Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1902-12-10
DIE In HOTEL FIRE.
FLAME AND SMOKE KILL FOUR
TEEN IN CHICAGO.
Victims of Horror in the Hosiery
Mostly Farmers Attending the Live
stock show-Many sufFocated Like
Rats in a Trap.

Fourteen men were suffocated in an
insignificant Chicago fire that broke out
ri $50 Thursday morning in the four
story Lincoln European Hotel, 1I6 Mad
ison street. There were l25 guests Il,
the hotel. The men were mostly farmers
visiting the live stock exposition. and. It
is said, If il had not been for the narrow
halls, the oyercrowded rooms and a fail
ure to alarm the victism they would have
been able TO escape from the fire trap.
Many Of the bodies were found in the
beds in positions of slumber Others
we're found in the Railways lying face
downward in positions that mutely por-
;rayed how they had yainly endeaYored
TO save their lives. Some We're half
clad and others wore nothing but night
clothing. Ii was 10y means of articles
and letters in the pockets of what little
clothing some of the dead persons wore
that many identifications We're made.
Most Of the victims were suffocated as
they slept. or as they struggled through
the narrow Railways in search of an exit.
4 few were killed by jumping from win
dows, Many pther guests were carried
out unconscious.
For half an hour after the tiremen
found their way into the building they
stumbled across insensible forms lying on
the floors and on the stairways. Although
screams and means from the. upper floors
told the rescuers, that men and women
We're Imprisoned there, the smoke was
imper strable and the victims were allow
ed to stife to DEATH
The victims were awakened by blind
( smoke that shut out the light in the
h. lis Some of them could not find the
electric bulbs in their rooms. and jumped
from the side windows on to the roof of
a building which adjoins the hotel On
the west. Most of the occt ants manag-
ed to rush down the stairs, after picking
up portion of their clothing.
1t is reported that the fire was acci-
dentally started. The hotel is being reno
waited, and it was charged chat piles of
shavings We're Uttered ABOUND some Ct
the rooms. One of the guests said that
the blaze started from cigar thrown in
the hallway on the second floor
The loss of life occurred among the
sleepers nearest the roof. Here the smoke
found no vent and filled the rooms. auf-
locating many before they Nrre awak-
ened.
Farmers Look for Friends.
The scene around the partly burned
building. after the terrible results had
become generally known throughout the
city. was pathetic in the extreme The
hundreds of strangers. principally farm
ers from nearby States who were in
Chicago to take part in the live stock ex-
position at the stock yards, knew that
the Lincoln Hotel was largely occupied
by their friends and acquaintances, and
they hurried into Madison street and in
quired anxiously as TO whether their par
ticular friend. in some instances broth
er or near relative, had been saved.
Each one to make the inquiry was al
tected either to the county hospital or to
an undertaking establishment whore the
bodies had been taken. At the latter
place the white sheet was lifted time and
again TO permit the facial features TO be
scanned by the anxious ones.