The Mena weekly star., 1897-12-22
THE FIRE PEND.
The Auditorium Hotel and Theater at
 Kansas City Burned.
THE FIREMEN GET RATTLED
Some Guests at the Hotel Lose Their Ef- fects-Net Loss About s2OO,OO0 and Insurance on Building and
 Furniture 87s.OOO.

KANSAS CITY, Mo, Dec 22.-At one o'clock this morning man rushed into 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 headway 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 afame the furniture of one of the un- occupied rooms. The fire must have begun before midnight. It 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.
 ssi the street, six stories below, man stood out in the snow and looked up at the window. sudden tongue T T The man rushed into the hotel office and told the night clerk of what he had seen. The night clerk went out 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! Ierel get up and save your goodsw 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. rushed down the dark street at gall lop the horses slipping on the icy pavement. By this time the whole neighborhood 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 goblins melted to- gether, and then with a mighty up heaval raised themselves through the roof and flashed out spinning column of flame 30 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 firemen 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 afiame.
 Bremen 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 firemen would take care of the build ing. The guests in the hotel numbered 1s5 and many of them lost their effects The insurance on the building amounts to S70,0OO and on the hotel furniture and fixtures to $S,000. The net loss was about $200, ,000.