The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-02

GLOVERSVILLE N. Y, Feb. 1.-Six lives
were lost by, the burning of the Alvord
House. a large hotel. this morning No bod
les have been recovered. but it is believed
all the missing, whose names are given be-
low, perished:
T.. T. KIMBALD, Indianapolis.
MRS. f. f. KIMBALI, indianapolis.
MISS NELLIE KIMBALL, Indianapolis.
HENRY C. DAY, Gloversville, N. Y.
BENJAMIN Il. STRICKLAND, Glovers-
vile, n. Y.
CHARLES RUPERT. bell boy. Glovers-
Vile, N. Y
The following We're injured:
l.. G. LAMBERT, Chicago, jumped from
second-story window, right arm broken and
internal injuries.
WILLIAM MALONEY, travelling man,
residence unknown, sprained ankle.
B. M. ROSS, travelling man, Rochester,
N. Y, badly bruised.
]. d. DAVIS, of Westfield, N. Y, jumped
from the third story, struck the wires oppo-
site the second story and thrown to the
ground; not seriously hurt.
j. II. BARRY, of Troy, jumped from third
story; slightly injured.
ELWOOD DELONG. fireman, seriously
frozen
ANDREW WATSON. of Toronto. Ont,
jumped from fourth floor to a shed; slightly
hurt.
ville's old landmarks, as well as the largest
hotel in Fulton county. 1t was handsome
four-story brick structure. The fire broke
out ct. o'clock and the building burned
with almost incredible rapidity. Nearly ev-
cry room in the hotel was occupied. The
fire started on the ground floor and shot up
through the upper stories with lightning
like speed, the broad stairs and Railways
furnishing great fiues which carried the
flames upward. Almost Immediately after
the fire was discovered the alarm was
sounded and the big hotel was soon the
scene of widest confusion. There was a
scramble on the part of the guests to es-
cape from the building with their personal
property, but many were forced to flee
without saving anything. A few of the
guests made their escape by the stairways,
but the smoke soon cut off this retreat.
The next resort of the imprisoned people
was the windows. AS their terror-stricken
faces appeared the crowd which had gath
cred below watched, breathlessly hoping
against hope that all would be saved The
guests who were thus entrapped did not
long hesitate to take the risk of jumping
though some were rescued from their peril
Gus positions by the firemen. Others leaped
from the windows, several being more or
less injured.
Findlay Morrow, travelling salesman for
an Albany house, clad only in shirt and
trousers, jumped from a window, landing
safely in the snow. Mr.. and Mrs. j. c.
Strauss. of this city, finding no escape by
way of the hall, stepped out of the window
and on to the narrow ledge of cornice, where
they stood ten or fifteen minutes awaiting
the rescuers With the aid of a ladder the
hook and ladder men brought them safely
to the ground. Mrs. Strauss lost her jew
elry and wardrobe, valued at 1900. There
were many other thrilling rescues.
The firemen searched all day in the ruins
for the bodies of the missing people, but
their efforts were unrewarded. Electric
lights have been strung over the ruins and
a large force will continue the search all
night. Two travelling men who We're re-
ported missing during the day were ac-
counted for late tonight, leaving six known
victims Benjamin F. Strickland, one of
the missing, was contractor and builder
who resided at the Alvord Hotel Henry
c. Day was one of the most prominent
business men of Gloversville.
The total loss on the building, furniture
and property of guests will probably
amount to 100000, partially insured. The
fire started near the laundry, but from
what cause is not known.