New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-18

could leave the hotel out. II IS horrible 10
contemplate what would have happened If the
fire had started about o'clock in the morning,
when every sleeping soundy.
The hotel built in 1872 and 1873 and
opened in September Of the latter year The
builder was John T. DAILY. who lost heavily
upon the venture that 1t weighed on his mind
and he committed suicide in barn out on Long
Island. After Mr.. Days death the building
passed into other hands. In 1873 ex-Congress-
man James J. Belden. Of Syracuse. who now
owns the Hotel Manhattan. got possession Of the
property, and Hawk & Weatherbee, now man
ayers Of the Manhattan. leased the Windsor. In
1896. when the Manhattan was opened, Mr..
Beden sold the Windsor to Mr. and Mrs. FL
bridge T. Gerry. who leased It to Mr.. Leland for
twenty years on exceptionally favorable
terms Mr.. Leland comes from family Of
hotel men, and has had experience I'm several
other houses He made great deal OF money
out Of the Chicago Beach Hotel. and the money
thus acquired during the Worlds Fair he in
vested In the Windsor. He almost rebuilt the
interior OF the hotel. and added winter gardens.
"A dance hall conservatories and cafes. and tried
in every way 10 make il attractive and modern.
Mr. Leland knows the hotel business thoroughly
In 1860 he opened the Leland Hous" in Spring
field. H.. and two years later he went 10 Al
bany and took charge Of the Delavan House. In
1850 he secured the Garden Hotel in Chicago.
renamed It the Leland. and IN 1870 sold IL for
81. 100000 Then he took hold Of the Chicago
Beach Hotel and is credited with making 500
600 there in the Worlds Fair year. After that
he came East end took the Ocean House at
Newport This burned on the last day Of the
season last year II was to have been closed
the next day after the fire.
When Mr. Patch general manager Of the
| Manhattan. and for many years manager OF the
Windsor with the firm OF Hawk & Weatherbee
| was asked about the Windsor yesterday ne
said that when he there he kept a watch
/ man constantly patrolling the house on every
! floor Eternal vigilance was the price Of safety
! and many people thought that If ever the house
caught fire # would go despite any effort to
! save II. Just as it went yesterday. Mr.. Belden
/ and Mr. Hawk confirmed this. They said that
they never had an easy moment I'm the hotel as
/ II vas apparent that it was susceptible TO fire.
and that only the closest watch kept it safe
/ They said they had no doubt that the same
kind Of a watch was kept up by MIR. Leland
and were at a loss TO determine where and how
the fire had started
In the twcnty-odd years Of its existence the
Windsor Hotel has entertained a great many
distinguished guests from this country and all
parts Of the world President Mckinley has
stayed there when in this city. and his brother
/ Abner made the hotel his home 1t was there
that King Kalakaua Of Hawaii stayed on his
mcmora bic visit 10 the United States Others
/ who have been entertained there were the
/ Dukes II Argyle Sutherland and Newcastle the
Earl Of Airlie. Lords Lymington and Ogilvie.
Sir Stafford Northcote. Don Carlos - Spain.
Dom Pedro Of Brazil. Prince Arisa Gawa OF
| Japan Lord Lonsdale Admiral Hewitt. r. N;
! General Sir Edwin Johnson, Sir Richard Tenn
pie Herbert Spencer. the Right Hon Lionel
Playfair Nine Christine Nilsson. Nine. Adelina
Patti Count Ferdinand de Lesseps and Sir
Henry Parker
Mr. Leland too much overcome by shock
Yesterday to talk much about the fire He was
| badly worried over his wife and daughter, TOO.
| He said he did not know just how the fire start
/ ed He said that he always kept vigilant pa
| troll over the house. There were probably four
hundred guests registered in the house. but fort
unatelv a largo percentage Of them were out
somewhere at that time. and so escaped the IRE.
He could give no details. Between the excite
/ nent over the fire and worry over his family he
was almost Frustrated. He said that there were
| plenty Of horoscopes
! There was the widest kind Of excitement all
! around the hotel. the Democratic club. the
/ uclingham the Manhattan and other places
near las Two women I'm Sherrys who were
! ,..tcbinp the fire from window upstairs
! f,inted and had 20 be cared for by physician.
Members Of the Democratic club rushed out and
rendered what assistance they could, hut that
vas little indeed The Manhattan. the Buckng
ham Sherrys. Delmonico's and adjacent places
ouened their doors a1d took care Of those who
! were driven out 10y the fire The scenes III some
! ~ the nearby hotels when there were family re-
/ Unions where all had escaped safely were pa
thetic # was sad To- see the wild fear ~ those
who could not ind some loved one VINO was
missing and whose fate was unknown.
Thomas f. Crimmins. the contractor when
| seen AT the Democratic club Yesterday after
noon said. III Microscopes had been placed on