The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-03-20

NEW YORK. March 19.-In n driz-
zllng rain more than two hundred men
continued to-day TO work among the
debris and smoulderlng ruins Of the
Windsor Hotel, searching for the bodies
of those who pcrished in the flames.
and to recover any valuables, that might
have escaped the ravages Of the fire.
The efforts Of the searchers were fu-
tile, however, and the ruins were too
hot to permit much progress, and the
smoke issuing from the burning mater
ia1 was rendered more dense by the
dampness Of the atmosphere. At inter-
walls during the night flames broke
forth from the burning embers, and
drove back the workmen.
Work was begun this morning to de
molish the frasmontary portions Of the
walls on the east and north sides Of the
burned building, and later the number
OF workers was reinforced, and the
work of removing the rubbish was
pushed as vigorously as was practical
BILE.
Dynamitcd tho Chimney.
The chimney, eighty-five feet high,
standing on the Forty-sixth side Of the
ruins, near Fifth avenue, was blown
up to-day. Thirty pounds OF dynamite
were placed underneath the base of this
chimney. and electricity was used to
explode 1t.
Smoke and steam still rise from the
debris, and now and then tongues OF
flame shoot up, even ut this late hour
after the fire. The workmen have
been able to do only little superficial
work. When they dig down i little way
the debris Is so hot that they are
Obliged to seek another locality.
During the day, workmen were en-
gagged In picking to pieces the six-story
wall that Is standing on ,ue Forty
seventh street side Of the hotel site, in
order to make the search In the ruins
safe.
The second eighty-iive foot chimney
was dynamited shortly after o'clock
this afternoon. The explosion wreck
ed number of plate glass windows and
doors In nearby residences.
A large force OF men were at work
during the afternoon on what was the
main entrance to the hotel. 1t was
expected that bodies would first be
found there. y large amount Of small
articles, principally the personal prop
erty OF guests, was found. rl-
Daniel Sweeney the emergency
lwrecker of the building department,
and three men had a narrow escape
from injury. and possibly death about
5 o'clock. The four men were on top
OF the siH-story wall which was still
St piipp IN n TSprtu-Sn,,anth ctr
rear corner of the hotel. tearing It
down. ~ stiff north wind blew up sud-
denly. and Sweeney felt the wall tremb-
Ing beneath him. He cried out warn
Ing, and the men hurried from their
dangerous position. They were Just
outside Of the danger line when 4 great
section Of the wdll, thirty or more feet
square, and including that portion on
which they had been working. went
down with roar, A portion of 1t fell
on the roof the house back Of the hotel.
wrecking the roof. The house had
been empt!cd, by order OF the building
department. and nobody was injured.
Suspected Robbcrics.
a. P. Demorcst called ut the East Fif-
ty-ilrst police station to-day, and re-
ported that he had small safe filed
with jewels, valued at $4,000, in the
ruins OF the fire. He, his wife and
daughter and son occupied rooms on
FOrty-seventh street. They We're all
In their rooms when the fire occurred.
His daughter, when the fire was discov-
cred, went to the small safe containing
the Jewels and tried to open 1t. but for
got the combination in her excitement.
Mr.. Dcmorest stated that when lie OPEN
ed the room door he saw three men
running about In the smoke. and going
Into rooms. They We're not iircmen,
and he was certain they were not en-
ployes. He thinks they were robbers.
He and his family then went out on the
fire escape, and were rscued by fire
men. Mr.. Demorest was apprehensivc
about the safety of the safe and Its val
liable contents.
Thomas Cleary, of No. oil Third ave-
nue., called on Inspector Harley, and
stated. that he assisted 4 woman from
the hotel whom he afterwards ascer-
tained was Mrs. Abner Mckinley. He
took her. to the street. and put her in
n cab. Mrs. Mckinley told him that she
had dropped n bag containing some
Jewclry. He ran back and got the
bag, and gave 1t to Mrs. Mckinley, and
she drove off. Inspector Harley held
Cleary In order to verify the story. or
three trunks taken from the debris at
Forty-seventh street and Fifth avenue
Saturday afternoon. two were claimed
by Abner Mckinley.
Condition of the Injured.
The hospital reports as to the injured
are most favorable. Most of the pa
tients are improving. Some of them
were able to leave the hospital to-day
and others will be discharged to-mor-
row. Following Is statement OF the
condition of the injured:
Katie Roach. servant; ankles broken;
recovering, Bellevue.
Mrs. Martha NJ, Simmons Frederick,
Nd, burned: recovering, Belcvue.-
Mrs. Nellie Thomas, assistant house
Keeper OF hotel; shock. improving,
Bellevue.
Mrs. Alice NJ. Price. Macon, Ca. leg
fractured; greatly improved, Bellevue.
Nrs. Katherine Misch, wife OF corrcs-
pondprt Of the Cnp ErnpcjeSn JlptiotIp.