The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-06-15

MR.. CRISIS STORY OF THE FIRE
DESCRIPTION OF SCENES AND INCL
DENTS By AN EYEWITNESS.
Predicament of n Bride and Groom
Large Amount of Jewelry and
other yaIuables Lost.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.

Special &c the indianapolis Journal.
PAOLI. Ind, June 14-The Mineral
Springs Hotel. at West Baden, famous
health and pleasure resort. about eight
miles west of here, was destroyed by fire
this morning (as reported in the o'clock
edition of the indianapolis Journal) There
was no loss of life. All the 225 guests and
the small army of employees have been ac-
counted for Owing to the great confusion
during the progress of the fire, rumors were
current that several persons had perished
In the flames, but investigation to-day
showed these rumors to be untrue. The
property loss is estimated at SS5O.OOO; insur-
ance sS4.75 placed with forty different
companies. The Liverpool, of London, and
New York Underwriters each had $1,000 and
the Royal $1,000. The other companies aver
aged from $l,OoO to $3.50 each. The work of
clearing away the ruins will begin at once
ard a substantial structure of stone. brick
and iron will go up as rapidly as money and
push can accomplish that end.
The hotel was a large, rambling structure
of seven hundred rooms, the building hav
ing been enlarged from time TO time as its
growing business required. The fire broke
out in the kitchen about 1 o'clock a. m.
while most of the guests were asleep. No
modern means of fighting the flames was
at hand, and the fire spread with great
rapidity. The utmost CONSERVATION pre-
vailed. knowing full we'll the combustible
nature of the great wooden building, the
guests, when awakened, rushed into the
halls as rapidly az possible and pushed
with unwonted energy toward the exits.
They were spurred 10 quick effort by the
binding smoke that threatened 10 cut off
their retreat and so, with no endeavor to
save valuables, and with the merest at
tempt TO secure clothing. they fled from the
burning building Very few, indeed, were
wholly dressed, and many were altogether
inadequately clothed to endure the rigors of
a cold rain which was falling. but all were
thankful for their escape as they watched
the great structure fall before the flames.
Calls were made for help on other towns.
but for lack of quick organization of trans
portation it was impossible to get assist
ance. Indeed. the progress of the fire was
so rapid that not even a metropolitan fire
department could have saved the buildings
after the fire had been going one hour.
The hotels own fire system was found TO
be wholly inefficient before the rapid spread
OF the fire. The opera house. which was
threatened by the burning of the covered
walk leading 10 IL. was. fortunately. saved,
but the $50. 900 bathhouse in course of erec-
ton, and the new expensive lavatory were
burned. The bucket brigade helped save
some OF the annexes. Many persons from
French Lick Springs, a nearby resort.
also rendered aid.
French Lick hotels offered shelter TO the
homeless guests and few of them walked
the distance rather than wait for slow
transportation. Some of the wealthest
guests saved nothing but the night robes
they wore. This morning the first train
from French Lick, over the Monon. carried
about one hundred of the fire sufferers.
The West Baden telephone and telegraph
offices were burned and definite news of
the extent of the fire could not be learned
until daylight, when many persons drove
over TO the springs from Paoli.
The hotel was owned by ]. NJ. Persise, of
Salem. Ind. L. W. Sinclair. of Salem, and
K B. Rhodes OF West Baden The first
building was constructed twelve years ago.
Since then additions were erected. until
the structure covered large amount of
ground. Mr.. Pertise says the buildings and
ground worth about 81. 100000 that
amount having recently been offered for
the property.