Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-16
FATAL ;HoTEL FIRE
Two Women sBurnto Death in Blaze
IN Chicago.
SEVERAL PERSONS BADLY INJURED
Heroic Conduct of Former Sailor
Saved Many Lives.
LIST OF THE CASUALTIES

CHICAGO, May 1.-two persons were
killed. one is missing and fifteen were in
jured IN fire which early today destroyed
the Hotel Helene. at 10 to ia a'd street.
Five of the injured will probably die.
The dead are:
Charlotte Peterson. dining room girl:
found in her room burned to a crisp.
Lena Pearson. found burned almost be-
yond recognition in room with Miss Peter
son.
The missing:
- Patterson man. last seen in hotel
office at II o'clock last night.
The seriously injured:
w. E. Horn, burned about face and hands
and body. leg broken: will die.
S. c. McHaddin, flesh partly burned from
body: will die
f. +. Tarbux, burned about body: recov-
Elizabeth Florence internally injured and
skull fractured unconscious recovery
doubtful.
E. B. Allen. both ankles sprained and in
ternaliy injured in jumping from third-story
window.
Mrs. 7. D. Allen back broken and inter-
naiiy injured: jumped from thrd-story win
dow: will die.
Helen Joseph badly bruised and overcome
by smoke
Stella Neilwolski. chambermaid jumped
from first floor overcome by smoke and in
jured internally.
face p'f '''o0@
Sarah Hutchinson, 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. policeman. back injured.
Mrs. Adeha Lawson, badly bruised.
Financial Loss About $4,000.
Inc loss to the building and furnishings
was 10000 The destruction of the hotel
was replete with daring rescues and mar
row escapes. in which James Mcneil earned
himself the title of hero. He was a porter
IN the hotel and the first to warn the Sleep
ing occupants of their danger. He carried
Helen Joseph down a swayng ladder from
the third floor. and then. amid the cheers of
the oniookers. returned 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 muchi for Mcneil and he stag
gered back into the smoke. The people be-
low thought he was. lost. A policeman
mounted to the shoulders of brother Of
ticer, and. clamboring over the window
ledge caught Mcneil by the feet and
dragged him from the room. Mcneil was
covered consciousness.
The rescue of a woman and her baby
aroused the enthusiasm of the crowds Mrs
Bruce, with enc arm around her infant, was
clinging with the other arm to the ledge of
Il second-story window. Smoke was pour
ing out and Mrs. Bruce seemed on the point
of falling. Her fingers were relaxing, when
suddenly three policemen. carrying blan-
ket 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. saving them from
a most certain death. Mrs. Bruce was badly
burned. but had succeeded in protecting
her baby. i
Many Narrow Escapes.
There were many other narrow escapes
and exhibitions of courage during the burn
ing of the structure, there was only one
entrance to the building, which compelled
the greater number of the guests to make
their exits as best they could through the
windows.
The rescues were nearly all accomplished
before the firemen arrived. The blaze spread
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 policemen and others
on the ground early, however were able
to secure ladders from paint store nearby,
ana by this means saved many of the
guests from death.
The fire started in the basement and spread
with the greatest rapidity. and but for the
heroic action of Porter Mcneil every per-
son in the building would undoubtedly have
persisted.
Police. f1remen and spectators united in
one voice in praising Mcneil He was for
merly a gunner in the English navy aboard
the battle ship Dreadnaught, and holds
medals for craftsmanship and proficiency
in drilling. He took part in the Jameson
raid. and it was while in South Africa that
the illness that compelled him to secure a
discharge came upon him.
Fire mt st. Catherine. Ont.
ST. CATHERINE. Ont. May 16-Fire
started early this morning in the Canada
Cycle and Motor Company's establishment
1t then spread to the Welland Vale Com
pany's works. and before the flames were
subdued both buildings, with all their
plants. were complete wrecks The loss will
amount to nearly half a million dollars
partially covered by insurance Over 800
men will be thrown out of employment