The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-03-31
JEFFERSON HOTEL
TOTALLY WRECKED
Main Street Front Lies in
Ruins.
IT COST OVER $1,000, 900
rlouaS Tnra 1liconuerad a Chorf
Flames Were Discovered Short
While Before Midnight.
NO LIVE; WERE LOST IN THE FIRE
There Was $3.50, O60 Insurance. The Guests
Take Refuge in the lobbies of the
Franklin Street PART Many
Works of Art Lost.
Works Of Art Lost.
(By the Associated press.)

Richmond Va, March 29.-Richmond
tonight suffered her greatest disaster by
Ere since the burning of the Spotswood
Hotel on Christmas Eve, 1870.
The Jefferson Hotel, the magnificent
structure built and furnished by the late
Lewis Ginter, at cost Of about $1,000,-
OC0 is in ashes No lives were lost.
The hotel was constructed of buff brick
and granite foundation, and was regard
ed as semi-fire proof. 1t burned like tin
der. The building covered half block
in the ultra fashionable part of the city
fronting on West Main and Franklin
streets.
The flames broke out in the upper part
of the Main street side. spread with a
tremendous rush and soon that part OF
the building was a seething mass of fire.
Prompt measures were taken to awaken
and alarm the guests, and soon these
were rushing through the corridors in
wild eonfuson.
The flames were discovered in the upper
part Of the Main Street side short while
before midnight, and in short time that
part of the building was roaring fur
mace. AS far as can be learned no lives
have been lost. though there was great
difficulty in getting out some OF the
guests There were in the hotel, many
fine works of art, including in the Frank
lin Street Court, Valentines marble
statue of Jefferson.
Although the hour was late when the
fire broke out an immense crowd was
attracted.
The guests who were driven out of the
Main Street portion, and those in the
Franklin Street part, took refuge in the
Hobbies of the latter. and there the
scenes of distress and excitement beg
gard description.
At 80 o'clock there was hope of saw
ing the Franklin street, but in any event
that will be ruined.
There are wild rumors of five fremen
having been cut off in one of the corri-
doris and suffocated. but this cannot be
verified.
At o'clock this morning Saturday all
hope of saving any part of the hotel had
been abandoned.
The eport of suffocation OF five men
proves unfounded but several persons
were hurt by falling down stairs, etc.
One man had his hip broken. No one
persisted in the flames
The fire started in the linen room from
q defective fiue.
The insurance is about $650,000.
There was in the hotel party from
Montreal, Canada, none of these were
hurt, but all lost their baggage.
All the surrounding houses are filled
with property taken from the hotei
There has been some looting and several
arrests.
At o'clock this Saturday morning,
it is certain almost that not vestage
of the hotel will be left. Intellectual eff
forts were made to save the statue of JEFF
ferson.
At o'clock this morning the two tow
ers of the building are still standing.
and so is part of the Franklin Street
front, but the latter is wreck.
During the progress of the fire thousands
Of people gathered in the vicinity and
many women wept at the contemplated