The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-03-31
STORIES TOLD BY
VARIOUS AR GUESTS
Mr., Khouri Of New York Had a Very
Narrow Escape. s
DIDN'T KNOW OF The FIRE.
Professor Recs Lost Piano Which He
Had Placed in the Roof Garden.
President Rhoades Was
Grateful.
DIDN'T KNOW OF THE FIRE.

Grateful.
Many of those who were guests at the
Jefferson Hotel on Friday night, and VINO
were forced to accept the hospitality of
citizens and other hotels, lett the city
yesterday. There are still, however, a
number of them here at the various
hotels and they relate rare experiences in
connection with the fire.
Mr.. +. \. khouri, of New York had a
narrow escape He reached the hotel on
Friday evening, and retired early, suf-
firing with the grip. He had the bell-boy
fix him in bed. and then told him to take
the key and lock the door on the out
side, and call him "a o'clock the next
! morning. About 11:45 he was awakened
by a loud knocking on the door.
What's the matter:" he cried.
"Fire!" was the reply.
Then he got up and found that the
room was full of smoke. lie CROPPED about
the room, but could find no key.
Break open the door, he shouted, as
he heard the cracking flames in the
ceiling above him.
The door was broken open; Mr.. Khouri
grabbed up his coat and vest and ran
out. In his hurry to get down stairs ne
dropped his watch a diamond pin and
his pocket-book Besides this loss his
stock of about $4,000 worth of Turkish
rugs and other articles were lost. He. had
intended to go to Hot Springs this morn
ing, but he changed his mind, and will
remain in the city at New Ford's for a
few days.
PROFESSOR REEFS LOSS.
Professor Rees, of the jefferson Orchcs-
ira. was standing on Broad Street, near
Fourth, talking to some friends, about Il
o'clock. when a man passed and SAID the
Jefferson Hotel was on fire.
Good gracious said Mr. Rees, we've
got a lot of things Of value there, and
then he ran to the hotel. reaching there
just in time to learn that Il friend had
taken all his property to a place OF safety,
with the exception Of a piano that he
had just placed on the roof garden.
Professor Rees and his men are thrown
out of work by the burning of the thea
ire, and it is probable if he doesn't secure
some appointment here he may go to
New Y DIRK.
PRESIDENT, RHOADES GRATITIED.
Mr. John Harsen Fhoades, president of
the Greenwich Savings Bank, with his
family, were guests Of the hotel. He &C.
cupied room No :'57 and two adjoining
apartments. About 1889 o'clock he went
to his room ana was in the act of pack
irS his trunks. preparatory to leaving
tor Old Point this morning. His sisters
maid knocked on the door and told him
the hall was filled with smoke. He re-
piled that there was probably no danger,
as the building was fire-proof. In order
to reassure himself. however, he went in
TO the hall. and as he did SO he noticed
q number of the employees with q house
hose running along the hall to the south
end, from Il door of which the smoke
was issuing. Some one opened the door
from which q great flame issued. The
door was quickly closed and the hose
paced over the transom and water turn
ed into the room. That was on the third
floor The party then ran to the floor
above and found that the fire was raging
there. 1850 f-t
Then it was that Mr.. SRhoades thought
it time to set his family out. He returned
to their apartments and advised them to
get ready for the street, but to pack
their trunks and leave them in the room,
for he did not believe the fire would
reach that portion of the building. The
party then went down into the Franklin
Street lobby, where they found many
other guests.
Mr. Rhoades then engaged a porter to
go to his rooms and bring down the bag
gage. The latter went up. but a sight
OF the flames and smoke and the reflec-
ton from the burning section urnerved
him. and he returned. Mr.. RhoadcS him
self then went to the rooms, and with
the assistance OF another gentleman he
moved all his baggage, consisting of seven
trunks and a, number of satchels to the
street below. He saved everything and
accepted the hospitality Of Mrs. L. G.
Tucker of No. 2l$ West Grace Street.
where. he says. he and his family were
treated with the greatest kindness. In
the hurry, Mr.. Rhoades' sister lost an
envelope marked II. r. with about 5000
in it. He will reward the finder. if re-
turned to him at Murphy's Hotel
HAD NO BAGGAGE HERE.
Mr. and Mrs. G.. i. Baker OF Boston,
occupied d room on the fourth floor. They
were aroused by the smoke, and upon
looking out the window into the court
Just above the Office lobby, saw that
smoke was rapidly filling up that space,
issuing from window on the Main-Street
wing They got up and dressed hurried
~ and left the room. There was very
little smoke in the hail at that time. ls,:r
within a few minutes flames burst from
several windows. Mr.. and Mrs. Baker
hac no baggage with them, except hand
satchel. as they had not had it brought
from the depot, having just arrived last
night.
Just opposite the room on the fourth
floor from which the flames first rushed
was the rooms occupied by Mr.. and Mrs
Walter Warren and maid, of Troy. n.
Y They were aroused by the smoke,
which had filled the hall at that point,
and which was pouring into their rooms.
Mr.. Warren tried to turn on the electric
light, but the current was off and he
could do nothing with it. a candle was
found, and i'll its dim light the party
managed to dress But the flames were
rapidly nearing and the smoke was al
most unbearable, and they were forced TO
run for their lives, losing almost every
thing they had with them.
ONLY LOST Ills GRIP.
Mr. George S. Wilson, OF Washington,
secretary of the Board of Charities. was
a guest of the hotel and occupied room
No. 376, on the franklin Street side. He
heard the noise and saw the smoke fully
twenty minutes before he felt that it was
time to get out.
81 was about to retire. he said. when
T heard the noise of fire engines. did