The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-03-30
DRAGGED THE GUESTS
OUT OF THEIR BEDS
Jefferson Hotel in Richmond De-
stroyed by Fire.
MANY NARROW ESCAPES
BUILDING TOTAL LOSS, BUT ALL
LIVES WERE SAVED.

Richmond Va. March 30.-The JEFF
ferson hotel, this city, which was
erected and furnished by the late
Louis Ginter, at a cos1 of 81. 0O5.O 900. was
destroyed by fire last night Tire mag
nificent structure covered half a block
i'm the ultra fashionable part of the
city. and was built of buff brick, with
granite foundation.
The flames were discovered in the
upper part of the Main street side
shortly before midnight and in a short
time that part of the, building was a
roaring furnace.
The fire. despite every effort, contin-
ued to spread and at 1 o'clock this
morning all hope of saving any part
of the magnificent structure had been
given up. The guests, who We're driven
out. of the Main street portion of the
hotel, took refuge in the lobby on the
Franklin street side. There was much
excitement, especially among the wo-
I men. many of whom had retired for
the night. Many persons lost all their
effects.
? Up to 1890 it was hoped that the
Franklin street portion of the hotel
would be saved, but d sudden shift OF
the wind swept the fire directly into
this part of the hotel. Several persons
were hurt by falling down stairs. One
man had his hip broken. No one per-
.IShed in the flames
The fire started in the linen room
from a defective f1lTe. The insurance is
about S650,000 All the surrounding
houses are filed with property taken
from the hotel. There has been some
footing and several arrests have been
made.
Was Total Loss.
At 3 o'clock this morning the three
towers OF the building are standing, as
is also a part of the Franklin stone
front, but the latter is a wreck. Dur
ing the progress of the fire thousands
Of people gathered in the vicinity and
many women wept as they contem-
plated the work of destruction. Ex-
cept for the general confusion there
were no startling incidents.
Immediately upon the discovery OF
the fire, which was eating into the
ceiling of the linen room, the hotel fire
apparatus was brought into play, but
the hose burst. Attendants then dashed
through the building awakening the
guests, many of whom We're sleeping
and had to be dragged out of bed AIOsi
of the guests on the franklin end of this
hotel saved their baggage, and finally
the Jefferson statue was gotten ou'
with the head broken off. The guests
in the part where the ere started los
their baggage and many of them los
all their clothes.
Owing.to the height of the buildine
the fire department was at great dis
duNdItdSe- Ine IRE mace an. I'M enSe
blaze and practically awakened up the
entire city. There were no thrilling
escapes the halls and staircases .beins
numerous and wide
Tonight the other hotels and private
residences in the neighborhood of tbs
Jefferson are crowded with the burned.
out guests, some of whom are in, Z
great state of excitement The latest
theory regarding the origin of the fire
IS that 1t started from electric wires
Captain Wise, OF the fire department
Was painfully burned. One of the guest,
had his leg broken. He was removed
to the Old Dominion hospitsa.