Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1900-05-25

Chicago, H., Especial. Three persons
were killed and IA were injured in fire
which destroyed the Hotel Helene, at ITO to
ia Fifty-third street. Five OF the injured
will probably die.
The dead: Charlotte Peterson, dining-room
girl found In her room, burned to crisp.
Lena Pearson, found burned almost beyond
recognition In room with Miss Peterson. ..
G. McNaddin.
The seriously injured: W. Z. Horn, burned
about face and hands and body, leg broken,
will die; E. E. Tarbux, turned about the
body, recovery doubtful Elizabeth Florence,
internally injured and skull fractured, un-
conscious, recovery doubtful; +. b. Alien,
both ankles sprained and internally injured
in jumping from third-story window; Mrs.
T. Allen, back broken and internally injured,
jumped from third-story window, will die;
Helen Joseph, badly bruised and overcome
by smoke; Stella Neilwolskf, chambermald,
jumped from first floor, overcome by smoke
and injured internally; /. James Mcneil,
porter, burned about face; Sarah Hutchin-
son. high school teacher, injured in falling
from second floor; James Costin, fireman,
cut by falling glass; Mrs. Bruce and baby,
overcome by smoke; Thomas Morgan. police
man, back injured, and Mrs. Adelis Lawson,
badly bruised
The loss to the building and furnishings
was 100000.
The destruction of the hotel was replete
with daring rescues and narrow escapes, IN
which James Mcneil earned himself the title
OF hero. He was a porter in the hotel and
the first to warn the sleeping occupants OF
their danger. He carried Helen Joseph down
swaying ladder from the third floor, and
then. amid the cheers OF the onlookers, re-
turned to the second floor. where woman
was lying unconscious, her clothing on fire.
He carried her TO the window and dropped
her into the arms of Policeman Wolf.
The effort and the heat were too much fol-
Mcneil, and ne staggered back toto the
smoke. The people below thought be
was lost. A policeman mounted to the
shoulders OF brother officer, and, clamb-
ering over the window ledge, caught Nc
Neil by the feet and dragged him from the
room. Mcneil was passed down to the
ground and soon recovered consciousness.
The rescue of woman and her baby
aroused the enthusiasm of the crowds.
Mrs. Bruce, with one arm around her infant,
was clinging with the other arm to the ledge
OF a second-story window. Smoke was
pouring out and Mrs. Bruce seemed to be on
the point of falling. Her fiogers were re-
Taxing. when suddenly three policemen,
carrying blanket held taut among them,
rushed into the flames, which were then
darting from the basement windows, just in
time to catch the woman and her child, saw
ing them from almost certain death. Mrs
Bruce was badly burned, but had succeeded
in protecting her baby. There were many
ether narrow escapes and exhibitions OF
courage during the burning Of the structure,
as there was only one entrance to the build
ing which compelled the greater number OF
the guests to make their exits Is best they
could through the windows
The rescues were nearly all accomplished
before the flremen arrived. The blaze spread
so rapidly that, had the people in the hotel
been compelled to await the arrival OF the
hook and ladder company, more lives would
have been lost. The policeman and others
on the ground early, however, were able to
secure ladders from a paint store nearby,
and by this means saved many OF the guests
from death.
The fire started in the basement and
spread with the greatest rapidity. But for
the heroic action of Porter Mcneil every
person in the building would undoubtedly
have perished.