The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-09-12
BURNS DOWN.
Most Famous Hotel in Newport
is Destroyed.
Warren Leland's HOstelrys the
Ocean House.
NARROWLY ESCAPES.
Invalid Mother of Proprietor
Carried From the Building
On a COt-Hard Battle With
Flames.
NARROWLY ESCAPES.

Newport, r. L, Sept. 1.-THE burning
of the Ocean House, destroyed the most
famous hotel in Newport. The struc-
ture burned to the ground.
The alarm was rung in at 2:30 o'clock
IN the afternoon. The blaze was hrSt
seen in the third story, near the center
wing, in the servants quarters, and
spread with great rapidity.
The house, being old, dry, and entire
ly of wood, burned like finder In half
an hour all three wings were Wreathed
in flames, and within an hour the whole
structure was destroyed.
The smoke was dense. and from Mar
Tagansett Pier it could be seen floating
for miles, carried by an upper current
of the atmosphere.
The fire department responded
promptly but it was apparent from the
start that the building could not be
saved, so attention was directed to the
adjoining buildings, endangered by the
cinders which were carried miles down
Narragansett Bay.
Mrs. Leland Taken Out on a Cot.
The aged mother of Landlord Warren
Leland Jr., who was i'll, was taken out
on a cot and carried to the Newport
hospital.
The elevator fastening being burned
the car came down with a great crash,
and sparks set fire to the carpets on the
ground floor. The Casino roof took fire
several times, but was put out without
loss. a building on Church street also
caught fire from the sparks. Clerks in
the shops around the Casino got out
garden hose and wet down everything
in sight.
Private Thwig of company r and Pri-
vate John I. Ulrich of company D, For
ty-seventh regiment, New York volun-
teers, who went to the second story of
the hotel on the report that a guest was
there, had their escape cut off and were
obliged to jump. They landed in pile
of mattresses and were not hurt. The
distance was 40 feet.
irb+ "a f0t % RI xxynO
it was feared had persisted, turned up
all right in the afternoon.
Millionaire Volunteer Firemen.
With the first alarming cry came
more than a score of the distinguished
members Of the Newport set. Among
these were Chauncey NJ. Depew, Perry
Belmont, o. H. P. Belmont, w. K. Van
derbilt Jr., Henry CleWs Jr., William
Spencer, and A. G. Vanderbilt. They all
entered into the spirit of saving proper
ty with a will With no thought of fire
clothes they rushed into the burning
hotel to assist the guests in rescuing
their valuables.
But these millionaire volunteer fire.
men were not left to do all the work.
Members of the FOrty-seventh New
York regiment Joined in like veterans
and the townspeople, too, were active
in rendering aid to the firemen.
Showers of sparks were carried all
over the town, and the utmost care had
to be taken to prevent other buildings
from being destroyed.
The huge safe, which contained thou
sands of dollars worth of jewels and
other valuable belonging to the guests,
is a charred and blackened mass Of
steel It is feared that many of the
vaIuables deposited in it will be a to-
tai loss.
Charles F. Bates, who has been here
with a string of horses for the horse
show, had an exciting time. He had
rooms in the Berger, next door to the
Ocean House, and was taking his after
noon nap when the fire started. When
he awoke his room was intensely hot,
and it took him some time to take in
the situation. He finally gathered his
traps together and made his escape
through window to the roof of the
Casino and thence to the barber shop
and to terra firma.
Historic Building.
The Ocean House was built in 1S4S
to replace one that burned down there
three years before. General Grant,
during his two terms as president,
spent some time at the Ocean House.
Ambassadors and members Of royal
families known the world over have
slept within it's historic walls.
The assessment valuation OF the
building was $116, 100, and the loss will
be large, since several of the insurance
policies had been allowed to lapse. The
total insurance is not more than $780,
900. The property was owned by Henry
J, Barley of New York.
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