The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-01-14
WAS BURNED TO DEATH.
II. Denny Perlshed While Praying IN q
Hotel ct Beaumont.
In the Town-Firc WNs of an
Unknown Origin.

Beaumont Texas, January 13.-Th
Telegraph hotel, two-story frame struc
ture owned by MIR. Earl Wilson OF New
York, and one OF the Oldest buildings i
the city, was destroyed by IRE between
and 3 o'clock this morning, and W. II
Denny, aged about 90 years. a Taylor'
bayou rice farmer, persisted in the flames
The hotel was conducted by Mrs. II. v
Elder and all the rooms we're filled with
guests. The fire, which seems TO have
started from unknown causes in hall
on the second floor. was discovered about
2:S0 o'clock, and within few moments
atterward the entire building was en-
veloped in flames. Before the guests were
aroused the rooms were filed with smoke
and the stairway being ablaze those on
the second moor had to escape by jumping
from windows. Among these was Mr.
Powell OF Kirbyville, who arrived in the
city yesterday afternoon en- route to Phila-
deiphia to enter a medical college. lie
lodged in room 81 and as he rushed to his
window he says he heard man praying
In room 20. This party was w. IL. Denny,
ana his charred remains were found In the
smouldering embers OF tho burned build
ing at O'Clock this morning.
MI. Powell escaped without injury, but
he left valise containing 5000 in his
room and 1t was burned. l.. j. Kopkc OF
Sabine Pass also escaped by jumping from
second story window and but few guests
succeeded in getting out with more than
their night robes.
Mr.. Denny, the only victim of th2Hames,
came up from the farm yesterday with
the intention of going to Crowley, La,
this morning to visit his daughter. There
was no window to the room in which he
slept, but 1t was not known that he had
persisted until negro accidently found his
body while searching for burned money
He leaves FIVE children. one of them, John
Denny being with the Texas volunteers in
Cuba.
The hotel and its contents were totally
destroyed, the loss being placed at $4,000.
The insurance is $1600-S1000 on the house
and $500 on the furniture
Immediately after the fire was discov-
cred general alarm WAS turned in. The
fire department responded promptly and
while it was impossible to save either
the burning building or its contents, the
department made hight that has caused
them to receive showers ot compliments
today. The hotel was surrounded by
wooden buildings, some Of which were
not fifty feet away, but so effective was
the work of the department the flames
were confined to the burning building.
AS evidence of appreciation of the eff
cient service rendered Mr.. v. Wiess this
morning presented the fire department
with check or s25, IL. Loeb gave three
boxes of fine cigars. Wr. B. Dunlap check
Tor $40, Mrs. Schwerin check for s25,
Fl. Hirsch 200 cigars, w. R. Caswell a
check for s25. First National bank check
or s25 and NJ. Hccht, So.
The Telegraph hotel was the property
IF Earl Wilson, grandson OF Captain
}, w. O'Briep. who now resides in New
York. It was one of the old landmarks
II the city, being built in the early sew
,nties about the time the Texas and New
Orleans railroad was completed. The site
IN which II stood is valuable piece oil
and as 1t is within the fire dis
riot the burned building will doubtless
,e replaced by brick.