The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1901-04-02
THE JEFFER ON HOTEL IN RICH
Fa U.s. MoND.
It's Now a Mass If Ruins

The Jefferson Hotel OF Richmond was
destroyed by fire Friday night. The
flames were discovered just before mid
night. and in short time the building
was a-rOaIing furnace. No lives were.
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 Franklin street
court alentine's marble statue al JET
ierson. 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
CARED description. Several persOns were
hurt by falling down stairs, etc. One
man had his hip broken
The fire started in the linen-rOOm from
detective iiue 1lp inauyuuefs about
SOTO 900. There was some loOting and
several arrests were made. ineffectuui
efforts were made to save the statue ri
Jefferson. Is " 50 -
AssOOn asthe fire wasdiscOyered the no.
telemployees were sent scurrying through
the corridors toapprise the guests, many
of whom had retired, Of their danger.
This prompt actionp probably sayedmany
lives M r. a ~
The Jefferson was considered the finest
hOstelry between New York and st.
Augustine. II was famous foi.itscuisine.
The Jefferson Hotel vas builtin lS9i
by lOal 6inter. the millionaire tObac-
cOnist Of Richmond. at n cost Of : zoos
600 It was constructed in the most
substantial manner OF brick and terra
Gotta, with ample Recommendations fOF
800 guests. 1t was built in the form d
n hollow square, enclosing Two great
courts. around the lower one OF which
was clustTeh the lnIshess office, tele-
graph, long distance Telephone nnd rail
road Offices, writing room, news and
igar booths, smokers hall, billiard
room. grill and wine rooms and drug
store In the upper one. surrounded bya
wide arcade supported by great columns,
were the ladies cafe and three retiring
parlOrs opening into grass-cOvered
court. through which ran marble walks
fianked by palms and hedges, in the cen
ter Of which WAS more than lie size
marble statue Of Thomas Jefferson, from
which the hotel took it's name. Lead
ing from the court was the marble hall,
Dne Of the most brilliant rooms OfmOdern
architecture. 10 the left OF which was the
pink reception parlOrs and the grand 50
loon, while To the right were the blue
reception parlOr and library. The
grandeur Of the saloon reception rooms
and library, with their luxurious furni.
ture. carpets, pictures aud bric-a-brac
were exceeded by a few hotels in the
country At the extreme southern end
of the hotel, reached by a beautifully car.
peted corridor, was the dining hall. one
of the stateliest and most dignied rooms
ever constructed for this purpose, and iii.
rectly above. on the roof, was one Of the
most complete roof gardens in this cOun-
try, with ample stage. made brilliant by
hundreds Of electric lights.
The Jefferson will be- rebuilt rs early a.
practicable. The towers aud the north
east wing are standing, aud these and
the heavy granite foundations, it is esti-
mated. will reduce the expense Of rebuild
Ing about % per cent.