The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1898-02-04
HOTEL IN ASHES.
Il 10 Thought That Five People Lost
Their Lives in the Flames.
The FOur-StOry Brick Structure in Ruins
an Hour After the Flames First Broke
Out-Several Guests Made Thrilling
Escapes From the Windows.

GLOvERSVILLE, N. Y, Feb. 2.-The
Alvord house, one of GlOverSville'S old
landmarks, as we'll as the largest hotel
in Fulton county, lies buried in it's
own ashes. At seven o'clock Tuesday
morning the Alvord was a handsome
four-story brick structure. An hour
later it was a mass of ruins. The
building burned with incredible rapid
ity and spectators shuddered at the
thought that some of the many in
mates would be unable to escape from
the fiery furnace. At this season the
business is unusually large and it is
understood that nearly every room in
the building 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 fues
which carried the flames upward. AL
most Immediately after the flames
were discovered the alarm was sound
ed through the house and the big hotel
was soon the scene of widest con-
fusion. There was a wild scramble on
the part of the guests to escape from
the building with their personal prop
erty, 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-strick-
en- faces appeared, the great crowd
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 perilOus positions by the
fremen. Others leaped from the win
dOws, several being more or less in
jured. Findlay Morrow, a travelling
salesman for an Albany house, clad
only in shirt and trousers, jumped
from a window, landing safely in the
snow.
The following persons are missing
and are believed to have persisted in
the flames: Henry G. Day, Glovers-
Vile: E. G.. Kimball, wife and daugh-
ter, Indianapolis; Rupert, bell boy.
The total loss on building, furniture
and property of guests will probably
amount to 100000, partially insured.
The fire started near the laundry,
but from what cause is unknown.
Proprietor Davis says that two travel
ing men arrived late Monday night
but their names are unknown, as the
hotel register and office books were de-
stroyed.
The fremen searched all day in the
ruins for the remains of victims, but
their efforts were unrewarded. Elec-
trio lights were strung over the ruins
and large force continued the search
all night. The two travelling men re
ported missing were accounted for late
Tuesday night, leaving six known vic
TINS. Dr. Davis, of Westfeld, N. Y,
jumped from the third story. He struck
the wires opposite the second story
and was thrown to the ground, but
was not seriously hurt. j. H. Barry
of Troy, jumped from the third story
and was only slightly injured.
Elwood belong, fireman, was ser
iously frozen.
Andrew Watson, of Toronto, Ont.
jumped from the fourth floor to a sheC
and was only slightly hurt. .-......