The herald., 1898-11-24

giving the alarm. The house was full o
guests, it being popular stopping place o
racing men and other strangers who ar
now visiting this city in large numbers
Most of the people in the building are be
lieved to have escaped. While the roof wa
cnveloped in flames man was seen en-
deavoring to escape from an upper window
attired only in his night dress. To those
in the street he seemed to fall backwards
into the raging flames, as he suddenly dis
appeared. His identity is unknown. Those
connected with the hotel are convinced that
several of the employees have perished il
the flames, but owing to the great excite
ment prevailing the names of those who are
missing cannot be ascertained. One man
named Morris, was taken to the receiving
hospital, having been injured in his at
tempt to escape.
THE FIRST VICTIM
4 a. m-The Mr.. Morris taken to the Re
ceiving Hospital from the Baldwin Hotel Il
dead. He recently returned from the klon
dixie and was not we'll known in this city
Mr.. n. ID. Noon of st. Louis was carried tc
the Receiving Hospital, having sprained his
ankle and sustained numerous bruises II
leaping from the window. The patrol wagon
has just been called to bring another man
reported to be either dead or in a dying con
dition to the hospital.
PROPERTY DAMAGE
At 4:5O a. m. the Ellis-street wall of the
hotel appears to be swaying slightly outward
and fears are entertained that it will fall il
the flames are not soon gotten under con
troll As the street is narrow one and the
wall very lofty, it's fall would mean much
damage to the Golden West Hotel and other
buildings across the street.
Across Powell street are the Columbia
Theater, St. AIMS building and several lodg-
ing houses, which are also in danger. The
corner on which the hotel stands is one OF
the business centers Of the city and the street
car traffic will be interrupted Tor the great
er portion of the day. The Baldwin Hotel is
leased and managed by Stone & Company
who recently reiurnished it at great ex
ponse. The building is understood to be
mortgaged by its owner, Z. j. Baldwin, fol
several hundred Thousand dollars. The
stores on the ground floor are as follows;
gents furnishings; j. j. Groom & Co., hats;
Baldwin Clothing House; Schreiber & Co.,
candy; Baldwin Jewelry Company; Baldwin
Millinery establishments; Grant g. Co..
pharmacy; Bacigalupi Phonograph Parlors
and Bogan's Grotto is in the basement. On
the first floor is fashiona BILE restaurant
and grill room conducted by the managers
Of the hotel.
THE BUILDING DOOMED
At $50 this morning the fire is still be-
yond control, though it appears probable it
will be confined to the hotel building. There
is a report current that eight servant girls
who slept ON the top floor have been burned
to death, but this has not yet been con
lirmed.
Shortly after the flames broke out two wo-
men were seen at a window Of the cupola
on the northwest corner Of the building.
Several gentlemen on the street volunteered
TO 90 to their rescue, but it is said were pre-
vented by police from doing so. Soon after
that two other women We're seen in one OF
the upper story windows and they have
not been accounted for. The members of the
"Secret Service Company are all accounted
for. 1t does not appear that the loss of
life will be so great as was at first feared,
owing to the timely warning given to the
guests but at this hour it is impossible
to state definitely either the number of
victims or their names.
AT 9:10 the Market street side seemed to
be crumbling. A warning was sounded and
the crowds, together with the employees of
the Emporium watching the fire from the
sidewalk, scattered. a few seconds later a
stream was turned on the chimney on the
annex, topping it over. The falling of the
chimney caused the remaining portion of the
fifth floor to give way and it came down with
crash. The entire front and center of the
hotel wall settled and the firemen working
at the engine stationed opposite the east
wing deserted their position, expecting the
mass to fall in their direction, but the wall
sagged only two or three feet and remained
standing. The Chief of the Fire Department
has issued orders to his men to take every
precaution. The fire is still eating the base
at the west end Of the hotel, and only frail
ironwork supports it. When it falls, the
dome, which for many years has been a