The insurance on the building amounts
to $40, 900 and on the hotel furniture
and fixtures to $4,000. The net loss
was about 5000, 600.