Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-03-18
TEN or IS DEAD.


the fire broke out the entire structure
was i'm ruins and the streets on three
sides of the building were filed with
debris from falling walls, ana tan
chimnies. while the streams of water
being poured upon the interior OF the
ruins had no other effect than to fill the
air with clouds of scalding steam. max
ing it impossible for any one to APP
proach near enough to search for miss
ing bodies
The fire was the most spectacular affair
OF the kind that could he imagined. When
It broke out, 9Th Avenue was crowded
with people watching the ST. Patrick
day parade. Il fact which nterfered 10;
a little with the movements of the ire
men and police.
As soon as the flames We're first dis
covered shooting from the windows, that
part of the processing which was near
The building came To Il halt and IN Few
minutes the parade wah diSDlndcd. Tor
the police came rushing towards the iift
| from every direction and MS FAR az tnev
| were able drove the people from the
| streets. one alarm after another WAS
turned in and the first OF the rrc engines
were not long in appearing upon me
scene. -,
| In addition to the regular guests Of the
| hotel the windows were crowded oy u
| -
| this city. who had congregdtcd WIN inc
| parade. - H..
| n.nnIc in the tower floors Of the hotel.
| ibnsn who had easy access H. HE street
and stairway, commenced 70 pour OUT -
| the building in great numbers but u very
soon became APPARENT that great d''l~
| iority OF the occupants oi IN" fi"iri We're
| either uanic stricken ur were hhtbie 1"
make their way 20 III" ground h""r.
| Windows were thrown up Oh "F'S> si1e
~. al
mon, in all stages of terror MAO" thGir
| appearance ana eomm-hcri 81" h..s
! frantic auneals fer assistant" 70 Az"
| crowd standing below,
| As The flames gathered about Them thry
| became more and mere ttrrtT sifl'Aen
and presently eeNeru % lheh ft1''u "i'|t
the narrow window .silis afd ,f1ckDisd l."
| the spcctatorS below tnai they w"F" thoH
| To lean tn The streets The men Objected
| upon thu sidewalk ready 1" gUtf my
| assistaure that they could ana IN An'
/ mrt,ntIfn. =, number 81 women lcb th@
window sin~ and dropped g th'' street.
| In most " thc casea Ar efforts -
| each Them ana break thv-- awiul it4i
| were uuAvaiiiag. for IheN struck thN
Sidewalk ana N n.osi eases hro'.rA "'nos
| were the result.
| A. soon AS ilc tircmen could get ihelr
| sraiinl. ladders into position they climb
| cd the SIDES Vf tnc building ana "Hte-ri
| Id every window Whero mere was Al
unfortunate CUES: appealing Tor dSs'st-
ancc and many cases ri heT9lc iaSra r
were witnessed by the i.Fong an t"e
street 90,
| IL IN. corner II A. stree, and Fis;A
! ave. directly across. FROM the hotel, =
IRE acme oi Miss Helen Gould and At
her direction many at the injured wer"
carried there ami were treated oy pays
clans and nurses whom she had SER Tor.
In ;he meantime the c!liet y ponce atd
| telephoned 10 every hospital in The city
asking that assistance De sent - me
| sufferers AmbuIances forced their way
through he crowds rs quickly as ppssI-
bile and the injured people who mad
made tne fr3ghtful leaps from the hotel
| windows were placed in them ana re-
/ moved To the hospitals.
several occupants % the hotel appeared
~ the windows Of che 6th ana IN sto-
ries ard even on the roof and made their
| leaps 10 the streets from these points.
Very few Of them escaped eitae. inStan;
deatn or injuries which resulted i'll their
death short time later
IN the meantime The entire building
was being eAveloped IN flames waich
shot out from every window ard formed
| picture which struck terror 70 all
those who were Witnessing Il.
/ Within 20 or - minutes AFTER the fire
broke eli; the walls on the 5th Avenue
| side showed every indication of falling
| and presently with an awful crash they
| struck the asphalt covering of the stree,
in front % the hotel and caused the hum
drels of people who were standing tisere
to scatter in every direction. This " NtA-
ened the walls on tAe i6th and l.tn street
sides and they followed Il moment ,2ter.
Nlea the wallis fcli. the brick and NOR
| tar ana twisted Orders and corrugated
iron filed The streets on tlree sides OF
the hotei. The doorSteps and iron fences
| in frClt az the houses on the opposite
side Of the stree. firm ,ae hotel were
| wrecked bv the falling walls ana he
| amount cf debris piled in the stress was
50 great that travel Will be impeded for
| severA! days.
the rortheas, wing of she hotel con-
| tinued % burn Cor h&H an hour after
| the walls Of the other para OF the build
ing tell. The tiremcn continued 10 play
| streau.s upon .lc flames and also upon
all ne adjoining buildings including
| Miss Goulds residence, whic1 seemed in
eminent danger Of catching tire. but
the flames were, brought under control
| j afcce they could reach any pf .hSm
| Thcre were many thrilling scenes in the
| hotel during the early stage of the fire.
| AS soon as II broke Oh; a hall boy dis
covered the flames while passing along
the fourth floor, Immediately over the
| rooms occupied ny President Mckinley
brother. Abrer Mckinley, and his family.
| The boy pulled chain attached to the
| fire alarm. but the chain broke and then