Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-03-30
DESTRUCTION OF THE JEFFER-
SON HOTEL.

Inc Jefferson Hotel OF hicnmono
was destroyed by fire last night. The
flames were discovered in the upper
part OF the Main street side snort
while before midnight. and 10 short
time that part of the building was
roaring furnace. AS far as can Dc
learned, no lives have been lost,
though there was great difficulty In get
ting out some of the guests. There
we're 10 the hotel many fine works OF
art, including 10 the Franklin street
court Valentines marble statue OF Jef'
ferson. The guests who were driven
out OF the Main street portion ana
those 10 the Franklin street part, took
refuge 10 the Hobbies OF the latter, and
there the scenes OF distress and excite
ment beggared description. Several
persons were hurt by falling down
stairs, &c. One man had his hip
broken. No one persisted 10 the flames.
The fire started In the linen room
from defective fue. The insurance lie
about $3.50, 900. All the surrounding
houses are filled With property taken
from the hotel. There has beer somp
footing and several arrests have beef
made. Intellectual efforts were made 90
cave the statue OF Jefferson.
Richmond, Va, March 30.-Charred
and begrimmed by fire and smoke, the
once beautiful Jefferson Hotel is ma
OF dit colored ruins this morning. The
walls cover an entire city block and
within them Ia q hopeless macs OF
smoulderlng debris. the remnants OF the
fiercest fire that r chmond has witness
ed since the evacuation 10 1865 The
fire originated 10 the linen room on
the fourth floor and was caused by
defective fae. The main entrance to
the hotel in Franklin street, with the
two great towers, is not destroyed.
Though no decision has yet been made,
by the administrators OF the estate. the
hotel will probably be rebuilt. From
IL o'clock last night until five O'Clock
this morning the fire ragged. 1t was
early known that every guest and SER
want was safe. As soon as the fire was
discovered the hotel employees were
sent scurrying through the corridors to
appriss the guests, many of whom had
retired, OF their danger. This prompt
| action probably saved many lives. Sew
eral persons were Injured, but none
is thought to be fatally hurt. AS far as
| ia known, there hes been no loss oil life.
The injured persons we're one OF the
guests, who fell and broke leg, Capt.
Wise, Of engine company No. 4, and
] two other fremen.
! The fire at first was not regarded as
serious. In fact, for half an hour after
the Ere was first discovered, the hotels
patrons mingled In social pleasures in
the dining room and grill rooms four
floors below.
The entire fire department was called
out, but 1t was soon seen that eight
streams were of no use to check the
ravages of the roaring flames. Starting
upon the top floor, one by one the floors
burned, dropping a seething macs OF
debris into the beautiful apartments bS
low. Flames caught the costly tapes
tries and they burst in reslstless fury
from every window until the immense
structure was wrapped In sheets OF fire
that curled in fantastic shapes about
the solid stone wells. No lives were
lost and no serious accidents occurred.
The insurance on the building is about
s54O. 600.
The beautiful court is mass OF ruins
the skylights fell upon the palms ana
statuary and smashed them into frag-
ments. The foe statue OF Jefferson
was removed alter the head had been
broken from the body.
The damage to the surrounding
property is not great.
| Richmond, Mar. 30.-A telegram was
received this morning from Thomas j.
Jeffries, President OF the Jefferson Com
papy, and who is now in Florida, stat
| log that he would call meeting OF the
stockholders to consider plans for re.
bulldog the hotel. The Jefferson was
considered the finest hosteiery between
New York and st. Augustine. 1t was
famous for its cuisine, its recipe for
terrapin being celebrated all over the
world.
The Jefferson Hotel was built 10 1894
by Louis Ginter, the millionaire tobac-
conist, Of Richmond, OF a cost ofSl 800,
600. It covered an entire city block
and was constructed 10 the most sub
stantisl manner of brick and terra
Gotta, with ample accommodations for
500 guests. 1t was built In the form Of
hollow square, enclosing two great
courts, around the lower one OF which
was clustered the business office, tele-
graph, long distance telephone and
railroad offices, writing room, news and
cigar booths, smokers hall, billiard
room, grill and wine rooms and drug
store. In the upper one, surrounded
by wide arcade supported by great
columns, were the ladies' cafe aud three
retiring parlors opening into O gras;-
covered court. thrc -gh which ran
marble walks fanked by palms and
hedges, In the center OF which was a
more than life size marble statue Of
Thomas Jefferson, from which the hotel
took It's name. Leading from the court
was the marble hall, one of the most
brilliant rooms OF modern architecture,
to the left of which was the pink recep.
ton parlor aud the grand salon, while
to the right were the blue reception
parlor and library. The grandeur Of
the salon, reception rooms and library,
with their luxurious furniture, carpets,
pictures and bric-a-brac were exceeded
py .Hg hotels 10 the country. At the
extreme southern emu =, Inc ho'ei,
reached by o beautifully carpeted cor
ridor, was the dining hall, one OF the
stateliest and most dignified rooms ever
constructed for this purpose, and di.
realty above, on the root, was one OF the
most complete roof gardens in this
county, vita ample stage. made brill