Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-03-21
WAS 1T THE WORK or TuIEvEss
Theory to Such Eject hcS'r"i"s
windsor Hotel Fire.
(New York Herald, 2Oth.)

mass OF Testimony j" "NN''''N'''+''o
tending 10 show that the Windsor Hotel
fire horror was of inccndiary origin, that
the motive was robbery. and that in some
cases. at least, the thieves were sue
ccssful.
From all sides come cOrroboratiye evil
depce Of the presence OF thieves In the
building at the very beginning OF the ifre'
They sprang up on the different floors
with the flames, and even cloaked tnelr
purpose under preteEcc of assisting
those IN distress.
Survivors. Sun dazcd from their awful
experience. are slowly beginning TO re-
call scenes that followed on tho very
heels OF the alarm. On beginning a.
piece together incdcntS that made only
an impression in the height Of their ter
ror. but now stands out with significant
clearness. suspicion has been raised III
every instance.
STRANGE FLIGHT or FLAMES.
Scarcely a person has failed 10 COM
ment on the wonderful rapidlty OF the
ire; how it seemed To- run from floor TO
floor as If a gunpowder tran had been
laid for II. There have been many posi-
tive statements concerning the place
where the fire was first seen. 1hcie IS
far from a unanimity of opinion but al
agree that within less time than It would
have taken man TO walk the length OF
the hotel il was ablaze from end TO end.
LAS If they fed on OIL is the eX-
preston Of a man who. in his frantic
rush through the corridors TO regain the
size of his wife, had the panorama laid
before his eyes The fumes OF gas were
also noticed. as If jets had been turned.
Startling as any that has come from
survivor of the lire is the story told by
Mrs +. w. Sherwood, u writer. MIS-.
Sherwood was in the apartments OF Mrs.
Abncr Mckinley, who had invited her To
share the view of the parade from the
windows Of her rooms
Mr.. SherwOod's apartments were on
the sixth floor on the Forty-sixth street
side OF the hotel. and did not command
a good view of Fifth avenue. Mrs. Sher-
wood gladly accepted Mrs. Mckinley's
offer, and was seated at one of the win
dows when the alarm Of fire was given.
Her account Of what occurred she re-
lated to Thomas w. Wood, president of
the National Academy OF Design, who
told me the story last night.
STOOD DAZED IN HALLWAY.
Mrs. Sherwood dashed from the Nc
Kinley apartments and sought escape
through the hallway. 1t was then com
paratively free from smoke, and she
could see without difficulty. In the eX
element of the moment she stood near
tho door Of the rooms she had Just left.
thinking which was the nearest ana
safest exit.
Mrs. Sherwood is wealthy. and has. or
had. many jewels. Diamond rings were
on fingers OF both her hands. \ man ran
up TO her. she says. and making a pre-
tcnce OF assisting her, seized one hand
in both of his. and began trying to slip
the rings from her fingers.
II was an appreciate length of time.
Mrs. Sherwood says. before she realized
that the man was trying TO rob her under
gulso OF rendering assistance.
FOUGHT WITH ROBBER.
When she did SO, she screamed, ana
being strong ard agile for a person of
her years. began to beat the thief of,
keeping her hands together ciinched to
save her rings. The thief fought with her
for possession of her hands and the rings.
No one for an instant. paid any atten-
lion 10 either Of them in the excitement
4 fireman finally dashing through the
han went to Mrs. Sherwood's assistance
and tho thief beat retreat. She did not
see him again.
Mrs. Sherwood says that she is posi-
tive that the hotel was set on fire in seve-
raj places at once by thieves. for pur-
poses OF plundering
POSITIVE OF INeENDIARISM.
81 believe the fire must have been start
ed by inccndiaries, with robbery for a
motive" said A. NJ. Fuller. of Phladel-
phia. last night. Mr.. Fuller is at the bed
side of his wife. who was dangerously
burned while making her escape No
trace has yet been found OF Margaret
Fuller their daughter, nor of Mrs. NJ. G.
Bradley. who were last seen struggling
TO escape. Hope that they succeeded i'm
doing so has been given up by Mr.. Fuller.
Mr.. Fuller said. too. that he blamed
lack OF discipline among the hotel en-
ployees for part Of the heavy loss.
II am positive the fire was caused by
an incendiary." said Mr. Fuller. ''The
flames fairly leaped over the carpet and
from wall TO wall. as II feeding on oil.
The peculiar fumes also suggested some
more inilammable material than the ordi-
nary furnishings. L saw man lying face
downward on the second floor His face
was blue. and seemed to be discolored
as II the man had been stided by some
strange gas.
'"rhe employees Of the hotel were not
around at any time. 1 saw none in my
climb TO the third floor. The flames spread
a
matches. / never saw anything like II.
II all seems Ike q terrible nightmare 10
me now.
Il hold 20 the robbery theory and can
not believe the fire other than incendiary.
The time for such plot was ideal Thou
sands upon thousands OF dollars were
practically lying loose. A thief wanted
only few moments 10 rasack the rooms.
The parade offered him his great chance
Inc IRE spread much more rapidly than
me thief expected. lie wanted only
brief panic and he got more than he bar
gained for. l would not be surprised IL
nc was burned Ia his own trap"
STARTED IN SEVERAL PLACES.
EDWARD J.. Wells. banker. OF James
town, y. ID, who, with his wife and
daughter. Margaret, made their escape
rom the fourth floor OF the hotel. prin-
Sipaliy because they retained their pres
enee OF mind said last night:
cannot understand how the fire could
nave spread through the big building