The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-03-18

7 two hours from the time that the hse
h,oeo ouf the entire structure was in
ruins ana tic streets on three sides OF the
building were filed with debris from idii-
ng walls and tan chimneys while the
streams of water being poured into the
interior of the ruins did nothing but nh
tho afr with clouds OF scllding steam.
making I'd impossible for anyone 10 app
pro8ch rc1r enough 90 search for miss
The Gro was tho most spectacular that
could he imacinel. when II broke out
Firfh avenue was crowded with people
watching the 81 Parlcks Day parade
which was passing the building as the
fire broke out and every window IN the
FRONT of the hotel facing Fifth avenue
was fucd with spectators watching the
marching men aud Hoats in the street
An unusually large number of people
wore on fhe streets and intcrferod not
lfft. with the movements OF the nremcn
and police ,,.L
In addition 10 thc regular guests of the
hotel the windows were crowded with
larec number OF spectators. residents oi
this city who had congresatcd there 10
witness The parade
MANY PANIC Stricken.
Soon after the fire alarm was given
p.o,t. n tho lower floor of the hotel
those who bad easy access To the sire3
and stairway. commenced 10 pour out OF
fbe bnildiur iu great numbers. but 10 very
soon became apparent that great major
ltv Of tho occupants OF the hotel were
either panic stricken or unable to make
their way % The ground floor
windows were thrown up on every side
of fhc building and guests mostly women.
made frantic appeals for assistance TO
Tine crowd below.
DESPERATE LEAPS.
FINALLY some of them stood upon the
narrow window sils and bcckoncd 20 the
.n.rtators that they were about 10 leap
to the streets. Men collected upon tho
sidewalks ready to render any assistance
fhcv could Some Of the women dropped
fo fine streets ln most eases the efforts
to catch them and break their fall were
una,lung. and broken limbs were the
result.
AS soon as The Grcmon could gck their
scaling ladders into position they climbed
the sides of the building and entered at
every window where there were any
unfortunate guests appealing FOR assist
ncr. and many cases Of heroic rescue
wore witnessed by the throug i'm the
streets.
Us MISS GOULD'S HOME.
AZ the corner of Forty-scventh street
and Fifh avenue directly across from
The hotel is the home of Miss Helen /
Gould. and at her direction many OF the /
injured were carried there ana Were |
treated by physicians and nurses whom /
she had sent for.
In the meantime tho chief Of Police !
had tolonh0ned TO every hospital i'm the 4
city. asking that assistance he sent % (
The fire sufferers Ambulances forced /
their way through the crowds as quickly |
as possible. and the injured were re- !
moved to the hospitals
Several occupants of the hotel appear /
ad at the windows OF the sixth and /
seventh stories and even ON the roof. and ]
leaned to the streets from those points /
Very few of them escaped either instant /
ieata or injuries which resulted in their /
leath % short time later.
THE WALLS COLLAPSE.
Within forty or forty-fve minutes after
he fire broke out the walls of the Fifth
VENUE side showed every indication Of
alling shortly. with am awful crash they
truck the asphalt covering of the street
n front of the hotel. This fall weakened
Dee walls on The F0rty-siXth and Forty
eventh streets sides. and they followed
moment later.
When the walls fell the bricks and
MORTAR and twisted girders and CORFU
ated iron filed the streets on both sides
# the hotel. The doors steps and fences
ID The east side of FOrty-seyenth street
rom the hotel We're wrecked, and the
mount of debris piled in the streets was
% great that travel will be impeded for
everal days
Tho northeast wing Of the hotel con-
inued 10 burn for half an hour after
he walls of the other part Of the build
lg fell
Firemen continued TO play streams upon
he flames and also upon all the adioin-
lg building including Miss Goud's resi-
ence. which seemed in imminent danger /
f catching fire, but the flames We're
roueht under control before they could |
each any of them.
WHERE fT STARTED.
hall-boy discovered the flames while
Dee was passing along the fourth floor,
over the rooms occupied by
resident McKinley's brother, Abner Nc
iinley, and his family The boy pulled
chain attached 90 the fire alarm. but
DE chain broke ard then De cried out
N alarm Of fire and ran 10 the floor be-
OW. The blaze was then licking up
verything on the Fifth avenue end or
he building. and the lad. when he got
Continued ON Fourth pa7rO