Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1901-06-19
BURNT TOTHEGROUND
Mineral Springs Hotel at West
Baden, Ind. in Ashes.
There Were Several Narrow Escapes
From Death-Entire Loss ON
building and Personal Eff
fects ...L he 100000.


PCS persons who were in the Mineral
Springs hotel fire here it is now be-
heved that every one escaped with
his life.
During the excitement of the fire
a report was sent out that many
lives were lost, which, fortunately,
proved TO be incorrect.
The loss on the hotel building is
estimated at S25O.0O0, with insurance
aggregating $4,000. In addition to
this the loss in diamonds. iewelry
and clothing belonging TO the guests
will. il is estimated. reach. $4,000.
The conhagration had its origin in
the kitchen, which is located on the
ground floor of the hotel Immediately
under two rows of sleeping rooms,
all of which were occupied. The fire
was discovered by the night watch
man, who attempted TO eXtinguish
the blaze with hnnd granndes. but
seeing that his attempts were in vain.
he rushed To the Office notifying the
night clerk, and together they ran
rapidly through the halls kicking
open doors and yelling Fire
To add to the great excitement il
was but few moments after the
discovery OF the fire that the electric
circuit was burned out and the panic
stricken guests CROPPED around in their
rooms for wearing apparel and other
personal property.
L. {. Hawkins, n business man OF
Marion. Ind. was one of the first to
leave the building. He was awakened
by the cry of fire and had time TO
dress himself. His business partner
escaped, half dressed. through a win
dow Amy Leslie, the theatrical critic
OF the Chicago News. who has been
at the hotel with her niece for the
past two weeks, escaped with nothing
but her night robes.
Miss Sinclair daughter of one of
the proprietors of the hotel. had a
very narrow escape, losing all her
wearing apparel. diamonds and other
personal property. Mrs. Harris. of
Milwaukee. lost everything. Miss
Blanche Hall. daughter of a Chicago
theatrical manager, lost valuable
wardrobe and jewelry. Mr. and Mrs.
Davis. who were married in Cincin-
natl two weeks ago, were spending
their honeymoon at the hotel They
escaped with a very meager ward
robe.
The building was provided with
hre escapes. and on the front of the
building, extending from the ground
10 the roof. was an escape built in a
spiral fashion. 1t was through this
that many of the guests got out.
During the rush for safety four la
dies became wedged in this spiral
escape, but were rescued
Col. Wing. Of Cincinnati. who is
a member of Gov Nash's staff ana
also police commissioner of Cincin.
natl. occupied a room directly over
the kitchen. He had a very narrow
escape, saving nothing but his night
shirt on his back. Col. Howard. gen
eral agent Of "A life insurance com
pany of New York. barely escaped
in Ills night clothing. NJ VI. Weller.
of the firm of Weller e. Bro. who are
IN business at Hartford CITY. Ind.
was one of those escaped with the
greater part of his wardrobe. but
in the excitement he lost a valuable
diamond stud
superintendent Clark, Of the El.
wood plate glass works. and wife
were among the guests. After gather
ing few personal effects together.
Mr.. Clark in the excitement grabbed
woman supposing her 10 be his
wife and carried her screaming from
the building. On reaching the lawn
in front of the hotel he discovered
his mistake and ran back into the
burning building and in a few min
utes appeared with his wife.
1t is estimated that diamonds 10
the value of 10000 and from $4,000
60 $4,000 in cash were lost i'm the
flames. The massive freproof safe
in the Office contained $4,000 I'm cash
which the guests had deposited for
safekeeping. Tie safe is In the cell
lar completely covered with the
burning debris. and IL will not he
known for several days whether the
valuables contained therein are safe.
z