The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-12-04
Yokohama Hostel
ry Completely
Destroyed.
ONLY ONE LIFE
REPORTED LOST
Many Guests Have Close Calls in
Their Flight From the Burn
ing Structure.

! YOKOHAMA. Nov. 1S.-The Oriental
Hotel, No. IL Bund. was entirely de-
stroyed By fire early yesterday morn
ing. Only one fatality is reported. but
the hairs breadth escapes Of guests,
aroused from asleep, and unable to do
more than barely save their lives fur
nished some thrilling scenes. The in
surance on the building is said to have
been hardly sufficient to cover it's full
value. being stated at between woo, 600
and Y250000. AS to the origin of the
confiagra ton, the police have the mat
ter under investigation. There is little
doubt that the fire started in the tailor
shop of Chinaman next door.
So far the only victim of the flames
reported is Amano Naka, Aged forty
seven, the personal amah of Mr.. L.
Muraour. one of the proprietors OF the
hotel, who has been ailing for some
time. The amah. it seems, woke her
master and saw to his safety as well
as warning several of the guests, but
was herself overtaken and crushed to
death by falling wall. Her remains
were discovered in the expedition.
There were about thirty guests besides
the proprietor, Mr. Mpraour, and en-
ployees, in the house and the inmates
included a number of ladies and chill
dren.
Before all could be made to under
stand their danger the staircase was
ing down the water-pipes secured
against the wall. The men assisted the
ladies, but the horror of the occasion
was heightened by the fact that the
electric light was not available and only
the glimmer of candles could be of use
in collecting personal property. Many
ladies got out in their night attire and
men, barefooted and in pajamas, were
seen half-crazed looking for their wives
and relatives. Lieutenant A. c. Allen
saw to the safety of his wife and child
and then had the GOODNESS to go back
to his rooms and throw out three
trunks in to the street. He missed one
on Sunday morning. but ultimately
found it at the Police Station.
The additional peril of falling molten
lead was added to the difficulty of es-
cape from the burning building. NJ. and
Nine. Pierre Lagrange, who lost all
their effects, were among the streams
pouring from the roof and NJ. Lagrange
had his neck severely burned by the
metal while his wife was spattered by
the drops. Mr.. Thomas Fisher escaped
in pajamas and barefooted, but secured
a pair of Japanese straw slippers from
among the spectators. Mr.. F.. G.. John
son jumped out of a window on to a
ora x-1a n
in safety. A lady guest, burdened with
valuable furs she was endeavoring to
save, fell down the stairway and re-
ceived many serious Commissions. Luck |
lily no bones were broken and she was |
helped to neighboring hotel The Rev /
and Mrs. Chalk, of England. lost every !
thing they had, as did Paymaster Airey |
of the Goliath and his wife, and Mr. |
and Mrs. II. Merecki, of Paris.
Mr.. Robert p. Greer of st. Louis, who |
only went to the hotel on Friday |
mourns the loss of four boxes contain
Ing valuable papers. which he values at
LOCO sterling, and which are practi-
cally irreplaceable. On Sunday a num-
Der OF guests of the burned hotel, who
had been absent Saturday night. re-
turned from the country TO find all
their effects destroyed. and put up at
said today: I'VE are fun of
guests without baggage" Most of the
guests had no insurance on their eff
tects. but one French family before
starting on their travels is said to have
insured all their luggage, the policy
covering risks at any place where they
night be staying. Mr.. L. Dewette part
proprietor with Mr.. Muraour, is now in
Europe. but had some valuable prop
erty stored in the upper part of the
all of which was totally de-
'troyed.
The man who really discovered the
Ire inside the hotel was Staff Paymas- I
er F. w. I. Airey, Royal Navy, II. NJ.
). Goliath. He said today:
Il was awakened about 1920 or 80
'clock by the noise of a bell and street
excitement and looked out Of the win !
Iown. 1 thought at first there was a
himney on fire as volumes OF smoke
we're arising. I saw I could not alarm
very one individually. so I determined (
o give a general alarm and ran up
tairs yelling Fire! Fire!' at the top
f my voice. Mrs. Airey was with me I
nd she was very plucky throughout.
oing upstairs again. though could not
isk her accompanying me the second
nd third trips upstairs and left ner
D look after her jeweIry and bags. In
alf an hour the glass in the roof fell
18th crash and it was hopeless to try
save anything after that. The work n
one by the British Naval contingent
mich came ashore under Lieutenant y
Watson was very helpful in combining =
be damage to the hotel"
-~NS-
lew Insurance Agency In the City.